Indian Autos blog

Siemens is working on a project that will help them assess the feasibility of electric cars for all markets in the near future. The company believes that millions of electric cars will be out their on the streets in the coming years.

This project called 4-S (4 Sustain Electro Mobilty) will study electric cars and their infrastructure. The project will focus on electric components and will also research and develop new business models. The project is divided into 3 stages.

Stage 1 starts on November 20th and will focus on the infrastructure. Stage 2 kicks off in Spring 2011 and it will focus on the driving aspect of these vehicles by taking down all sorts of data. Stage 3 starts in fall of 2011 wherein the electric vehicles will be fitted with drive systems from the Industrial sector. The project will be carried out by company employees at Munich & Erlangen.

The inputs gained from this project will help Siemens develop new electric components. What is noteworthy is the the Suzuki Splash (Maruti Suzuki Ritz) forms the bases of this project. The Splash is the one that has gone electric and will be tested by Siemens employees.

We quite like the way the Maruti Ritz rolls. We love the driver’s seat placement, it provides great all-round visibility and makes you feel like you’re in a mini SUV. Its easy to access rear bench and the really impressive K-Series engine are other things I can pickup on to laud this hatchback. The Multi-jet diesel only makes the package sweeter. This surely is a car that we’d spend our money on.

What we’re not sure about is why Maruti would celebrate the Ritz’ birthday in August (it’s almost September) considering it was launched last year in May. In Hindu tradition, you have a star birthday, which falls on a different date as to the “English birthday” where you go out with your friends to celebrate by drinking beer and partying hard into the night like anyone else would.

So has the Ritz taken to Hinduism? Or have the chaps at Maruti, busy launching new models and celebrating milestones, simply forgot to wish the Ritz a happy b’day?

Whichever the case maybe, the special edition Ritz Genus is out there in showrooms, a few thousands will be made and here are the features

* Keyless entry
* Tilt steering
* Parcel tray
* Distinct Body graphics
* Rear wash and wiper
* Radio + CD player with speaker
* Body side moldings
* Dual tone dashboard

click through to view the image gallery

By Kaustubh Shinde

Celebration times just don’t seem to end at Maruti-Suzuki. On 20th August, they celebrated the record production of over 5 lakh K-series engines in less than 23 months. Eight days later, it’s the turn of the Maruti Ritz to celebrate!

The Ritz, launched in May 2009, has sold over 86,400 units so far. It is powered by 1.2L K Series petrol engine with max output of 85 PS and 1.3L DDiS diesel unit that delivers a max output of 75 PS. It is coupled with 32-bit Engine Management System and Drive-by-wire technology for a quick engine response.

To celebrate the Maruti Ritz’ success in India, Maruti Suzuki is launching a special edition Ritz Genus today. The production is limited to only 5000 units and is expected to be dearer by Rs 17,000 over the current price. It will be available in both petrol and diesel engine option on VXI and VDI variants.

Apart from having standard features, the Ritz Genus will have new additional features like:

* An exciting signature color -`Emerald Blue’
* Stylish body graphics and ‘Genus’ decal on the rear doors
* Tilt-adjustable steering
* Keyless entry (Nissan Micra anyone?)
* Integrated music system
* Rear wiper-cum-washer

Shashank Srivastava, Chief General Manager (Marketing) -

Limited Editions are our way to bring excitement to the showrooms. We have excellent experience with Limited editions in the past. While they bring in incremental sales numbers, at the same time customer response to these special models have helped us for future product development and planning. Ritz has received very good demand from customers and I am confident that the Ritz Genus will find great appreciation with customers for its new add-on features

This is not the first time Maruti-Suzuki has tried the ‘limited edition’ formula. Earlier, it has released special edition models of SX4, Swift, Estilo and Alto.

Maruti Suzuki India would be launching CNG versions of the Ritz and the Estilo in the coming months, reports Goa on Wheels. Till now the only passenger vehicle with CNG technology Maruti has produced is the Alto.

Maruti intends to boost its share in the CNG vehicle segment which is likely to grow rapidly with the increase in fuel prices recently.

The Maruti Ritz has been selling well and the CNG version would further strengthen its market share. As far as the Estilo is concerned, a CNG version wouldn’t exactly revive the Estilo, but would help delaying its demise.

Maruti could also be introducing CNG versions of its other models depending upon the response to the Ritz and Estilo CNG. The Maruti Eeco could be the next to get a CNG version.

CNG is available on in Mumbai, Delhi and Gujarat as of now, but more CNG filling stations would be installed in major metros in the coming months, as the number of vehicles plying on CNG is rising everyday.

Chevrolet recently launched a CNG version of the Aveo sedan and more GM models would be getting CNG versions soon.

The Suzuki Kizashi should be introduced in India by the end of 2010 and reports in the media reveal the Kizashi will be CKD. We don’t know which engines or powertrains are going to make it here, but a four cylinder petrol engine is said to be on the cards. Before we go overboard with our speculation, we’ll show you running footage of this graceful car that certainly wins our vote.

The Maruti Suzuki Ritz Petrol preferred over the diesel one, reports have revealed. According to the dealers only 30% of the Ritz sold till now are the diesel 1.3 ltr and the rest are 1.2 ltr petrol versions.

Generally in this particular segment the sales of the diesel variant is more than the petrol due to a host of reasons, but in the case of the Ritz, it is different.

If we look at the Suzuki Swift sales, the petrol and diesel models are evenly split and sometimes the diesel sales are more then that of the petrol.

click through to read the full report

Many of us were slightly convinced after hearing Honda Jazz’s game plan (works on paper, might only be a paper tiger). Weeks, even months prior to the launch, we felt Honda were on a weak wicket if they priced the Jazz above all hatchbacks in India.

Preceding the launch of the Suzuki Ritz, we ran a comparo that got many of you talking, some of you said the Ritz was unnecessary while others felt the Swift had to be replaced with something bigger and better to clearly differentiate it from its new relative.

But you know what? We are all wrong! at least for now.

As you can see, coverage of the Maruti Suzuki Ritz on Indian Autos Blog continues, but the intensity has diminished just a little. We’ll continue to give a post here and there and why shouldn’t we? This is a new car and we’re excited about it. The excitement won’t die down till we test drive the car.

Enjoy images of the Indian spec Ritz after the break