[NiInJa]

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

As a starting point, attaching the images of the Virtus taillight. That car itself has been 'inspired' by the Hammer of Thor headlights of the Volvo, which has both patent and marketing nomenclature. Virtus atleast took a front element to the boot. The Maruti was lazier than that ....

As someone who likes turning back to look at my car after iv parked it, this would warm my ears in being a wannabe Virtus on the cheap!

As much as I like the play of words here, I don't see how it is a 'blatant copy' of the design, inspired yes, maybe, as it goes well with the overall rear design. For all the noise about hammers, there are lot of other differences, starting with the overall shapes itself, the way indicators and reverse lights are stacked, the way the chrome line flows inside...

See below. The Virtus' tail light assembly is smoothly integrated with the boot in a straight line, while the Dzire's is a bit jagged (see yellow line) due to the boot opening. The 'copied' tail-light design fits here perfectly as it helps cut the chrome strip abruptly, also making the tail-light look bigger in size to reduce the metal bulk (marked in green <->) which otherwise would have looked odd.
The arrow shape of the red tail light section also goes well with the overall flow of the car at the rear.

So yes, if it is serving the purpose well, I don't see any reason why a design element cannot be reused. I would happily call it a copy if the entire tail-light design was lifted and pasted on the rear which is clearly not the case.

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Originality of form, which comes from confidence, is not a trait of most Indian business houses especially when preparing a mass market recipe that needs to do volumes. In that regard, Indian product business briefs are still finance led vs fashion forward. And we contribute a great deal as bring a non-experimental, I want my 100 rupee car to look a million bucks pressure point for the business.

Vehemently disagree here. Time and again, we have embraced and appreciated new designs as long as the product is good in other aspects as well. Take for example the first generation Swift. The car looked odd, even had smaller boot because of the design, but Indians accepted the car really well. The Nano, too was well received initially when it came to the design. The XUV500 had some crazy elements too.

A mass market recipe will in all probability, have a safer (neutral) design approach, not just in India. The VW Polos, Octavias, Corollas that sell in large numbers across other countries don't have polarizing designs.
I find myself smiling while I type this, but what is with this 'We Indians do this.. and that ' ?

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

The first Dzire itself is proof one can be different in form and become a best seller. To my eye that inspired by Ambassador like form was atleast unique.

You and I both know that, that design will simply not sell in today's time, just because it is unique. The Swift DZire originally sold not because of its looks, they were horrible, but the Swift had bought something nice to the table (Engine power, reliability, agility, cabin space) and the Dzire augmented it with increased boot space.

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Especially in the light of Suzuki being associated, which continues to churn out some really fantastic unique designs for their cheapest international models... Maruti for India though has gone all over the place - BMW copied tail lights for Ciaz, volvo based for Wagon R and now this Virtus copy.....Anyone who says it's not copied but because of lack of options or coincidences, needs a design and product manufacture understanding session I ain't giving for free.

The latest Swift when launched in the U.K. got compared with the Mini Cooper as there are too many design elements that look familiar. The latest Peugeots look eerily similar to latest Tata Cars, the Tiago looks the same as Honda Brio sold in SE Asia. Suzuki's other cars like the A-Cross, S-Cross have similar design traits with Invicto and Grand Vitara sold here in India. I don't think anyone is blatantly copying anything as I mentioned earlier. Using a design element to fit a particular design is not 'copying'. Apple having a shiny metal ring around its camera lens, and Samsung having the same around theirs, does not mean they copied each other.

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

..I realise the mistake is to state my opinion based on a higher product virtue such as design, about a car seeking the base virtue of being maintainable and cheap (and now, safe too!?).

Agree, Yes, it is really a mistake to state such opinion in the context of this particular car. Product design as a higher virtue is relative when it comes to something as complex as a car aiming to be mass market seller. Like I said, there are other best sellers (Corolla, Octavia, Golfs) which are not winning any beauty contests or turning heads just for their looks.

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

Advance apologies to anyone else who reads this, for i understand this may be too informed a perspective interfering with your simple Dzire to own one! No debate invited, good luck.

Not sure if it is informed, but it is definitely a flawed, skewed and irrational perspective that needs correction. You are essentially saying that people buying the Dzire are doing so not for the design or looks but for other reasons, which is wrong. Many people WILL buy the Dzire for the way it looks compared to other sub-4m segment cars. Like I said in the previous post, it took me all these years to start liking a sub-4 meter car when I finally saw this version.

[AnAntinspired]

Originally Posted by NiInJa

You are essentially saying that people buying the Dzire are doing so not for the design or looks but for other reasons, which is wrong. Many people WILL buy the Dzire for the way it looks compared to other sub-4m segment cars. Like I said in the previous post, it took me all these years to start liking a sub-4 meter car when I finally saw this version.

Wrong! Obviously everyone buys a car for it's looks. Even a toy car let alone a real one. Even if in time, the looks one bought it for gets called taxi or Garibon ka Virtus, make no mistake there will be several people loving it. I have nowhere stated it's a bad looking car, I am ONLY saying it's a low effort car in many design areas they could have worked upon. Your inferences make me realise -
We come from different careers, influences and viewpoints thus have different perspectives.

[Phaetonw12]

The Dzire finally becomes desirable. One of the best designs in recent times. It is now default choice for a sub-10 lakh car (zxi/vxi). if only it came with the k12c

[sharmanova]

Maruti Dzire VXi Variant:

Source:

[GHPBrezzinBy]

I think MSIL needs to update their infotainment systems. The screens now look like an old CRT TV. Atleast reduce the bezel size for goodness sake!

[JoseTheScorpion]

I made a video for a couple of my friends, who are planning to buy the new Dzire. I am surely a promoter of every safe car and this is the first Maruti I will be promoting, as it is the first Maruti with a 5 star GNCAP rating. I am yet to get a test drive or see the car in flesh, and I am badly waiting to hear the door thud of a 5 star rated Maruti car.

I am also assuming that this Dzire will be less fuel efficient as compared to the old one, seeing the improved crash test safety rating.

This video also covers the prices, features, safety, colours and a virtual 3D tour of all the new Dzire 2024 variants.

https://youtu.be/ZvdGY3FxmJs?si=I2CCLPUBGXfd5ewv

[volkman10]

A look at the new Dzire, side by side with its predecessor:













And the game changing design changes, acing the crash test:



Old:


Link:

[Gamemaztr]

Without doubt, this is one of the finest looking sedans in the segment right now. While we rue about not having a more powerful engine, I must say that MSIL designers have taken a very cogent effort to design this generation of the Dzire. And MSIL finally making a 5* car.

Interestingly, when the side images are placed side to side, it appears that the rear quarter glass design has also been changed. This doesn’t seem to be part of the review (albeit it could be due to image distortion).

[NiInJa]

Originally Posted by AnAntinspired

I have nowhere stated it's a bad looking car, I am ONLY saying it's a low effort car in many design areas they could have worked upon. Your inferences make me realise -
We come from different careers, influences and viewpoints thus have different perspectives.

Unless you tell me, I don't know what i do about developing a product as the price, tool, time and talent sum of aesthetic elements, its pointless to spar here with these random counters.

Well, my counter-arguments were not random. They were based on facts and observations, even took the efforts to show how it is different with some explanations scribbled using a snipping tool app. You can counter all the points that I have made with data and supporting information, that will do good for the forum as well. If not possible, it is perfectly ok to leave the debate as is, but saying the opposing views are just random comments, because I come from a different career path, work experience that has nothing to do with product design etc. is ... *sighs* ... I don't know, I will just leave it here for the readers to find the right word for it.

My closing arguments are:
- The car is not 'blatantly copied' as is from the VW Virtus as you are confidently saying multiple times.
- It might have taken some design inspirations which in my opinion is not wrong, it happens everywhere (The Dacia Duster has taken the 'hammer' design too), no need to single out Maruti Suzuki for that.
- The efforts taken by Maruti to roll out a different looking sub-4m car just a few months after the launch of Swift are not half-hearted or lazy.


Peace out!

[i74js]

The GNCAP testing guidance calls out following selection criteria:

"Global NCAP is an independent organization that tests different categories of vehicles, including passenger and goods vehicles. They may buy cars or select them randomly from the line".

How come in the case of Dzire, this was not followed. Cars must be supplied by Suzuki and not randome sample from the markest as the product was not available. GNAP has not disclosed the procedure adopted in this case.

Can GNCAP results be taken on its face value or there is more to it? Swift which is based on same platform has not been tested by GNAP.

[romeomidhun]

Originally Posted by i74js

How come in the case of Dzire, this was not followed. Cars must be supplied by Suzuki and not randome sample from the markest as the product was not available. GNAP has not disclosed the procedure adopted in this case.

The same happened in case of some Tata cars which got GNCAP results before launch. Any idea how that happened?

[aniketi]

Excellent review for a excellent car. This Dzire is their best till date and ticks all the boxes for customers. It looks cool, it has 5 star safety rating, it has lots of features and priced well. Their reliability and A.S.S. is well known already, so nothing to write about. I guess soon we will see it as a number one in sales chart.

Strangely Maruti is not advertising 5 star they got for this car. In today's newspaper we have full page ad but nowhere mention of the 5 star rating. Same with ad on television, nowhere they mentioned it.

I guess they have some definite strategy behind this. They might want to show that they are not like others who shout loud for 5 star rating. I guess they want to keep it simple and let people talk about it instead of they advertising. Just a guess from my side.

[Carma2017]

This is typical Indian public thinking.

We generalise and bracket things so quickly. Suzuki - Unsafe. VW - Tank like Build. TATA- Safe. etc etc. And if some results are opposite to our bracketed image, then there is some "Jhol". The 5 star rating has not made Dzire in to a safe vehicle drastically as the 2 star to 5 star ratings suggest. It was a decently safe vehicle previously and marginally better now. It's a matter of intent and some money.

Sorry for the rant but this halo on Dzire due to the GNCAP results is beyond me.

[swift.surya]

Originally Posted by nisshith

The center arm-rest is a huge miss IMO. I was dead set on the ZXI variant which is a good deal. Any idea if Maruti provides it as accessory or if the one from Fronx/Baleno will fit?

Hello!

The centre arm rest is indeed a huge miss. Maruti doesn't provide any armrests as a part of their accessories but just wait for a few months and all the decor shops will be having a huge variety of armrest for you to choose from. Leather, cloth, Alcantara, plastic, everything (Alcantara might be a bit too much but we never know do we?). Also, if you have any friends or relatives who have a baleno or a fronx with a bolt on armrest, try mock-fitting it on a demo car.

Cheers!

[swift.surya]

Originally Posted by sharmanova

Maruti Dzire VXi Variant:

Attachment 2682611

Attachment 2682612

Attachment 2682613

Source:

man what are those wheel caps

The car looks so undertired on these lower size wheels. as undertired as a wagon R LXi.

They could have done with a better design for the wheel caps