Although it was shown as a concept at Maruti Suzuki’s pavilion at Auto Expo '08, Splash has been in the international market for a while now. Keeping the trend in mind, India has been getting all the latest products developed by Suzuki, be it the Swift, SX4 or the Grand Vitara, so it is only but correct to imagine that the Splash will be here, soon. The small car market is what dominates the sales chart and Swift has proven to be a runaway success for Maruti Suzuki. Now to beat its closest rival, Hyundai, the largest passenger car maker will do all it can to throw the current darling of all - i10 off from its perch.
Suzuki likes to call it a mini-MPV and since it has the DNA of Wagon-R, Splash will get accustomed to the Indian conditions in no time. Aimed at the urban populace, Splash will be offering the accurate mix of practicality and appeal. The most dominating factor at the front are the headlamps which coalesce well with the trapezoidal grille section. The front end with its imposing air-dam and grille looks like being inspired from Audi. The car has energy-absorbing structures that aid pedestrian protection. The side profile is nothing to shout about nor is it offensive. It’s not as boxy as the Wagon-R and looks streamlined. The A pillar blends into the roofline and the rear is essentially dominated by an almost vertical tailgate. The boomerang-shaped tail lamps add a youthful appeal to the whole design.
The seats are high-set and gift the driver with excellent visibility. The dashboard exudes dynamism and energy. The large speedo in the instrument cluster is complemented by a tachometer which is mounted as a separate unit on the dash. The display below the speedometer gives you vital information like outside temperature, fuel consumption etc. The boot too is extremely spacious and with the seats down would liberate over 1000 litres of storage space.
The three engines that are available can all come to India as well. The 1.0L petrol mill is a three cylinder unit and gives out 65PS at 6000rpm while the torque is rated at 90Nm peaking at 4800rpm. The 1.2L engine will spark the fuel to produce 85PS of peak power and 114Nm of turning force. The litre capacity engine will take you to a hundred from naught in 14.7 seconds while the 1.2L motor will do the same in 12.3 seconds while the top whack will be 160kmph and 175kmph respectively. There is another engine, a diesel one, which will be offered. The 1.3L DDiS will deliver 75 horses to the front wheels to reach a 100 clicks in 14 seconds to keep the power-hungry blokes happy while the 165Nm of torque will ensure smooth drivability.
Sitting on a monocoque chassis, the front will cope with Indian road conditions through MacPherson strut and coil springs while the rear will be endowed with a torsion beam unit coupled with coil springs. Braking will be via a disc-drum combination, as expected. The Splash will surely intensify up the already fierce battle that’s going on in the small-car segment. Being a Maruti, be sure of bulletproof reliability and strong maintenance to go in its favour. Since it is already in production in the international market, expect it to become a reality for Indian roads as well, by the early 2009.
