With Ertiga, Maruti Suzuki steps into MPV segment of Indian industry

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, India’s largest car maker, is all set to introduce it much awaited car, Maruti Ertiga in the Indian auto industry. The car was showcased at the 2012 Delhi Auto Expo and its launch is scheduled on 11th April 2012. Ertiga is placed in the compact Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment of the Indian industry, which is a new approach for the company. Maruti has created dominance in market with the launch of known brands like Swift, Ritz, Alto and DZire.

In the current scenario, the company has shifted its focus from other potential segments of the industry. Owing to this, it has eyed upon the compact MPV segment and will offer Ertiga in couple of days. Post launch, Maruti Ertiga will face a tough competition from other well-established players like Mahindra Xylo and Toyota Innova. However, it is believed that the company will have brilliant market strategy for this car, as it is making debut in a new segment.

In order to cater a large number of buyers, the car is offered in both petrol as well as diesel variants. The petrol version holds a 1.4 litre K14B VVT engine that has a displacement of 1337 cc. The maximum power churned out by the engine of this car is 93 bhp at 6000 rpm, while attains highest torque at 130 Nm at 4000 rpm. On the other hand, the diesel version is assimilated with a D13A DDiS super turbo engine that has a displacement of 1284 cc. Highest power produced by this engine is 88 bhp at 4000 rpm, whereas generates maximum torque at 200 Nm at a fairly low 1750 rpm. To enhance the efficiency of this performance oriented engine, the company has mated it to a five speed manual transmission system that has smooth as well as easy switching of gears.

In addition to these impressive emissions, the engine of Maruti Ertiga also delivers a decent performance, which is unmatched in its segment. On the city roads, the petrol version of Ertiga covers a distance of 16.02 kmpl, whereas its diesel engine runs around 20.7 kmpl. In relation to offer a hassle free drive, the car is specially incorporated with MacPherson suspensions at the front, while torsion beams at the rear end. With all these features, auto anylsts speculate that the car will be tagged with price ranging from Rs. 6.5 lacs to Rs. 9 lacs.

Addressing the launch of Ertiga, Mayank Pareek, Managing Executive Officer (marketing), MSIL, said, “We launched Swift in 2005 and started the revolution in premium hatchback segment. We were aiming to sell 2,000 units per month but demand happened to be much more. With Ertiga, we are attempting to create a niche category as a city vehicle that is easy to drive and park in cramped parking spaces. The Ertiga will definitely have a waiting period even before launch.”