2018 Maruti Swift to not move to NEXA, priced about 5% higher - Report
To arrive in showrooms shortly after Auto Expo 2018 reveal.
According to Autocar India, the next gen Maruti Swift will continue selling through Maruti's regular chain of dealerships, and is expected to be priced 5-7 percent higher than the INR 5.99 Lakh – INR 7.47 Lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) range of the current Swift.
The Swift measures 3,840 mm in length, 1,735 mm in width and 1,495 mm/1,520 mm in height (Indian model could vary), with a wheelbase of 2,450 mm. Comparing it to the current car, it is 10 mm shorter in overall length, 10 mm shorter in height and has a 20 mm longer wheelbase, while the width is identical. The extra wheelbase will help liberate more knee room for rear occupants as well as improve stability at highway speeds and around corners.
As for styling, it's likely to be similar to the international model, featuring LED headlamps with DRLs, fog lamps, LED taillamps, 15-inch diamond cut alloy rims, hexagonal grille with horizontal slats and liquid metal flow character lines. Inside, the new Swift will have an all-black interior with chrome, silver and gloss black trim embellishes. It's unclear if elements such as the HVAC vents, MID, HVAC controls and instrument dials are identical to the international-spec model or that of the Maruti Dzire. Luggage space has also increased to 254 L (up from 204 L).
The engine lineup will be sourced from the 2017 Maruti Dzire, which lists the 1.3L DDiS 190 4-cyl diesel engine paired with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AGS (AMT), as well as a 1.2L 4-cyl K12B petrol engine also paired with a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed AGS (AMT). Expect fuel mileage to outpace the current version’s figures of 20.4 km/L (petrol) and 25.2 km/L (diesel). Also rumoured is a 1.0L Boosterjet variant that could be sold as the 'Maruti Swift RS' in India.
Also Read: 2017 Maruti Dzire bookings cross 44,000 units – Report
The new Swift will be based on the Dzire's HEARTECT 5th gen lightweight platform, so expect the car to weigh around 900 kg. To maintain the Swift's rally-based handling, Suzuki engineers have worked hard on calibrating the electric power steering, and the suspension setup is reportedly similar to the Baleno RS.
Local production of the new Swift begins in October. It is rumoured to make its national debut at the Auto Expo 2018 in February and go on sale shortly after.
[Source: Autocar India]
