Maruti Suzuki showcased the Ciaz concept at the 2014 Auto Expo, which was more or less the Authentics concept showcased by Suzuki globally last year. Now Maruti Suzuki is planning to attack the C-segment space by replacing the Maruti SX4 this year. We all are aware about the YL1 codenamed sedan that is being tested on our roads and is bound to launch in India around the festive season later this year. MotorBeam reader Sandeep Dabas has spotted a heavily camouflaged mule of the Maruti Ciaz on test outside Maruti’s Gurgaon plant.
The Maruti Ciaz spotted testing is camouflaged in black and doesn’t reveal many styling cues. However, the sleek profile of the car and the overall silhouette reminds of the Ciaz concept showcased at the biennial event. Don’t expect those swanky styling details to trickle down to the production model, instead the Ciaz in production guise will have significantly toned down exteriors as we usually see with Maruti Suzuki concepts and production models. Remember the A:Wind concept for Celerio and RIII concept for Ertiga?
The Maruti Ciaz will compete against the Hyundai Verna, Honda City, Volkswagen Vento and so forth. So, we can expect a much better equipment list and latest features with the Ciaz compared to the current SX4. The interiors will be all-new, save for a few sharing of parts to save costs. Maruti Suzuki is also focusing on space maximisation so expect the Ciaz to be roomier, having better legroom. The quality of the interiors is likely to be improved, as the upcoming offering will be a global product.
In terms of mechanicals, the Maruti Ciaz is likely to debut the much awaited Fiat sourced 1.6-litre Multijet diesel engine. The petrol engine option is expected to be a re-tuned 1.4-litre K-series engine, which is seen on the Ertiga currently. Now that the AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) is getting more and more popular with the launch of Maruti Celerio for its fuel efficient and cost effective nature, this technology is also expected to be used on the Maruti Ciaz.
