Specialties and specifications of All New Maruti Swift.

Ever since its launch in the summer of 2005, Swift in Indiahas been a revelation and a revolution at the same time. As it gets set for itssecond inning donning a new avatar next week on August 17, here is how it looksand some information of the changes made by Maruti over the older version.

Exteriors :

From afar, its difficult to make out if it is a differentcar. It still has similar head and tail lamps, and similar dimensions (thoughoverall length has gone up by 90mm). The changes are visible only to aconcentrated eye. Here are a few of them :

Headlamps -Are clearer and bigger now. It also stretchesback to make the car look much bigger than it actually is. It is a designphilosophy we first encountered in the Hyundai i20 and for sure the new Swiftwill look to punch above its weight and try to put a dent to the i20 successstory.

Tail lamps

Also get a dose of clarity with a small strip of clear lampsin between. It also stretches further in at the sides to the extent that thegap between the rear door and the tail light is reduced substantially.

The boot lid

This car is built on a quasi new platform, so the package isnew. The door of the hatch is now smaller and the main frame of the car at theback has gone up. This makes the car sturdier than before but it will alsohamper ease of loading and unloading.

The grille

The honeycomb mesh has been dumped for a more modern lookingKizashi-style grille. Does not make the car look any different to me in myview.

The alloys

Ah, one of the best standard alloys on offer in a small car.The ten spoked alloy wheels enhance the sportiness of the car and goesperfectly with the overall look of the car. The tyres are also bigger, 15″inplace of the 14″ of the old. A super addition.

Basic structure

Remains the same which is a good thing. Considering thatSwift was such a radical design in the first place, it would have been aproblem improving upon it. And knowing Suzuki, another Estilo type fiasco couldnot have been ruled out. The car retains all the ingredients of the olderversion with a few additions without damaging its stellar brand equity. Itstill remains very Swifty.

Interiors :

Gets the maximum changes.

Dashboard and instrument panel

Is completely re-laid. The quality of plastic is better, sois the overall fit and finish. The steering wheel is chunky and solid. Theintegrated music system, available only in top end variants, is decent. Welcomeaddition includes a retractable cup/bottle holder in front of the AC vents onthe co passenger side aka the Jazz. Notable omissions include push start optionand chiller in the glovebox.

Rear leg room

Gets a definite leg up. The wheelbase is longer by 40mmwhich has enhanced the rear leg room by a good 20mm. The front seats alsoborrow the scooped back from the Alto K10 which basically gives more knee roomto the rear passengers. Surely the one grouse of the rear passengers feelingcramped has been addressed.

Boot space

The only area where the new car misses out. If the highloading position was not enough, the boot space is also marginally less thanbefore whereas the need was for more. There is no provision for 60:40 splitseats as well so it is a grey area.

Engine

The diesel engine remains the same 1.3 litre multijet DDiSbut the petrol 1.2 litre K series gets variable valve timing. This increasesthe overall power output of the car by 2 bhp bringing it back to the olderlevel (when it had the now discontinued 1.3 litre petrol engine) of 87 bhp. Thecar is also lighter, so with a more powerful engine it also boasts of 6% higherfuel economy at over 18 kmpl (ARAI).

Other changes

A fibre fuel tank. The new car is lighter by 30 kg.

New anti lock braking system that is linked to an enginedrag control module. Basically the braking is even more precise and effectiveespecially on wet surfaces.

 Article by SUMANTH BANERJEE, Karol Bagh. New Delhi.