Maruti launches the Swift

New Delhi: The much-awaited Swift from Maruti Suzuki is on the roads. Priced at Rs4 lakh ex-showroom Delhi the Swift comes with a 16 valve 4-cylinder, 1,300cc-engine that can generate a solid 87 bhp @ 6000 rpm.

The Swift in its present design was showcased at the Paris Motor Show in September last year, and is the first model to be introduced in India within six months of its international launch.

The Suzuki competes with premium hatchbacks like the Hyundai Getz, Ford Fusion, Fiat Palio, the GM Sail and Fiat Petra. It is likely to give its competitors a tough fight as its base model comes for just under Rs4 lakh.

Currently manufactured at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary, and likely to be manufactured in India and China later, the Swift is a departure from the Suzuki design and is more targeted at European buyers. Suzuki has worked with a team of designers and engineers of which at least a quarter are said to be Indian in collaboration with European automotive professional and ordinary motoring enthusiasts.

The Swift is mounted on an altogether new platform based on the design innovation programme initiated by the company.

Clearly influenced by European cars, the Swift comes with rounded fluid curves, a honeycomb grille, narrow stacked headlamps and turn indicator units carrying the Suzuki chrome badge. In a departure from the tallboy design of the Alto and the Wagon R, the Swift has a low slung and curvaceous look with greater width and length making it a spacious car.

The Swift's 1,300cc direct injection diesel engine has been co-developed with Fiat and is expected to offer premium performance and greater fuel efficiency.

The Swift is shorter at 3,695 mm than the Esteem's 4095mm, and at 1,690 mm it is wider than the Zen, Alto and Wagon R, which are 1495 cms wide or the Esteem's 1575 mm.

Swift also promises greater stability with its wider 2,390 mm-wheelbase compared to Maruti Esteem's 2365 mm.