Next-gen Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire Launch Preponed

A report by LiveMint has revealed that the launch of next-generation Maruti Dzire compact sedan has been preponed by a year. The car is expected to be launched in the year 2017, as compared to the initial launch, which was slated for the year 2018. This move by Maruti might be a measure to compensate for the fleeting sales of its Swift hatchback, which have been hampered by the introduction of company’s premium hatchback, Baleno. The third generation of Swift hatchback will be hitting the Indian streets in 2016 and India’s largest automaker does not want to delay the introduction of the car’s sedan version.

The next-generation Dzire will be around 50-80kgs lighter than the current model. In consideration to Swift’s subpar performance in Global NCAP crash tests and the followed ban in Assam, the automaker will also concentrate on the safety features of the upcoming sedan. Both Dzire and Swift hatchback will find their foundations in Baleno’s ‘new generation platform”. As far as powerplants are concerned, it is still unclear if Maruti will finally ditch Fiat’s DDiS diesel mill for a more powerful unit. With the escalating competition from the ‘100PS’ compact sedan club (Honda Amaze and Ford Figo Aspire), a more powerful unit will help Dzire achieve a stronghold in the Indian market.