India’s number one car  manufacturer  Maruti Suzuki India Limited again hits the market in their usual style with the launch of  Maruthi Suzuki Ritz.This is India’s first  BS-IV compliant passenger car. At the Paris Motor Show in late September 2006, Suzuki presented `Project Splash`, a concept car showcasing a taste of the styling of the future production-version Splash (Ritz). The extremely positive response of the audience confirmed to Akira Kamio and his team that they had taken the right path for Ritz.

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Ritz  belongs to  A2 market segment.
Ritz will be the first passenger car in India to be compliant with the BS-IV emission norms, in petrol as well as diesel variants. This is many months ahead of the BS-IV norms being applicable in India, reinforcing Maruti Suzuki’s leadership position.

 

Design

Unlike traditional hatchbacks, The car, adopts a contemporary European design that is not very different from the Swift. The  overall width of 1.68 metres, which  is 8cm wider than the Wagon R+. Smartly shaped headlights give it a  cool look, and they combine with a trapezoidal grille to form a “face” which  reflects the identity of new Suzuki family. The Suzuki brand emblem is placed in the centre of the grille.

Engine Options

The Ritz comes with  two engine options – one petrol and one diesel. The petrol is launched  with  1197cc, 4 Cylinders, K12M engine which generates 85 Bhp at 5500 rpm and maximum torque of 117 Nm at 4200 rpm.

The diesel  engine is 1248cc engine which develops maximum power of 75 bhp,. Both petrol and diesel engines is coupled with a five speed gear box

The gear lever is a bit  mounted up.Along with the stearing,the height of the gear box can also be adjusted.

Interiors

The new Ritz is spacious enough being in the A2 segment. The rear seat is set higher than the front seats.And the back seater can also have the same comfort level as the front seaters. There’s plenty of storage space including a flip-lid box on top of the dashboard, a fair glovebox and a tray ahead of the front passenger.

 Coloured surfaces for the dashboard create a youthful, casual look A digital liquid crystal display (LCD) is positioned in the lower half of the speedometer and gives the driver additional information.

 

 

Variants & Price

The price of  this car range between 4 to 5.5 lakhs.

Ritz will be available in  10 fresh colours.Eight of them are metallic colors. Two of the colours – Splash Green and Lagoon Turquoise 2 – were developed  specifically for this car by Suzuki .The Ritz is aimed mainly at urban, practical people with modern lifestyles, and it reflects the ideals of the second phase of Suzuki’s world strategy – a phase in which Suzuki is focusing not just on sportiness but also on the needs of families.

Couples and young families always go for  a sporty car with a fresh  design coupled with practical features such as space, driving comfort and economy.

 

Now, My Question is  how Maruti manages to sell 7 hatchbacks – Maruti 800,  Alto, Zen Estilo, Wagon R, Swift, A-Star & Ritz – all in same showroom…..