April 2023

Maruti Suzuki turns 40, and in that time its journey has been fascinating, to say the least. There are few other carmakers globally who will have single-handled transformed as large a car market as India in the way Maruti Suzuki has. The company started as a fairly small project by the then socialist government of India to experiment with a way to bring good-quality motoring to the country. Suzuki too was an unlikely partner. But as it stands, the company is still the dominant carmaker in India, with many rivals closing in but never quite.

So what are the cars that have been a part of this 40-year journey?

Maruti 800 - 1983

The 800 was the car that started it all for Maruti. Built under a joint development program between Maruti and Suzuki, this was based on the Suzuki Fronte SS, but was later developed on the 1979 Alto. Starting life in 1987, it was India's second longest car in production after the Hindustan Ambassador, and was the best-selling car in India till 2004, when it was replaced by its sibling the Alto. The 800 revolutionised the automobile industry in India, by bringing affordable mobility to the masses, though in its early days' waiting times were insanely long, sometimes extending up to 3 years. The Maruti 800 phase-out began sometime around the 2010s when it got tougher to meet emission norms, and was completely off the shelves by 2015.

Maruti Omni - 1984

The Omni began life very simply as the Maruti Suzuki Van befor the Omni moniker was used since 1988, 4 years after it came to life. It shared several components with the Maruti 800, but with an underbelly engine, typical of multi purpose vehicles of that period. It was initially a big hit with consumers, but as more contemporary vehicles began entering the market, its lack of safety (no frontal crash zones, no seatbelts, and several other challenges), again a typical downside of all MPVs of that period, interest began to wane. However it remained for the longest time, one of the most practical, affordable workhorses for small industries, traders, delivery services, even the medical industry. Yes, there were models sold without the interior seats, it was called the Omni Cargo and it came with a LPG system, even today you see hundreds of thousands of them being used as ambulances. It also enjoyed an immensely long production life, 35 years till it was finally put to rest in 2019.

Maruti Suzuki Gypsy - 1985

The Gypsy was the poster boy of all hot blooded, male, car enthusiasts in the country. It was a WWII Panzer, a light tank with its short wheelbase, high ground clearance, reasonably torquey but sprightly engine for that period, and with its 4x4 powertrain it could go almost anywhere. Its reputation was further cemented by its long and illustrious career in motorsports, its use by the armed forces and state security and then the one advertisement where the driver of a Gypsy asked a kid somwhere in Ladakh if there was a Maruti service station nearby. Everyone remembered the affirmative reply, and established Maruti's credentials as the manufacturer with the widest network across the country. First gens were codenamed the MG410 or Maruti Gypsy 4-cylinder 1.0-litre engine. The Gypsy eventualy could not meet emission or safety regulations and had to be discountinued, but it will be replaced next year by the new Jimny, the SUV it was based on.

Maruti 1000 - 1990

Despite being the first 'luxury sedan' in the country, the Maruti 1000 in comparison to others in the range had a short life span, winding up business in 2000, 20 years after it started life. Understandably so, since it was every expensive for its time with a price tag upwards of INR 3 lakhs, and was underpowered with just 46hp coming from its 1.0-litre engine. Later on despite the introduction of the Esteem, which had a larger and more powerful engine, a 1.3-litre petrol with 65hp, there was competition from Daewoo, Ford and Honda pushing it out of the luxury sedan space. Nonetheless it did enjoy a reputation of being quick, thanks to an incredibly light power to weight ratio and was extensively used by motor racing enthusiasts both on race circuits and in rallying.

Maruti Zen - 1994

When the Zen came out, it majorly influenced younger audiences looking for a fun to rive, personal car. It built on the values of the 800 and the Alto, but lent a more intimate relationship with its wner. This was not a family car and in that sene, it was pretty bold of Maruti to the Zen at the time. The Zen also spawned several interesting variants such as the Carbon and Steel twins, which were a 2+1-door version. Its zippy 1.0-litre engine churned out around 54hp, and in 2000, Maruti introduced multi-point fuel injection to the Zen bumping power up to 60hp. It was quick undoubtedly, but also played a larger role in establishing Maruti's export venture, being one of the first cars built in India to be sent to Europe.

Maruti Esteem - 1993

As the Esteem got more popular on the Indian motorsport circuit for being an economical, easy to maintain choice, in stepped the Baleno. This sedan took over from the Esteem bringing in a larger footprint, more space, superior features and performance and dynamics that were comparable to the MItsubishi Lancer that was also sold in India at the time. Its 4-cylinder 16-valve, SOHC mill was extremely popular. It sold for a very short period, between 1999 coming to the end of service in 2006. Compared to most other Marutis, that is an extremely limited run. Nonetheless the Baleno made a mark for itself in the country by offering someof the best performance and dynamics. It even went on to win National rally championships, and achieved cult status in a very short time.

 

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Also read: Real Driving Emissions Norms Explained: Key Questions Answered

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