Maruti Suzuki Launches new Zen Estilo
Maruti Suzuki are releasing the new Zen named the Zen Estilo on December 5th. IT is based on the Suzuki MR Wagon but Maruti have decided to cash in on the brand name of the Zen.
The Suzuki MR Wagon was made in Japan between 2001 and 2005. Now that it has gone out of production in Japan, Maruti have bought the dyes and other aggregates and added the 1.1 litre engine from the Wagon R and PRESTO!! You have the new Zen Estilo.
The original Zen was introduced in 1993 and at one time was one of the best selling cars in India. Maruti stopped production of the Zen earlier this year due to dwindling sales. This was caused by newer models like the Wagon R, Swift and the Alto.
The floor of the new Estilo has been raised to give it a tall-boy stance. Very unlike the old Zen.
The new zen has love it or hate it looks. IT may not be the prettiest car in the market, but at it's price, it is sure to be very good value for money.
Sources say that the base model will be launched at a price of 3.6-3.75 lakhs and the high end model would be priced at about 4 lakhs. The old Zen's base model sold for about 3.5 lakhs and the high end model went up to 3.8 lakhs.
It will be powered by a 1.1 litre petrol engine. This would make it a direct competitor to Hyundai's Santro(which is currently the best selling car in the segment).
The 1061cc 16-valve four-cylinder motor from the Wagon R develops 64 bhp at 6200 revs and 8.5 kgm of torque at 3500 rpm.
Many enthusiasts will miss the Zen's 1.0 litre engine. The old 1.0 litre engine was a favourite with modders and Zens were the poor man's dragsters. These engines were highly modifiable and people have done crazy things with these engines.
A diesel engined Zen Estilo would also be launched but it is not yet clear if Fiat's 1.3litre multijet engines will be used by Maruti.
The 1.3 Multijet engines from Fiat come in two configurations.
1). A 70 bhp version which gives an average fuel efficiency of about 19.5kmpl (tested in England)
2). A 90 bhp engine which is expected to give about 18 kmpl (tested in England)
I expect the Zen to be launched with the 70bhp engine.
According to some sources, the new Zen and the Swift would be launched with the 1.3 litre multijet engine from Fiat in the new year.
This new version of the Zen Estilo would be a competitor for the yet to be launched Chevrolet Aveo UVA , the Hyundai Santro, the Tata Indica and Maruti's own Wagon R.
The launch of this car seems to signal the phasing out of the Wagon R.
The interiors are also in for a complete overhaul. It could be very similar to the interiors of the Swift. It will also help Maruti to cut down on costs.
But according to some sources, the diesel engined Zen will be delayed for a few months.
Most of what is known abt the specifications of the Zen is just speculation. Everything will be revealed on December 5th when Maruti officially release the car. But deliveries will start only by mid of January 2007.
The tallboy design while very spacious and comfortable, takes away the sporty nature of the old Zen.
The old Zen was a light, sprightly car which when tuned and done up properly could take on much bigger and powerful cars on the drag strip. All that seems to be over with the launch of the new Zen Estilo.
INTERIORS
The interiors look really good. The beige and black combination looks really good. Way better than the old Zen.
I only hope the quality is also very good.
OFFICAL SITE:
Estilo - Coming Soon
It has some contests and stuff like guessing what the Estilo is and all that. Another guy did a bit of research and found that the site is owned by Maruti.
The site will become properly active on 5th of December.
Some spy pics
More pics of the Zen Estilo
UPDATE:
The gate to your ESTILO opens in 21 hours : 16 minutes
UPDATE:
The new Zen Estilo has been launched by Maruti. It has been introduced in 3 variants.
1). LX --- Ex showroom price (New Delhi) is 3.17 lakhs
2). LXi --- Ex showroom price (New Dehi) is 3.45 lakhs
3). VXi -- Ex Showroom price (New Delhi) is 3.70 lakhs
The top end version VXI will have ABS and airbags as options.
What is very surprising is that Maruti itself is offering rear spoilers, rear skirts, front skirts,side skirts and sunroofs as options.
The different variants of the Estilo can be viewed here ---
Zen - Estilo
To get the exact pricing in your city, go here and choose your city from the drop down list ---
Zen - Estilo
Maruti Suzuki to launch new Zen Estilo on December 5th. EDIT: EStilo launched.
.... as smith said ...it looks like a bloody toy car ..... the original zen waz d Best 
