Maruti launches sedan 'SX4'

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, May 7 (UNI) Targeted at the A3 segment, country's largest car-maker Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) today launched its new sedan 'SX4' in two variants priced at Rs 6.18 lakh to Rs 7.24 lakh.

The Maruti SX4 Vxi model will be available at Rs 6.18 lakh, while SX4 Zxi will cost Rs 6.89 lakh and SX4 Zxi (with leather pack) Rs 7.24 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The initial capacity of the new sedan will be 2,500 units per month from its Manesar plant, company's Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Jagdish Khattar told reporters here.

So far, 1,500 SX4 models have been booked and bookings for about 500 more are expected by tomorrow, he added.

When asked about Maruti's sales, Mr Khattar said the higher interest rates have affected the overall sales figures.

''It has already started impacting, but we are going to take some counter measures -- by being more aggressive. We will give more incentives to dealers, customers and others,'' Mr Khattar said.

Talking about the company's margins, he said, Maruti is least bothered about it and is more interested on the quality of the product.

SX4 sedan is the second global car, after Swift, from Maruti's stable. The car is making its debut in India, before being launched in Europe and Japan.

''SX4 sedan is just the right car with which the company can reinforce its presence in the A3 segment and enhance its leadership,'' he said adding that the new sedan comes with a mixed experience of A4 segment.

''In the absence of an A3 segment car in our portfolio, our customers were moving to the competitors. Now, they can choose the SX4 sedan,'' Mr Khattar said adding that the large number of customers who bought compact cars 4-5 years ago, and also Esteem and Baleno customers, will now choose the SX4 as the next upgrade option.

The 4-valve, 1.6 litre engine will produce a maximum power of 102 bhp @5500 rpm with the help of next generation M-series global engine. The engine also has a high torque of 145Nm @4200 rpm, which makes driving comfortable. The ground clearance of SX4 sedan is 190 mm, the highest in its segment.

The car can be made compatible with the forthcoming Euro-V emissions norms too, if needed.

Mr Khattar said they intend to sell SX4 in Europe and believe it is compatible with Euro IV and V.

They have no plans to launch more models in the same category as SX4, he said adding price change would take time and it will depend on the initial response.

Maruti, capturing nearly half of the passenger car market in India, last month reported a better-than-expected 24 per cent rise in its net profit for the March quarter.

The company has also exported 1,500-2,000 Zen models in the Indonesian market.

Last year, the company launched three new car models - WagonR Duo, Zen Estilo and Swift Diesel.

UNI

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