[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by zenren

Was there any leaked brochure with feature spec?

If you are going by the ABS sticker under the VDi badge in the spy shots, how do we know it is not an optional variant? Even my 2008 Swift VDi has the same sticker

Not going by the sticker. The sales staff at the dealers have undergone training for the facelifted Swift and one of them told me this. Its not an option thankfully. But, I don't recall whether VXi gets ABS or not.

[PVPal]

As posted earlier on this thread, IMO Airbags+ABS is a must, be it a regulatory requirement, or more pertinent customer requirement.

I just want to turn the discussion slightly by stating that if one looks at all the global recalls recently, an alarming number of them are concerned with defective airbags, be it the recent Nissan or others (see link below):

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/auto...r-bags-n230741

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind.../post_721.html

The manufacturers and the OEMs are treding on very thin lines here. They do not want that people loose their faith in them or the safety equipment they provide, especially in countries where regulatory requirements are not binding in terms of these safety equipment.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by deetjohn

Not going by the sticker. The sales staff at the dealers have undergone training for the facelifted Swift and one of them told me this. Its not an option thankfully. But, I don't recall whether VXi gets ABS or not.

True. Going by Ertiga where they give ABS as standard in LDi and optional in VXi, you'll never know what Maruti would do with the petrol versions.

Given the complaints around mediocre brakes for the current generation Swift, they should have made ABS standard across the entire range including L variants. 25k price hike is better than a review that says bad brakes in a premium segment.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by PVPal

I just want to turn the discussion slightly by stating that if one looks at all the global recalls recently, an alarming number of them are concerned with defective airbags, be it the recent Nissan or others (see link below):

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/auto...r-bags-n230741

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind.../post_721.html

The manufacturers and the OEMs are treding on very thin lines here. They do not want that people loose their faith in them or the safety equipment they provide, especially in countries where regulatory requirements are not binding in terms of these safety equipment.

Looks like you missed an important common factor in all these reports - the OEM/vendor who supplied airbags to all the leading car companies across the globe that were part of the recall. Recall was for Takata airbags and not for a specific car company, which is why you see the recalls from everyone separately. If some other company who gets airbags from Takata is yet to initiate recall, they'll do it soon.

Though it may not be well known, Takata is a leading airbag supplier who manufactures and supplies airbags to a lot of car companies across the globe. They hold around 20% market share globally. So if they find a defect in their assembly line, it is bound to affect cars across the board.

[PVPal]

@Zenren, you are right that if a major OEM supplier has issues, there will be recalls from all Automobile manufacturers who use them.

I am aware that Takata is the common thread. Just wanted to make a point that the OEMs and Auto manufacturers have a huge responsibility on the equipment they source/supply. This is more so in the case of safety equipment as its clearly an ironic situation otherwise. The already safety averse Indian public may read such news with a skewed perspective saying that the bags fail, so no point in having them in vehicles.

Bottom line is that such major recalls are a big problem for everyone, and may end up being deterrent in establishing such equipment as standard requirements.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by PVPal

Just wanted to make a point that the OEMs and Auto manufacturers have a huge responsibility on the equipment they source/supply. This is more so in the case of safety equipment as its clearly an ironic situation otherwise.

Unfortunately, the quality control and assurance is the responsibility of the suppliers, especially in cases like these where the supplier is almost as big as the auto company sourcing it. The parts supply agreement would also have clauses pertaining to responsibility in case they do not meet the specification and quality.

Whether we like it or not, the auto companies are doing a business here (and not a service) and they are most likely not exposed to a risk in case a major supplier like this fails to adhere to specifications or misses the quality mark. The risk/liability/responsibility in case of a lawsuit would go to Takata first and would probably come to the auto-companies only in case Takata goes bankrupt.

[RSR]

This is a great list, zenren, thank you for putting it together!

It's very sad to see the sheer number of dashes in the table, which means manufacturers think safety is something that only buyers of the top variant deserve.

Manufacturers who are too thick skinned to be shamed into providing safety features as standard even after the NCAP fiasco can only be brought inline by regulation.