CARS

india's leading auto manufacturer Maruti Suzuki's best-selling model Swift is offered on discount price for the first time ever since its launch in the country.
According to a new report, the diesel variant of Maruti Swift is being offered with a discount price of Rs. 5,000. Ever since its launch in India, Swift has recorded amazing sales figures and the latest news that this car is on discount shows how the auto sector of India is hit by a sluggish demand. An Economic Times report said that the company is not only offering cars on discount, but also offers a 'no waiting period' on its hatchback.

Maruti Suzuki has reported a plunge of 7.9 percent to 1,09,567 units in its total sales for February 2013, compared to 1,18,949 units for the same month last year. Maruti DZire also gets a discount of Rs. 10,000, the report said.
"We are currently facing perhaps the toughest times in the past several years. The customer test-drives, rate of conversations of car bookings to retail sales all have declined in recent months," ET quoted a Maruti dealer as saying. "While waiting on all models has vanished, the lacklustre Budget has changed the swing even for models like Swift that have enjoyed huge waiting until last month."
However, the company has declined any such movement. "This is not true. There is no discount for retail customers. There may be offers for certain bulk dealers," said a company spokesperson to CarWale.
The slowdown in the car market has forced the auto majors to throw in discounts and freebies. Auto major Volkswagen also introduced a new scheme in which customers can exchange an old model for a new Vento sedan by making a payment of just ₹1 and without having to pay anything else for the next one year. Skoda has introduced a one-year no-EMI offer for the purchase of Rapid. Interestingly, Skoda is also offering a free Fabia hatchback with the purchase of Rapid Sedan.                                                      

As Fiesta celebrates its 35^th birthday and having successfully sold more than 15 million Fiestas worldwide since inception, the 6^th generation of Fiesta is launched in India – a market which is growing fast and furious.  The new Fiesta was first launched in Europe in 2008 and since then been dotting the roads across the globe as per Ford’s new “One Ford” strategy to sell the same models with minor changes across their global markets.
In Indian market, Ford hit the bull’s eye with Figo and would love to replicate the success with its launch of all new Fiesta but then the segment is not an easy battle ground. With Hyundai’s Verna Fluidic storming the segment and dethroning the erstwhile king of the segment Honda City, and VW Vento revving behind, let’s see if the all-new-Fiesta has in it to take on the mighty competitors.
This 6^th generation Fiesta is based on Ford’s new global B2E platform and it got a complete makeover, which is an eye-catcher if not a show stopper.
Let’s move around the car and have a look at it. To begin with, your immediate line of focus would be on the impressive large black hued headlamp – a three barrel, scimitar shaped that wraps neatly to the sides.  Definitely an impressive sight.

A wide trapezoidal grill adds character to the front and together with the lights has a fairly good style and sporty design. The roof line swoops to the rear like one single stroke of artistic brush and it did reminded vaguely of the recently launched Fluidic design, though the swoop down was more fluidic and prominent in the Hyundai Verna. The two strong lines on the sides adds a dash of masculinity.  Coming to rear, it’s heavy with a large rear overhang not an impressive first sight and add to that a not so inspiring tail lights docked high, though it is clean and wraps the rear and sides with chrome trimming in the centre. But overall, the rear does let down the front design elements.
Ok, so now let’s movie inside the cars. While opening the doors, you won’t miss the heaviness of the doors. It’s solid and slams gently with a smooth thud.  I was told it shows the heavy gauge of the steel used and the impact resistance of the car. Well, might be true but my friend was bit annoyed by the heaviness but then his reaction can be dismissed.
If you are a gadget lover, Fiesta’s dashboard will brighten you up.  There is lot many things to fiddle around as well as to track in glowing red back lit and LED screen.  Though, I found too much of red on the screen a bit distracting.

Very prominent in the center of the dashboard is a mobile phone inspired console.

The picture is self-explanatory in itself. Apart from the music system menus, you can also connect your mobile phone and dial it. The small screen decked up the dashboard throws up numerous informations like outside temperature, odometer, 1 trip-meter, distance to empty (DTE), real-time fuel (liters/Hour at idle & liters/100 kms when moving), average fuel consumption (liters/100 kms) and average speed.  The display can be switched on and off using a button on the console or the left stalk. The music station comes with audio controls on steering wheels and with 6 speakers. The top variant comes with blue-tooth and voice controls for A/c and music system.

Nested infront of the steering is the instrument control – digital tripmeter, tachometer, low fuel warning, driver seat belt warning and head lamp on warning. Incase you are awed by the metallic finish of the consoles, let me tell you except for the top titanium variant, the rest comes only in moulded black.
The seating kind of literally hugs you in, thanks to the extra side wings that wraps you tight. For the average Indian size, it should be a welcome addition unless you are on the above average larger drivers. I found it quiet comfortable. The cabin is roomy enough unlike the outgoing Fiesta. The road view from inside is good too.
All the variants comes with front and rear power windows with one-touch control on driver side. The glove box comes with a lamp. The rear seats are 100% foldable plus with adjustable head rests. the driver seat is height adjustable. And you also get a rear arm rest with cup-holder plus front and rear door trims with cup holder and magazine holders plus a cup holder in floor. All this I just mentioned is available in all variants.
The top variant comes with bluetooth and  cruise control for a relaxed driving plus  voice control to command the audio console, A/c and the cruise control.  Also the reverse parking sensor is parked for the top variant i.e, the Titanium. Better things comes in fatter price tag!