Maruti showcases new Swift DZire more powerful, fuel efficient and luxurious

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, the leading car maker of India, has pulled the covers off the latest iteration of its compact sedan Swift Dzire on 1st February 2012 at Mumbai, Maharashtra. This is second revised model launched by the company in the past 6 months, the new Swift being the first one; both the cars have been developed on the same platform.

Swift DZire is the undisputed leader in the entry level sedan segment of the domestic market, accounting for more than 39 per cent share of the market. With monthly sales of more than 10,000 units, the manufacturer anticipates that the new Swift DZire will help it in further consolidating its position in the segment and roll out more Maruti sedans in India.

While launching the sedan, Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, commented, “This second new model in our portfolio within six months, demonstrates our faith and confidence in the Indian market. It is also an indicator of our ability to offer new models regularly in shorter time spans. Our engineers have brought in interesting modifications including an Automatic Transmission in the new Swift DZire to meet the aspirations of a young city family.”

The Indian manufacturer and the vendors have invested close to Rs. 230 crores in developing this new and improved version of the Swift DZire. This is in addition to the Rs. 550 crores spent on the new Swift that was launched last year. With the efforts of 32 young Maruti Suzuki engineers, the company has been successful in changing more than 150 features of the new Swift DZire. Most prominently, a new Automatic Transmission version of the sedan has been introduced in the market.

This newest avatar of the vehicle is wider and taller than its predecessor, with a longer wheelbase, though it still remains more compact than the current DZire. It is 1695 mm wide (5 mm more than the existing model) and 3995 mm long. The sedan's height is calculated as 1555 mm, while its wheel is base 40 mm longer, measured as 2430 mm. Keeping in mind the heavy traffic conditions of cities, the new Swift DZire has been given a turning radius of just 4.8 m. On the other hand, its class-leading ground clearance of 170 mm allows it to avoid speed-breakers and bumps. The boot space, with capacity of 316 litres, allows families to store ample amount of luggage with ease for long journeys.

The company has been able to better the acceleration, power and torque of the Swift DZire as compared to its predecessor. The new car is powered by all-new K-12 M VVT petrol and D13A Intercooler turbocharged DDiS diesel engine, with a 5 speed manual gearbox. The petrol engine produces 86 hp of power at 6000 rpm and 114 Nm of maximum torque at 4000 rpm. On the other hand, the diesel engine is capable of churning out peak power of 74 hp at 4000 rpm and highest torque of 190 Nm at 2000 rpm.

Maruti Suzuki has improved the specific power ratio of the car by employing high tensile steel and lesser co-efficient of drag. The powerful engines of the sedan allow it to reach top speed of 160 kmph easily. The petrol variants of DZire enable it to move from naught to 100 kmph in 12.6 seconds, while the diesel variants reach the same speed in 14.8 seconds.

In order to improve the performance of the new DZire, Maruti Suzuki has combined the latest technologies optimally. The new vehicle has a streamlined rally-based suspension system, which mainly improves the stability and handling precision when the car is being cornered. The OBD-2 compliant car also boasts of detent pin technology in the gearbox, which assists in precision driving and allows drivers to shift gears smoothly.

The company has taken care to alter the exterior appearance of the revised sedan without losing the distinguished Swift look. The front profile of the new edition of the car boasts of distinctive bumper and grille, supplemented with Suzuki's trademark U-Line theme, fog lamps and character lines that adorn the bonnet of the car. The prominent shoulder line and U-Line theme followed by the car maker while developing this vehicle allow it to exhibit visual continuity.

Turn signal indicators inside Outside Rear View Mirrors (ORVMs), characteristic vertical lamps, motion themed alloy wheels and a wraparound cabin wind screen are other changes made by the manufacturer to the exteriors. The posterior of the car has become sportier than the predecessor, with rear positioned antenna, integrated spoiler and trapezoidal tail lamps as the highlights.

The engineers of Maruti Suzuki have assimilated a vast number of comfort and convenience features in the new Swift DZire, thus improving the driving experience of the passengers. These include LCD info display, 7 levels of illumination control, trip meter, temp display, time display, instantaneous mileage display, improved contrast display of warning lamps and average mileage display. The sedan also has low fuel warning lamp, lane change indicator, keyless entry from mid trims, rear seat arm rest, foot rest (dead pedal) in AT variant and convenience hook in luggage area. All variants of the car have accessory socket, light-off buzzer, seat reminder, light off reminder and key off reminder.

In order to enhance the driving comfort of the new Swift DZire, the Indian car maker has equipped a number of interior features that have made the sedan more elegant. Multi-layered dashboard with waterfall console, contemporary steering wheel design, premium beige and black coloured theme, elegant wooden, silver and chrome inserts and larger body-hugging front seats add to the interiors of this new car. The scooped front-seat back provides 20 mm extra space rear passengers, giving them additional room to spread their legs. Foldable assist grip with damper, handy cubby holes on door trims and front-seat back-pocket are other notable features of the new Swift DZire.

All variants of the car have tilt steering and multi information display, while the Z trim has the new high-end Double Din stereo as well as 6 speakers (tweeters) and V trim has new mid-variant stereo system. Digital tuner with DSP unit, enhanced sound quality, Aux-in / USB with iPod connectivity, auto speed-based volume control with 3 levels, six preset equalizer feature, integrated stereo design and automatic climate control design are other notable features of the car. Steering-mounted audio controls, quality seat fabric and superior design and VFD display with white characters are also present in the newest edition of the sedan.

While packaging high end features, power and looks in the same vehicle, Maruti Suzuki did not lose sight of fuel efficiency. The latest edition of the Swift DZire is more fuel efficient than the existing model, with 7 per cent and 8 per cent improvement in fuel economies of the petrol and diesel versions of the car. While the petrol variant offers mileage of 19.1 kmpl, the diesel version delivers fuel efficiency of 23.4 kmpl. Under Rule 115 of CMVR 1989, a test agency has certified that the all-new 4 speed Automatic Transmission VXi variant of the car delivers mileage of more than 17.4 kmpl.

Maruti Suzuki engineers have used effective sound dampeners and sealants as well as a hydraulic engine mounting system in order to lower cabin noise by as much as 3 decibel. The manufacturer has used ample high strength steel while developing the car to reduce its weight. Likewise, light-weight, corrosion-free six-layered polymeric fuel tank, high grade polymers on door trims, AC blowers and under-bonnet parts also keep the weight of the vehicle to a minimum.

The monocoque frame of the car has become tougher, lighter and stronger due to the usage of high tensile steel. The safety of the car is improved due to the extra tensional rigidity in the frame as well as collapsible steering column and crumple zones. The active safety features of the car are Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) seat belts, Brake Assist and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Engine Drag Control (EDC) system. The top end variants of the new Swift DZire are available with front dual SRS airbags.

New Swift DZire has car locator feature, improved vehicle departure angle, side impact beams on door and adjustable individual head restraints. This vehicle has been assimilated with technology that allows it to unlock if it gets into an accident. The braking capabilities of Swift DZire have also been enhanced despite lesser effort involved in bringing the sedan to halt. Assimilation of the smallest and lightest integrated Anti-lock Braking System also keeps lowers the weight of the newest iteration of the car. In the V trims, the car unlocks as soon as the key has been removed.

The car can be purchased in 7 colours, including two new ones, namely Pacific Blue and Glistening Grey. The new Swift DZire can also be bought in Bright Red, Arctic White, Clear Beige, Silky Silver and Midnight Black colours.

Introductory prices of new Swift DZire (ex showroom Mumbai) are as follows: