Maruti Ritz Buyers Opt Petrol Version

Maruti Suzuki’s latest pin up car, “tall boy” Maruti Suzuki Ritz has been hitting the roads in decent numbers since its launch in May. It has been reported that buyers prefer Maruti Suzuki Ritz petrol variant to the diesel one. In fact, about 70 percent of current Ritz sales are for the 1.2-litre petrol engine version, with the remaining opting for the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel version.

This marks a significant shift in preference among buyers of B-segment small cars in India as these customers have preferred diesel versions for their lower running costs over the ages. One of the reasons for this preference for the Ritz petrol is that it is significantly cheaper than the diesel version. Another reason for the popularity of the Ritz petrol is that it is powered by Suzuki’s new generation KB series engine which offers improved refinement and relatively better fuel economy. This helps it to narrow the gap in terms of efficiency and running costs between the petrol and diesel versions.

The increased popularity of petrol engines among hatchback buyers is an important new trend in the Indian car industry. It is also an indication of the increasing maturity and sophistication of car buyers in India, who are carefully weighing the pros and cons of petrol and diesel versions and not buying diesel merely out of habit.

Maruti Ritz Buyers Opt Petrol Version

Maruti Suzuki’s latest pin up car, “tall boy” Maruti Suzuki Ritz has been hitting the roads in decent numbers since its launch in May. It has been reported that buyers prefer Maruti Suzuki Ritz petrol variant to the diesel one. In fact, about 70 percent of current Ritz sales are for the 1.2-litre petrol engine version, with the remaining opting for the 1.3-litre Multijet diesel version.
This marks a significant shift in preference among buyers of B-segment small cars in India as these customers have preferred diesel versions for their lower running costs over the ages. One of the reasons for this preference for the Ritz petrol is that it is significantly cheaper than the diesel version. Another reason for the popularity of the Ritz petrol is that it is powered by Suzuki’s new generation KB series engine which offers improved refinement and relatively better fuel economy. This helps it to narrow the gap in terms of efficiency and running costs between the petrol and diesel versions.
The increased popularity of petrol engines among hatchback buyers is an important new trend in the Indian car industry. It is also an indication of the increasing maturity and sophistication of car buyers in India, who are carefully weighing the pros and cons of petrol and diesel versions and not buying diesel merely out of habit.

Maruti Suzuki Ritz’s Namesake

Here’s an interesting piece of information about Maruti Suzuki’s latest small car for the Indian car market called the ‘Ritz’. Before 15th May 2009 (its date of launch), the hatchback was eagerly awaited and was extensively referred to as ‘Splash’ by the media. Somewhere in between, Maruti Suzuki was forced to rename and launch the car as ‘Ritz’ even though the same car is known as the Suzuki Splash in the international market.
The reason for this sudden move came after Maruti Suzuki’s sudden realization that the name ‘Splash’ was already registered as a brand by Ford Motors which had already applied for this name in 2002 with the Controller General of Patents Designs and Trademarks Registry in India. Ford India is planning to introduce a small car in the country next year which it wants to market as ‘Splash’.
When Maruti Suzuki approached the trademarks authorities for introducing its new hatchback, its petition was withdrawn and the car manufacturer was forced to rename it as ‘Ritz’. And that is how the Maruti Suzuki Ritz came to be known as the Ritz. Looks like car manufacturers are clashing over more than just the sales of their small cars in India.