Maruti Zen

05 Jul 2007

The Zen is based on the 1991 Suzuki Cervo Mode, a Japanese-market-only model. The Maruti Zen was the first car by Maruti designed for the worldwide market, with India being the only production hub. The car's design and specifications are contemporary with world standards.

In essence, the Zen, (sold as Suzuki Alto abroad) which looks like an extremely well-fed Maruti 800, drives like a dream. It offers more than adequate performance and is delightful to handle.

The Zen was also the first Indian car to win accolades abroad, being voted the best car in its category in Belgium and the Netherlands in 1997 in addition to being the top car in the UK in terms of operating costs in the same year.

Zen was the first car to have all-aluminium engine, electronic distributor pump, electric fuel pump in the fuel tank, suction resonator and a dash panel of sandwich construction. Starting from the 993cc engine, developing 50bhp in carburetted form and 58.5bhp in fuel-injected form, most of the power of the Zen comes in at the higher reaches of the power band.

The five-speed ultra-slick gearbox in the Zen continues to be one of best boxes in an Indian car. A collapsible steering column is another safety feature present in all the variants of the car. The Zen is available in four variants — the LX, VX, VXi and D. A deluxe model has also just been launched; it boasts of central wood finish console and suede leather upholstery.

Accessories in the car include, music system, sun visors on both sides, front and rear assist grip, fabric upholstery, power window and power steering is available in the VX and Vxi variants.

Safety features in all the variants include: energy absorbing collapsible steering column, side-impact door beams in front and rear, child-proof locks on rear doors, rear windshield wiper and washer, central locking and protective mouldings on side.

Zen Euro-2 VX, LX:

Comprehensive technical specifications

Specifications	Zen VX EURO-2	Zen AT	Zen LX EURO-2
Body
	Two Box 4 door Hatchback	Two Box 4 door Hatchback	Two Box 4 door Hatchback
Brakes
Antilock brake system	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Front	Disc, 236 mm	Disc, 236 mm	Disc, 236 mm
Rear	Drums 180 mm	Drums 180 mm	Drums 180 mm
Dimensions
Front track	1335 mm	1335 mm	1335 mm
Ground clearance	165 mm	165 mm	165 mm
Kerb weight	765 kgs.	790 kgs.	765 kgs.
Overall Height	1405 mm	1405 mm	1405 mm
Overall Length	3495 mm	3495 mm	3495 mm
Overall Width	1495 mm	1495 mm	1495 mm
Rear track	1305 mm	1305 mm	1305 mm
Tank capacity	35 litres	35 litres	35 litres
Wheelbase	2335 mm	2335 mm	2335 mm
Engine
Bore & Stroke	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Brake Horse Power	60 bhp @ 6000 rpm	60 bhp @ 6000 rpm	60 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Compression ratio	9.4:1	9.4:1	9.4:1
Construction	Alluminium alloy	Alluminium alloy	Alluminium alloy
Displacement	993 cc	993 cc	993 cc
Fuel	Petrol	Petrol	Petrol
Petrol	Multipoint fuel injection	Multipoint fuel injection	Multipoint fuel injection
Layout	4 cylinder in-line	4 cylinder in-line	4 cylinder in-line
Torque	8 kgm @ 4500 rpm	8 kgm @ 4500 rpm	8 kgm @ 4500 rpm
Valve gear	4 valves per cylinder	4 valves per cylinder	4 valves per cylinder
Fuel consumption
City	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Highway	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Overall	12 kmpl.	9 kmpl.	12 kmpl.
Power train
Transmission	Manual 5 speed	Automatic 3 speed	Manual 5 speed
Type	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive
Steering
Type	Rack-and-Pinion	Rack-and-Pinion	Rack-and-Pinion
Suspension
Front	McPherson strut	McPherson strut	McPherson strut
Rear	3-link rigid axle with isolated trailing arm Coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers	3-link rigid axle with isolated trailing arm Coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers	3-link rigid axle with isolated trailing arm Coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers
Wheels & Tyres
Tyres	145/80 R12	145/80 R12	145/80 R12
Wheel make	Pressed steel	Pressed steel	Pressed steel
Wheel size	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

Zen VX Euro 2

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Comprehensive Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Calcutta	386,448	4,095	4,995	12,687	403,230	404,130
Chennai	388,470	13,850	24,850	9,392	411,712	422,712
Delhi	378,740	4,465	4,465	12,580	395,785	395,785
Mumbai	407,871	22,400	55,500	14,180	444,451	477,551
Pune	390,618	18,865	50,115	9,756	419,239	450,489

Zen AT

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Comprehensive Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Calcutta	496,650	4,330	5,230	16,101	517,081	517,081
Chennai	502,507	18,600	18,600	11,967	533,074	549,674
Delhi	474,118	4,465	4,465	15,534	494,117	494,117
Mumbai	524,116	27,000	69,500	18,700	569,816	612,316
Pune	502,178	23,327	63,501	12,275	537,780	577,954

Zen LX Euro 2

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Comprehensive Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Calcutta	348,537	3,945	4,845	11,513	363,995	364,895
Chennai	349,873	13,850	24,850	8,521	372,244	383,244
Delhi	340,869	4,465	4,465	11,407	356,741	356,741
Mumbai	368,157	20,800	50,800	13,580	402,537	432,537
Pune	352,240	17,330	45,510	8,888	378,458	406,638

Zen Euro-2 D, Vxi, Lxi:

Comprehensive technical specifications

Specifications	Zen D EURO-2 (PS)	Zen Vxi EURO-2	Zen Lxi EURO-2
Body
	Two Box 4 door Hatchback	Two Box 4 door Hatchback	Two Box 4 door Hatchback
Brakes
Antilock brake system	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Front	Disc, 236 mm	Disc, 236 mm	Disc, 236 mm
Rear	Drums 180 mm	Drums 180 mm	Drums 180 mm
Dimensions
Front track	1335 mm	1335 mm	1335 mm
Ground clearance	165 mm	165 mm	165 mm
Kerb weight	830 kgs.	765 kgs.	765 kgs.
Overall Height	1405 mm	1405 mm	1405 mm
Overall Length	3495 mm	3495 mm	3495 mm
Overall Width	1495 mm	1495 mm	1495 mm
Rear track	1305 mm	1305 mm	1305 mm
Tank capacity	35 litres	35 litres	35 litres
Wheelbase	2335 mm	2335 mm	2335 mm
Engine
Bore & Stroke	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Brake Horse Power	57 bhp @ 5000 rpm	60 bhp @ 6000 rpm	60 bhp @ 6000 rpm
Compression ratio	n.a.	9.4:1	9.4:1
Construction	Cast iron	Alluminium alloy	Alluminium alloy
Displacement	1527 cc	993 cc	993 cc
Fuel	Diesel	Petrol	Petrol
Ignition	Rotary Distributor type	Multipoint fuel injection	Multipoint fuel injection
Layout	4 cylinder in-line	4 cylinder in-line	4 cylinder in-line
Torque	9.7 kgm @ 2250 rpm	8 kgm @ 4500 rpm	8 kgm @ 4500 rpm
Valve gear	2 valves per cylinder	4 valves per cylinder	4 valves per cylinder
Fuel consumption
Overall	10.5 kmpl	12 kmpl.	12 kmpl.
Power train
Transmission	Manual- 5 speed	Manual- 5 speed	Manual- 5 speed
Type	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive	Front wheel drive
Steering
Type	Rack-and-Pinion, Electronic Power steering	Electronic power assited, Rack-and-Pinion	Electronic power assited, Rack-and-Pinion
Front	McPherson struts with Torsion type roll control device	McPherson strut	McPherson strut
Rear	Coil spring, gas filled shock absorbers with three link rigid axle & isolated trailing arms	3-link rigid axle with isolated trailing arm Coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers	3-link rigid axle with isolated trailing arm Coil springs and gas filled shock absorbers
Wheels & Tyres
Tyres	145/70 R13	145/80 R12	145/80 R12
Wheel make	Pressed steel	Pressed steel	Pressed steel
Wheel size	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

On Road prices

Zen D Euro 2 (PS)

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Pune	412,869	19,755	52,785	10,483	443,107	476,137

Zen Lxi Euro 2

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Mumbai	397,734	22,000	54,300	14,550	434,284	466,584
Pune	380,675	18,467	48,921	9,532	408,674	439,128

Zen Vxi Euro 2

City	Ex-Showroom	Registration & Service Charges (Individual)	Registration & Service Charges (Company)	Comprehensive Insurance	Total (Individual)	Total (Company)
Calcutta	406,946	4,095	4,995	13,322	424,363	425,263
Chennai	409,152	13,850	24,850	9,859	432,861	432,861
Delhi	399,223	4,465	4,465	13,214	416,902	416,902
Mumbai	429,659	23,300	58,100	15,590	468,549	503,349
Pune	411,369	19,695	52,605	10,225	441,289	474,199