[TusharK]

Maruti Suzuki recently launched the fourth-generation Swift in India. While the carmaker is likely to introduce a CNG variant in the near future, don’t expect to see a performance version of the popular hatchback in India anytime soon.



Partho Banarjee, head of Sales and Marketing at Maruti Suzuki, has confirmed that the company has no plans to bring the Swift Sport or the Swift RS to India. The carmaker doesn’t believe the sporty models will be viable for the market.

When asked if Maruti would offer the Swift with the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine from the Fronx, Banarjee said, “The Swift is [already] very sporty. When you experience it, I don’t think you will ask for a turbo.”

The previous generation Swift Sport had been spotted testing in India. However, it is said that the car was imported for testing by a component maker. This generation of the Swift Sport was offered with a 1.4-litre mild-hybrid turbo-petrol engine in select markets.

Source: Autocar India

Link to Team-BHP News

[Suifuto]

Missed opportunity for Maruti Suzuki. Hyundai has been actively launching their N-Line models and Tata is coming up with Altroz Racer. I know couple of fellow Swift owners, who were waiting for the 4th Gen Swift launch, hoping Maruti would launch the hybrid version of Swift in India, and were hoping to upgrade. That 3 Cylinder engine with strong hybrid option should have been launched, at least as an option. Now the 3rd gen swift models would have more demand in resale market.

[ByKaizen]

There are 2 engines in Wagon R, 1.0 and 1.2 I do not think the 1.2 sells a lot or incurs any considerable profit for Maruti.

The same may happen for Swift if they bring in Turbo, people will like it, praise it, celebrate the turbo in social media but the potential buyers will see the price, efficiency and value for money and choose the NA petrol.

The people who like turbo will lean towards Fronx/ i20 N line/ Upcoming Altroz rather than Swift turbo as they feel like a better VFM.

If there is tax reduction for strong hybrids Maruti can bring in strong hybrid in Swift with Z series engine which may be a wise move from them.

[sh3lby]

Absolutely spot-on! Indians aren't worthy of anything fun and we'll never see anything sporty on our shores if Maruti has its hand in it. Econoboxes are where it's at.

When asked if Maruti would offer the Swift with the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine from the Fronx, Banarjee said, “The Swift is [already] very sporty. When you experience it, I don’t think you will ask for a turbo.”

What're you smoking old man...
Saying this as someone with a swift. Hardly think the new 3-cyl will be a 'sportier upgrade'.

Realistically speaking if they made an effort and tried, how much would the sport versions actually cost in India? Is there a way to do this analysis?

[theAutomaniac]

You see the K12N to Z12 news never made me sad! At the end of the day, even if the car became slower, it wasn't a worry because the stock K12 was always a commuter engine at heart.

This news however, makes me very sad! Availability of K10C on Fronx made us think that Maruti is finally getting open to have some fun.

The K10C is homologated for India and with its low sales numbers on the Fronx, it makes perfect sense to just add the engine on the Swift, Brezza, and Baleno as an effort to recover the lost investment that went into Indianization of that engine!

If you think about it, Maruti has made go-fast versions of all its hatchbacks except for the Swift! Baleno had the RS, Old Alto & WagonR had the 1.1L, then second gen Alto had the K10, and heck even the new WagonR has the K12N with 90HP, which is actually expected to be faster than new Swift. Swift remains the only popular Maruti hatchback which never had a go-faster version available! Such a disappointment for a car that has always been the pick of enthusiasts from Maruti's stable!

Originally Posted by sh3lby

Realistically speaking if they made an effort and tried, how much would the sport versions actually cost in India? Is there a way to do this analysis?

Realistically speaking, the Boosterjet Fronx and i20 go upwards of 13-14 lakhs in some cities. Considering that the Sport would invite higher tax bracket due to bigger engine and higher costs due to ADAS and better quality components, I'd expect it to cost around 20 lakhs, which for sure isn't a viable option for India!

However, Maruti could've plonked the Boosterjet into the Swift, stiffened up the suspension, and given it all wheel discs. That alone would've made the Swift cool! Even stock, the 3rd gen Swift used to keep up with the GT TSI, Abarth Punto, and Tiago JTP on racetracks! With the aforementioned upgrades it'd have go-kart like handling, and would've had the potential to be the go-cheap Mini Cooper of India!

Hopefully Suzuki gets into a better position globally in the future and Maruti finally gets some liberty to lose some money into such cool products! As of today, it is pretty evident that Maruti is being burdened into keeping Suzuki alive and hence isn't being allowed to have fun like they used to do with the V6s, the Kizashi, the 3-door Zen and go-fast hatchbacks of earlier days!

[shortbread]

I'd rather see maruti invest in getting the Indian swift crash tested and announce the ratings before making it any faster.

[SmartCat]

All over India, probably 5 or 10 perennially optimistic people were holding their breath awaiting the launch of Swift Sport.

Yet again, Maruti will be disappointing those 5 or 10 people with this news.

[sh3lby]

Originally Posted by theAutomaniac

However, Maruti could've plonked the Boosterjet into the Swift, stiffened up the suspension, and given it all wheel discs. That alone would've made the Swift cool! Even stock, the 3rd gen Swift used to keep up with the GT TSI, Abarth Punto, and Tiago JTP on racetracks! With the aforementioned upgrades it'd have go-kart like handling, and would've had the potential to be the go-cheap Mini Cooper of India!

2nd para - exactly mate! There's nothing to hate about the new swift but hardly anything to hype it up either. We could've had so much more but we will just keep losing cylinders for cost-cutting it seems.

Originally Posted by SmartCat

All over India, probably 5 or 10 perennially optimistic people were holding their breath awaiting the launch of Swift Sport.
Yet again, Maruti will be disappointing those 5 or 10 people with this news.

Notwithstanding the crude sarcasm, I don't think anyone truly expects Maruti to launch a Swift Sport ever , can't be disappointed if there was no expectation.

Deluding the customer into paying more for less and claiming the swift is 'sporty enough' is grounds for it though. Let's be real, they are made economy orientated through and through.

Originally Posted by shortbread

I'd rather see maruti invest in getting the Indian swift crash tested and announce the ratings before making it any faster.

+1, this should be a bigger priority ... even the previous gen was built to much lower standards than sold abroad. Tata and Mahindra are making strides in safer cars and so should Maruti.

End of the day I'm tired of seeing "Oh but you see XX company will lose this much money if they try to do something cool" or "taxes, customer-base, pricing etc." being given as a (albeit correct) justification anytime we're dumped with honestly mediocre cars. As an enthusiast, one can and should yearn.

[Durango Dude]

Maruti is too tame, unlike Hyundai that's actually making an effort in bringing it's N badge with some suspension tweaks even if not increasing the engine power and torque to match the prowess. Eager to know how the 4th Gen Swift will fare once the test drive embargo is lifted tomorrow.

[gt3t0uring]

Maruti knows it’s core customers, they only want a no-nonsense automobile with the highest fuel efficiency while in the case of Hyundai, people are generally open to experiment (read: spend) on new features/engines.

[GeeTee TSI]

I would have appreciated honesty (affordable cars for the masses is the strategy) over the shenanigans (already plenty sporty!). It is an era of ever increasing automotive awareness (people know their N Lines and GT Lines) and MSIL let us all down with that statement

[GTO]

Always sad to read these kind of statements from Maruti. Maruti has got to understand that a sporty variant goes beyond just numbers or profits. It greatly adds to the brand image, will bring in a different kind of customer to your showroom (who otherwise never would step into a Maruti outlet) and can spawn off driving meets, tuned cars etc.

All adding to "Brand Maruti" which is becoming very economy-oriented. Not to mention, in Bombay, I see more of Maruti Ubers & Olas rather than privately owned cars.

Maruti should learn from the Hyundai N-Line range, Tata's fast EVs, Hyundai-Kia's 1.5L turbo-petrols & Mahindra's 200 BHP turbo-petrols.

[Altrozed]

Smart move from Maruti. They are one's exactly who knew what markets wants and sells accordingly. How much ever "enthusiasts" break the keyboards demanding sporty and fast cars from Maruti, its the rest of 99.999% customers who builds up the company.

Maruti burnt their hands earlier with Baleno RS, Scross 1.6 etc models and this wasnt too far too.

Only if they had decent safety ratings in their portfolio, they wouldnt have allowed other manufacturers to go.

[yd_gli]

I personally don't care if they bring the Sport/RS or not. I would never bother with a Swift or a Maruti.

What irks is me is that they have the gall to pass this statement" “The Swift is [already] very sporty. When you experience it, I don’t think you will ask for a turbo.” Definition of making a fool out of your customer.

[ZenMaster]

Originally Posted by GTO

Always sad to read these kind of statements from Maruti. Maruti has got to understand that a sporty variant goes beyond just numbers or profits. It greatly adds to the brand image, will bring in a different kind of customer to your showroom (who otherwise never would step into a Maruti outlet) and can spawn off driving meets, tuned cars etc.
.

Maruti leadership only knows how to "sell" the most cars at the most profit. They do not understand any other language
Unfortunately the Jimny's Mega-Flop would have concreted their mindset further. And they are not entirely wrong either since the Indian market has proved to them again and again that they won't accept a Maruti if it not a typical Maruti

There are no "enthusiasts" at the top of Maruti and that is seen in everything they do.

To think differently, Maruti Suzuki needs its own Akio Toyoda" - Someone who is a business man by trade, but a racer at heart or some other kind of enthusiast who has a vision for the brand that goes beyond just numbers & $$$.