Maruti Suzuki Ciaz S launched

Maruti Suzuki has launched the BS6 Ciaz along with a new sport model named the Ciaz S. The prices start at ₹ 8.31 lakh and go up to ₹ 11.09 lakh. There is no Diesel engine on offer as Maruti Suzuki is phasing out its Fiat-sourced 1.3-liter unit and the in-house developed 1.5-liter engine as neither will be upgraded to meet BS6 norms. The Ciaz S is priced at ₹ 10.08 lakh. On the heart of the matter, the Ciaz is powered by a 1.5-liter petrol engine with Suzuki’s Smart Hybrid tech churning out 105hp. 

Now moving on to the changes that Maruti has to offer with the new Ciaz S over the normal Ciaz. The Ciaz S is based on the top trim Alpha with a manual transmission. It is available in three colors- Sangria Red, Premium Silver, and Pearl Snow White. On the exteriors, the Ciaz S gets a body kit with signature dual-tone sporty exteriors and intense black accentuations on the side & rear underbody, trunk lid spoiler, ORVM cover, and front fog lamp garnish. All this is perked up by multi-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels which are also in dark finish. All this sport appeal doesn’t end there but also continues on the inside with black interiors adorned with silver accents on the door trim and instrument panel. 

My opinions/rant

Some of you may consider this as a rant but the terms – “RS”, “S” etc. don’t have any sort of meaning in Maruti’s world where they are just terms attached as a suffix or a prefix to an existing car name to make them sell even more. Sportiness doesn’t come from slapping on a body kit along with the color black all over the car. Sport has a certain feel to it. Car enthusiasts such as myself will hate to even put an eye on these cars. I am having my exams next week and haven’t been very active since the last few days to post but I had to bring this in the limelight because adding an ‘S’ and applying cosmetic mods doesn’t make a car sporty! Tata has done great with its JTP versions. Fiat had changed the Indian hot hatch game back in 2015 with the release of its Abarth Punto in India. Volkswagen has proven how performance can strike a balance with practicality and value for money with its Polo. All this yet the general public is still blind enough to go buy a Baleno RS with a puny 1-liter 3-cylinder 100hp producing motor. Ask yourself enthusiasts – ‘Is that a true hot-hatch?’ And if any part of your body says yes to that car being a hot-hatch then you are sadly no longer a person who sees cars as an emotion and more than just a machine taking us from point A to point B. I completely understand the fact that Maruti has to create mass-market cars and has to keep them affordable but why use the term such as ‘sport’ to market them. They couldn’t have done any engine modifications as that would have increased the price by a lakh or two. We all are aware of the fact that car enthusiast centered brands have always failed in our market. 

Lastly, I would like to say – “All that glitters isn’t gold and all that’s black isn’t sporty”. 

Do let me know your opinions on the pseudo sport sedan in comments below, it would be great to have a discussion on this topic. 

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