[radiokidb]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

As usual with sales guys, he is only partially true.

Yes, diesels less than 1.5L, and petrols less than 1.2L do qualify for lower (small car) tax bracket, provided they are less than 4 metres in length.

SX4 is 4490m and hence it wont qualify!

(However, Maruti is working on bringing the DZire in this tax bracket. DZire has 1.2L petrol, and 1.3L diesels which will qualify if its length is brought under 4m)

Actually there is another tax which is levied on vehicles solely based on engine capacity. There is a flat Rs 10000 levied on all cars with engine capacity greater than 1500 cc and a flat tax of Rs 15000 (or maybe Rs 20000, not sure) on cars with engine capacity greater than 2000 cc

[ph03n!x]

Originally Posted by radiokidb

Actually there is another tax which is levied on vehicles solely based on engine capacity. There is a flat Rs 10000 levied on all cars with engine capacity greater than 1500 cc and a flat tax of Rs 15000 (or maybe Rs 20000, not sure) on cars with engine capacity greater than 2000 cc

This is news for me. Can someone else confirm too?

[directinjection]

If 1.3 has been found adequate enough for SX4, MUL should seriously consider launching the car's international hatchback version whose dimensions exceed the 4 meter limit by just 1.15 cm. Minor redesign of the bumpers should bring it within the magical 4-meter limit, enabling a more competitive price. What say?

[avisidhu]

Originally Posted by directinjection

If 1.3 has been found adequate enough for SX4, MUL should seriously consider launching the car's international hatchback version whose dimensions exceed the 4 meter limit by just 1.15 cm. Minor redesign of the bumpers should bring it within the magical 4-meter limit, enabling a more competitive price. What say?

With Swift and Ritz already sharing the same engine, which segment would this hatch cater to? All it will end up doing is change the percieved image of SX4 to another hatch with a boot and dent its sales, IMHO.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by avisidhu

With Swift and Ritz already sharing the same engine, which segment would this hatch cater to? All it will end up doing is change the percieved image of SX4 to another hatch with a boot and dent its sales, IMHO.

SX4 hatch is a crossover/mini SUV, not a hatchback in the Swift/Ritz mould. If you take a look at MUL's SUV lineup, you'll notice there's a huge gap between the 5-lac rupee Gypsy and 18-lac rupee Grand Vitara. An 8-10 lac rupee SX4 would slot neatly between the two. Mahindra is already working on a new sub-4 meter mini-SUV (not the Xylo chop-job but a brand new vehicle). There's huge latent demand for mini-SUVs in this country due to their affordability, economy and the condition of our roads.

[selfdrive]

This crossover section of the market is largely untapped. The only vehicles that can be considered here could be either the Jazz (we know how that story has gone, though it is a wonderful car) or the Scorpio (a bit too loaded to be considered in this section; it is technically more a full fledged SUV).
IMHO a SX4 hatchback would be a unique product as most other manufacturers only offer hatchbacks, sedans or SUVs. If such a crossover is available I would definitely go for it. With the sedan I am suddenly not so sure, though I initially was keen on it.

[Surviving Brain]

Originally Posted by directinjection

If 1.3 has been found adequate enough for SX4, MUL should seriously consider launching the car's international hatchback version whose dimensions exceed the 4 meter limit by just 1.15 cm. Minor redesign of the bumpers should bring it within the magical 4-meter limit, enabling a more competitive price. What say?

The car that you're talking about is nothing but the car which was co-developed by Fiat & Suzuki for the European market, popularly known as Fiat Sedici or Suzuki SX4!!

Thus, I tend to feel that Maruti Suzuki might not be able to launch this car in India.

[nurni76]

Originally Posted by Surviving Brain

The car that you're talking about is nothing but the car which was co-developed by Fiat & Suzuki for the European market, popularly known as Fiat Sedici or Suzuki SX4!!

Thus, I tend to feel that Maruti Suzuki might not be able to launch this car in India.

Why not? The hatch and Sedan coexist in several markets like US and China. So I guess MSIL can launch it if they so desire. Also if it is launched with the 1.3L VGT 90hp engine, it will be a good powerful hatch.

[erohit]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

This crossover section of the market is largely untapped. The only vehicles that can be considered here could be either the Jazz (we know how that story has gone, though it is a wonderful car) or the Scorpio (a bit too loaded to be considered in this section; it is technically more a full fledged SUV).
IMHO a SX4 hatchback would be a unique product as most other manufacturers only offer hatchbacks, sedans or SUVs. If such a crossover is available I would definitely go for it. With the sedan I am suddenly not so sure, though I initially was keen on it.

Crossover is definately a segment which is untapped in Indian market. We do have Aria and X1 claiming to be crossover but both of them are targetted for premium buyers. This segment is bound to get popular in India primarily due to

• Better interior space than hatchbacks and sedans.
• They are not very BIG like SUVs.
• Its a mix of hatchback + mini SUV. We all Indians love SUV and offroading concept
• Crossover are getting popular in Europe & UK. Hence more manufacturer want to build them in India and export to these markets (like i20, A-star)
• They can get exercise benefit of < 4 meters.
• 4WD

Mahindra is working on something similar with compact xylo and I think it will be a big hit. SX4 hatchback is difficult in Indian market as it might kill SX4 sedan image. But I would love to see these crossovers in Indian roads with price from Rs 5.5 L - 8L.



Image source :suzukiautoworld

[nurni76]

Originally Posted by erohit

SX4 hatchback is difficult in Indian market as it might kill SX4 sedan image.

But why? If Dzire and Swift can coexist, I guess there is space for SX4 sedan and hatchback as well. Introduction of a hatch back need not reduce the sedan image if priced smartly

[selfdrive]

@erohit, what a vehicle! Another USP would be the better GC than sedans/ hatchbacks and better leg/ headroom due to teh comparatively taller stance

[powertrain]

With all due respect to everybody's opnion, are'nt we going .This discussion is about the launch of SX4 diesel & not about how good ,bad or the relevence of the Sx4 hatch !!!!!!!!

[selfdrive]

I agree, but in the absence of any further concrete information, we are amusing ourselves with thinking of what ifs!!
There should be more useful updates in the next fortnight once the demo cars arrive

[rajneeesh]

Originally Posted by ph03n!x

This is news for me. Can someone else confirm too?

Yes. Such a tax was introduced around 2-2.5 years ago to discourage cars with big engines. Initially the tax was Rs 10,000 for vehicles with engine capacity between 1500 cc to 1999 cc and Rs 20,000 on vehicles with engine capacity higher than 2000 cc. The tax rate for engine capacity over 2000 cc was later reduced to Rs 15,000.

[kiren]

Dealers in Mumbai/Pune have confirmed that cars have been despatched ZDI & VDI to them and they are expected at their warehouses in next few days.