New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India has announced the launch of the sedan version of its hatch back Swift, the Swift DZire.

The company says that following in the footsteps of earlier Maruti Suzuki models, such as the Swift and the SX4, the DZire too is set to redefine the market and stir excitement in the entry level sedan segment.

The DZire, which comes both in diesel and petrol engines, comes with luxury features like integrated stereo, steering mounted audio controls, automatic climate control and power windows. Safety features aboard the Dzire include dual airbags, ABS with EDB, collapsible steering column and an i-CATS anti-theft facility. Many of these features are first-time offerings in the segment.

Maruti Suzuki Managing Director S Nakanishi said, "The DZire is the seventh model Maruti Suzuki has launched in the last three years. It has a special place in our product strategy. Millions of Indians own compact cars. With growing incomes and better lifestyle, many of them want to upgrade to a sedan. But today, they are not able to find an entry level sedan that offers style, features and performance. The DZire offers all this, and at an attractive price."

Performance with Prestige

DZire offers customers the prestige associated with a sedan, while retaining the famed performance of the Swift hatch back. The Swift had, from the start, been conceived as a car that would be offered both as a hatchback as well as a sedan.

For the eleven Maruti Suzuki engineers who worked on the design of the DZire, the challenge was to integrate the boot into the overall personality of the Swift, while imparting the elegance of a sedan. In what is a significant engineering feat, Maruti Suzuki's engineers have managed to integrated the boot, while keeping the additional weight off. The Dzire is just 30 kilograms heavier than its hatchback version, and the suspension and engine have been tuned for the sedan. Given this low weight, the DZire has the highest power-to-weight ratio in its category, ensuring best performance and superior fuel efficiency.

The petrol version of DZire comes with a 1.3 litre, 16 valve, ALTec 32 engine, with a maximum 87 bhp at 6000 rpm. The diesel version comes with the 1.3 litre DDiS engine, offering a torque of 190 Nm at 2000 rpm.

DZire is offered in seven colours: Arctic White, Silky Silver, Clear Beige, Midnight Black, Bright Red, Azure Gray and Sovereign Blue.

Best of both worlds - more features, attractive price

In recent years, Maruti Suzuki has consistently delivered more features than competitor cars, at prices that are comparable or lower. The company cites this as the main reason for the success of Swift (both petrol and diesel variants), the Zen Estilo and the SX4.

With the DZire, Maruti Suzuki says it will take the story forward. 'Commonising' platforms is emerging as a global best practice, as it enables manufacturers to minimise duplication and prevent wastage, while being able to offer more features and superior styling in car models, at attractive prices. The DZire is the latest example of this best practice. Maruti Suzuki designers and engineers have worked to control the noise, vibration and harshness levels, thus ensuring the best in class driving pleasure and comfort.

A3 segment's new leader - Maruti Suzuki

While continuing to be the leader of India's small car market, Maruti Suzuki has emerged as the market leader in the A3 segment as well during 2007-08. The company sold a total of 41800 units in the last 11 months (Apr-Feb 2008) in the domestic market, the highest number of cars for any manufacturer in the A3 segment, according to the recent industry results published by SIAM. The company says this is testimony to the fact that Maruti Suzuki has evolved its image from being the leader in small cars to a company offering the full range of cars.

With the launch of DZire in the A3 segment, the Company is set to wide choice for the customer and further increase its lead over the competition.

Price

The Swift Dzire has been priced aggressively as an introductory offer. In the petrol engine version, the car comes in three trims, with the Lxi version priced at Rs4.49 lakh, the Vxi version at Rs4.97 lakh, and the top end Zxi version at Rs5.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

For the diesel version, the aggressive pricing continues, with the Ldi version priced at Rs5.39 lakh, the Vdi at Rs5.85 lakh, and the Zdi version at Rs6.70 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi.)