Unveiled at the Shanghai Auto Show last year as the Authentics Concept, the sedan created quite an impression with showgoers and the market alike, especially when it came to India as the Ciaz concept. The show car did realize into the production version of the Ciaz but left behind the striking design, opting for a toned-down approach.
To study the visual differences between the two, we have a brief comparison between the production version of the Ciaz (Alivio in China) and the Authentics concept.
Starting with the front, there's an apparent loss of muscle from the design. The design elements might have remained similar, but they certainly have lost a size or two. The headlamps, for instance, were given a white LED strip, something that has given way to a more conventional setup. The grille is still imposing but not as much as the one on the concept, and the same goes for the bumper (and foglamps) as well.
The wheel size has come down as well, to allow more bump-absorbing capabilities. The very sharp-looking wing mirrors get replaced by stubbier units, while the roofline has stayed. Talking about the muscle, the shoulder line which was very prominent on the concept is thankfully still there, but doesn't look as important. The side skirt isn't as appealing either. The production Ciaz sits a bit higher than the concept, or appears to, at least.
Changes at the rear are less drastic, in comparison. The rear windscreen is smaller on the production version, while the added height doesn't work in favor of the car. The use of a similar shape for the taillamps and the beautifully sculpted bootlid are things the production version benefits from.
So as you can see there's a lot that was retained and a lot that was lost when the Ciaz was sent to the production lines. Reports also suggest that a sportier Ciaz RS could launch in India next year.
