New Maruti Suzuki Stingray launched in India at Rs 4.09 lakh

New Maruti Suzuki Stingray launched in India at Rs 4.09 lakh

Maruti has launched an upmarket looking WagonR, called the Stingray in India at Rs 4.09 lakh, ex-Delhi. The Stingray will be available in three variants [Lxi Rs 4.09 lakh, Vxi Rs 4.37 lakh and Vxi (O) Rs 4.66 lakh]. Differentiating the Stingray from the regular WagonR are a tightly packed chrome grille, projector head lamps and the wide air dam. There are funky alloys on offer as well. Along the side of the car, you get sporty skirts. At the rear, you have a wide chrome bar mentioning the Stingray name and differently styled tail lamps. 

Looking to beat the slowdown blues, country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today launched a compact car Stingray, priced between Rs 4.1 lakh and Rs 4.67 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

With the Stingray, which will be more expensive than the existing WagonR by about Rs 20,000, MSI is hoping to attract young customers and make the most out of the upcoming festive season. "The launch of Stingray is in line with our strategy to provide new and refurbished models to our customers to create excitement in the market place. Indian auto industry has been going through a slowdown, but despite this customers continue to buy Maruti cars," MSI Managing Director and CEO Kenichi Ayukawa told reporters here.

With this, the company will have nine models in its compact car portfolio, he said, adding that the WagonR would continue to be in the market.

"We have sold around 1.3 million units of the WagonR since its launch in December 1999. We are doing on an average of about 12,000 units a month," he added.

Stingray, which is powered by a 998 cc petrol engine, is available in three variants and the company will also roll out a CNG model soon.

The launch comes when the auto industry is gearing up to boost sales in the upcoming festive season.

"We are hoping sales will pick up in the festive season but we are not expecting very strong sales during the period considering the current macro-economic conditions. It won't be as euphoric as last year," MSI Chief Operating Officer (Marketing & Sales) Mayank Pareek said.

Asked about the sales target for Stingray, he said the company hasn't set any numbers.

Pareek said with the difference between petrol and diesel fuels getting narrower, demand for petrol vehicles has been coming back in recent months.

"The industry average is about 54:46 between diesel and petrol now. In two or three quarters we can expect it to be 50:50," he said, adding this trend held out hope for the petrol-driven small car segment, which was earlier battered.