JOIN USMaruti which already holds 58 per cent market share in the compact car segment withmodels like Swift, Alto, Zen, A-Star, Wagon R, etc, hopes to further consolidate its leadership with Ritz.
The Ritz, available in European markets since a year under Splash brand name, has been re-designed for India, claimed the company.
“The Ritz combines modern European design, sportiness of Swift, latest in engine technology and Suzuki’s globally acclaimed expertise in compact cars” Manohar Bhat, General Manager & Commercial Business Head (South), Maruti Suzuki India told reporters here. At the heart of Ritz are new 1.2 Litre K12M Petrol engine and the 1.3 DDiS Diesel power-plant, each offering optimum performance and fuel efficiency, Bhat said. Alongside this, the transmission system has been optimised for Ritz to match Indian driving habits. With this Ritz offers best-in-class combination of fuel efficiency and drivability.
The base models will cost (ex-showroom Bangalore) Rs 3.88 lakh for petrol and Rs 4.64 for diesel. With its overall length of 3.7 metres height of 1.6 metres and width of 1.7 metres, Ritz offers comfortable roomy cabin with ample legroom for 5 adults. Despite its large frame, it has tight turning radius of 4.7 meters, Bhat added. The company declared that according to certification obtained from testing agencey CMVR, the petrol Ritz wil give a mileage of 17.7 km per litre and the diesel will give 21.1 KM.
“Maruti Suzuki engineers worked as part of Suzuki’s engine teams for design, calibration and testing of engine in Japan and in India,” Bhat said. Because of better engine performance Ritz will need first engine oil change after 10,000 kms as against conventional 1,000 kms.