Maruti goes filmi to move Swiftly into focus

johnjacob · 16th February 2005, 11:44

From the Economic Times. Full article below. Salient point is that the Swift will be available in May.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/1022218.cms

CHENNAI: It is being touted as the most important launch for Maruti Suzuki in over two decades, after the enormously successful debut of M-800. Little wonder then that Maruti has hitched a ride on the Bollywood bandwagon to make a Swift entry.

Swift, a premium compact car expected to take on Hyundai’s Getz, Fiat’s Palio and Ford’s Fusion, is set for a May, 2005 launch. And it will be debuting alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee in Yashraj Films’ Bunty Aur Bubli.

The movie, one of the most eagerly awaited flicks, is a road romance directed by Shaad Ali, whose earlier film Saathiya made waves around the country.

Industry sources said Maruti was carefully calibrating Swift’s nationwide promotional campaign to coordinate it with the movie’s launch.

The Bonny & Clyde-styled caper has Abhishek and Rani as strangers on the run, traversing Uttar Pradesh, from Varanasi to Kanpur to Agra. Amitabh Bachchan plays a cop chasing the duo.

While Gulzar has penned the lyrics, the music is by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. Yashraj Films’ Aditya Chopra is said to be leaving no stone unturned to add value to Bunty Aur Bubli and ensure that it is a box office success. Both the companies are keen to keep the tie-up under wraps for the moment.

The Swift was first showcased at the Paris Motor Show in September last year. The car is currently being manufactured only at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary.

India, China and Japan are the next designated manufacturing centres for this hatchback. Maruti Udyog expects the vehicle to clock volumes of 50,000 units per annum.

The car is likely to come with a 1.3-litre petrol engine with a choice of 5-speed manual and automatic gears and may be priced in the Rs 5-5.5 lakh range. A diesel variant is also in the offing.

johnjacob · 16th February 2005, 11:59

Since the Swift has a kerb weight of 1065 Kg (versus the Esteem's 870 Kg), performance will not be upto the mark of the Esteem.

ajmat · 16th February 2005, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjacob

Since the Swift has a kerb weight of 1065 Kg (versus the Esteem's 870 Kg), performance will not be upto the mark of the Esteem.

time for the "B" swift with Iceman's 1.8 litre engine

Anyway - great move - out hyundai'd yundai - lets hope that the movie brings out the car !

Technocrat · 16th February 2005, 12:19

Hmm Yashraj films seems to have a fixation with Suzuki, 1st it was bikes in Dhoom now the car in their latest flick

maedi · 16th February 2005, 13:10

this is nice...in film branding et al...i think it's a nice way of showcasing the car....and projecting it as a young, hep, fast, stylish vehicle....

wonder if someone's gonna do an italian job with the reva after this....lol

you think the weight of the car would be brought down in the indianisation process....if the car weighs 1100 odd it would adversely affect the mileage...which might not be easily digested by the masses....

the car does try to look like the mini though, doesnt it? blacked out A and B Pillars et al...

islero · 16th February 2005, 16:23

nice idea, Maruti........just hope they incorporate some nice automobile action in the movie!!

DCEite · 16th February 2005, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

out hyundai'd yundai - lets hope that the movie brings out the car !

Well said.... ha ha ha.....

v1p3r · 16th February 2005, 23:01

any idea when the much touted 1.3 multi-jet diesel will be out...want that to be my first diesel car!

X-Machine · 17th February 2005, 04:02

Its a nice idea.But if the movie flops,it might backfire IMO.

Maybe they wanna also show that even a tall person like Abhishek can drive this small car from Maruti.

Gawd,i can imagine people on the road screamin,"Woh dekho,Abhishek ki gaadi".

X

ajmat · 17th February 2005, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by v1p3r

any idea when the much touted 1.3 multi-jet diesel will be out...want that to be my first diesel car!

with the GM / Fiat seperation, may not happen ...for a while

lamborghini · 17th February 2005, 13:48

1.3 lt engine
1100kg

no way i am going to buy it until it launches a JTD version..
bad power
bad FE
whats the point

maybach · 27th February 2005, 23:59

saw the swift.. at center one and palm beach its orange in colour..

ajmat · 28th February 2005, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-Machine

Its a nice idea.But if the movie flops,it might backfire IMO.

Maybe they wanna also show that even a tall person like Abhishek can drive this small car from Maruti.

Gawd,i can imagine people on the road screamin,"Woh dekho,Abhishek ki gaadi".

X

Not necessarily, Men in Black 2 featured the new E class but flopped badly, car was a sales success though

maybach · 28th February 2005, 11:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-Machine

Its a nice idea.But if the movie flops,it might backfire IMO.

Maybe they wanna also show that even a tall person like Abhishek can drive this small car from Maruti.

Gawd,i can imagine people on the road screamin,"Woh dekho,Abhishek ki gaadi".

X

whats IMO

johnjacob · 28th February 2005, 11:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by maybach

whats IMO

IMO = In My Opinion

HTH,
- John

(PS: HTH = Hope That Helps, and PS = Post Script)

16th February 2005, 11:44	#1
johnjacob BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore, INDIA Posts: 344 Thanked: 25 Times	Maruti goes filmi to move Swiftly into focus From the Economic Times. Full article below. Salient point is that the Swift will be available in May. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...ow/1022218.cms CHENNAI: It is being touted as the most important launch for Maruti Suzuki in over two decades, after the enormously successful debut of M-800. Little wonder then that Maruti has hitched a ride on the Bollywood bandwagon to make a Swift entry. Swift, a premium compact car expected to take on Hyundai’s Getz, Fiat’s Palio and Ford’s Fusion, is set for a May, 2005 launch. And it will be debuting alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukherjee in Yashraj Films’ Bunty Aur Bubli. The movie, one of the most eagerly awaited flicks, is a road romance directed by Shaad Ali, whose earlier film Saathiya made waves around the country. Industry sources said Maruti was carefully calibrating Swift’s nationwide promotional campaign to coordinate it with the movie’s launch. The Bonny & Clyde-styled caper has Abhishek and Rani as strangers on the run, traversing Uttar Pradesh, from Varanasi to Kanpur to Agra. Amitabh Bachchan plays a cop chasing the duo. While Gulzar has penned the lyrics, the music is by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. Yashraj Films’ Aditya Chopra is said to be leaving no stone unturned to add value to Bunty Aur Bubli and ensure that it is a box office success. Both the companies are keen to keep the tie-up under wraps for the moment. The Swift was first showcased at the Paris Motor Show in September last year. The car is currently being manufactured only at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary. India, China and Japan are the next designated manufacturing centres for this hatchback. Maruti Udyog expects the vehicle to clock volumes of 50,000 units per annum. The car is likely to come with a 1.3-litre petrol engine with a choice of 5-speed manual and automatic gears and may be priced in the Rs 5-5.5 lakh range. A diesel variant is also in the offing.
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 11:59	#2
johnjacob BHPian Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore, INDIA Posts: 344 Thanked: 25 Times	Since the Swift has a kerb weight of 1065 Kg (versus the Esteem's 870 Kg), performance will not be upto the mark of the Esteem.
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 12:19	#4
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Hmm Yashraj films seems to have a fixation with Suzuki, 1st it was bikes in Dhoom now the car in their latest flick
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 13:10	#5
maedi BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 88 Thanked: 0 Times	this is nice...in film branding et al...i think it's a nice way of showcasing the car....and projecting it as a young, hep, fast, stylish vehicle.... wonder if someone's gonna do an italian job with the reva after this....lol you think the weight of the car would be brought down in the indianisation process....if the car weighs 1100 odd it would adversely affect the mileage...which might not be easily digested by the masses.... the car does try to look like the mini though, doesnt it? blacked out A and B Pillars et al...
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 16:23	#6
islero Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,574 Thanked: 13 Times View My Garage	nice idea, Maruti........just hope they incorporate some nice automobile action in the movie!!
	() Thanks

16th February 2005, 23:01	#8
v1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: BLR / DXB / LON Posts: 5,334 Thanked: 6,896 Times View My Garage	any idea when the much touted 1.3 multi-jet diesel will be out...want that to be my first diesel car!
	() Thanks

17th February 2005, 04:02	#9
X-Machine Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mumbai/Tokyo Posts: 1,475 Thanked: 29 Times	Its a nice idea.But if the movie flops,it might backfire IMO. Maybe they wanna also show that even a tall person like Abhishek can drive this small car from Maruti. Gawd,i can imagine people on the road screamin,"Woh dekho,Abhishek ki gaadi". X
	() Thanks

17th February 2005, 13:48	#11
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,113 Thanked: 5,760 Times View My Garage	1.3 lt engine 1100kg no way i am going to buy it until it launches a JTD version.. bad power bad FE whats the point
	() Thanks

27th February 2005, 23:59	#12
maybach BANNED Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Mumbai Posts: 266 Thanked: 0 Times	saw the swift.. at center one and palm beach its orange in colour..
	() Thanks