Indian automobile giant Maruti has added a new automatic variant to Ritz. The car is powered by a 1.2-litre K12 petrol engine churning out maximum power of 86 bhp with a 4-speed torque converter gearbox. Similar to the more popular DZire automatic, VXI ABS trim level will be available in Ritz as well. The new variant of the car has been declared to be priced at Rs. 6.15 lac (Ex-showroom Delhi).
It is believed that Ritz AT will only be available in petrol version and a fuel economy of 17.16 Kmpl is being slated by the carmaker. Given the advantages of an automatic gearbox, 1 Kmpl lesser average than the previous models is not expected to make much of a difference in the perception of buyers. The new variant puts Ritz in the league of other cars from the same manufacturer like A-Star, Swift Dzire and SX4 Automatic, which also boast of an auto box option. Prospective buyers will not have to wait much to lay their hands on the Ritz AT as it is being speculated that the new model will hit Indian roads early next year.
The main competition for the new model will be Hyundai i10 AT, priced from 6.16 lac, and Hyundai Brio AT, starting 5.74 lac, both of which have been fairing pretty well in the premium hatchback section. For daily commutation, Maruti Ritz AT should be the preferred choice for buyers as there are lesser hassles and a better fuel economy. However, the car might still lag behind the competitors owing to its old-school design.
With their persistent successes with Alto 800 and Ertiga, Maruti will be looking to carry on the fortune with the new Ritz AT. However, as the main advantage of Maruti cars has always been its competitive pricing, the new model might find it difficult to make a mark in this particular hatchback section.
