Maruti Esteem Gets A Facelift
Barely two months after upgrading its popular 800 cc car, Maruti Udyog yesterday launched an upgraded version of its luxury car, 'Esteem'.
The '1998 Esteem', priced higher than the existing version, has a modified interior as well as exterior and has been designed keeping in mind the contemporary style, the company managing director, R S S L N Bhaskarudu said.
He said the new car had a modified front portion, better grills, bumper, new head lamps, boosters, audio systems, better upholstery, side trims and better seats.
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The LX version of the car would be expensive by Rs 5,103 (in Delhi) while the VX and AX versions would be dearer by Rs 10,104 and Rs 11,603, respectively.
'The company has not passed on all the costs to the customers. We are absorbing majority of it,' he said. Maruti Udyog was absorbing about Rs 20,000 in each car. The company has been working on the new car for the last two years and most of the design was done at Suzuki Motor Company factory in Japan, he said.
As the new car hit the road yesterday, the company stopped production of the old version. Growth in the luxury car segment has been about negative 6.5 per cent, he said and 'esteem', which sells more than double its nearest competitor, was expected to report lower sales this year.
Last year, the company sold 23,000 units of Esteem but this year it was expected to sell only about 20,000 (down about 13 per cent).
About the upgraded version of the largest selling 800 cc car, he said the response had been very encouraging.