Maruti Swift RS is speculated to hit Indian shores next year.
India is a country that has generally been averse to hot hatches. Off late, the entrance of a handful of manufacturers into this segment has helped change this trend slightly. Buyers, or rather driving enthusiasts, earlier had to look for family sedans with powerful motors or stick to diesel hatchbacks with high torque output to quench their thirst for adrenaline. With the arrival of performance-oriented cars such as the Volkswagen Polo GT, Abarth Punto, Ford Figo S, Aspire S and what not, there are plenty of choices in the market now.
Maruti Suzuki is said to be readying the Maruti Swift RS, a performance-oriented version of the 2018 Swift, to add to the list. While the exteriors and interiors of the RS version receive minor changes to justify the hot hatch tag, the cynosure of the vehicle remains its 1.0-litre 3-cylinder BoosterJet engine which has been borrowed from the Baleno RS. Talking of the Baleno RS, the car was introduced as an extension of the Baleno lineup in 2017 but has failed to make a mark in the segment, largely because of the Rs. 8.49 lakhs (ex-showroom, Mumbai) price tag.
Sales of the Baleno RS are indeed disappointing, but hey, the car was never meant to be a hot-seller. The top-spec petrol Swift and the top-spec petrol Baleno are priced merely Rs. 12,000/- apart. If the same holds true for the price difference between the Swift RS and the Baleno RS, the former will also bite the dust sooner than later. However, things are not as simple and straight-forward as they appear to be.
The Swift brand name holds an incredibly strong value in the hearts of us Indians. Although highly unlikely, this 13 year old connection has the potential to ultimately turn the fate of the upcoming Swift RS towards success. What are your thoughts on this?
Maruti Swift RS
– Maruti Swift RS is expected to be launched in India next year
– Will be powered by a 1.0-litre BoosterJet petrol engine
– Success of the model uncertain as the Baleno RS hasn’t sold in good numbers
