Re: Why can't Maruti make Gypsy under 4m for tax exemptions? As rightly mentioned by GTO, It doesnt make commercial sense for Maruti to invest in re-engineering a vehicle which is 25 years old:
1. The Gypsy is essentially a rugged vehicle and prefered by defence/off-roading enthusiasts due to its off roading capablity, reliablity, simple construction and light weight. While the earstwhile Jongas & the MM540 were needed to be pulled by another 4x4 vehicle once stuck in sand, I have seen gypsys being recovered by simply being lifted by 6-7 Jawans with bare hands!
2. Even if it is looked at from the point of view of being made into a new-gen compact SUV, it would never be able to match the city driveability, fuel efficiency levels, ride quality, creature comforts & safety equip.(ACC.,ABS, Air Bags etc) that will be offered by the coming new entrants (Duster, Ecosport & ofcourse XA Aplpha). Gypsy is a Body on Chassis construction while the newer C-SUVs are all Monocoque constructions
3. Even if all the above are acomplished and we have a Gypsy that is under 4 meters and has incorporated a new engine and has all bells & whistles thrown in, the vehicle will loose its most important USP - "Price"
4. Also, even if a re-engineered gypsy is launched at the same price point, wont it cannibalise the sales of the awaited XA Alpha? And if we look at it logically, the XA alpha is the new avtaar of the gypsy -
Honestly, I am myself a Die hard fan of the current avtaar of the Gypsy but it always leaves me asking for a little more. Though even I would love to have a Hard top gypsy which has 4 doors, a hard top that doesnt look ugly, has all the features that a top-end premium hatch has. But I know as much that its not going to happen as I know that I am never going to get a Genie who grants me my 3 wishes!
Posting one of my favourite pics. I call it "The dilemma": |