Maruti launches Swift RS with sports kit for Rs. 24,500 extra

So you’ve been shopping for a sporty car? Well, here’s one that comes straight out of the showroom, looking like it’s ready to race. Looking, that’s the operative word here. Maruti has just launched the limited edition “Maruti Swift RS”, with a sports kit slapped on the VXI and VDI variants of the popular premium hatchback.

Launching a limited edition Swift RS does make a lot of sense considering it’s hard to stand out in a crowd when you buy a Swift – as it is India’s largest selling premium hatchback right now. With so many on the road, the only way to give the car a unique identity is to slap on some kit and make it look, well, different. The Swift RS will be available only for a limited period. Also read: Maruti launches limited edition Dzire Regal

What’s unique with the Swift RS?

So what’s different with the car? It comes with a signature RS, three-piece body kit that includes front and rear bumper skirts and a rear roof spoiler. It has motifs and graphics in black and blue splattered all over it. The wheels have fake racing alloy looking wheel covers on the standard steel wheels with 165/80 R14 tyres.

The outside rearview mirrors (electric) are painted blue. All the four door sills get illuminated Swift emblems. The interiors get black art leather upholstery with blue interspersed in the design. The floor mats too have a “Swift RS” them on them. It is fitted with a music system that plays CDs, USB and has Aux-in.

These enhancements are available for Rs. 24,500 extra on the Maruti Swift VXI and Maruti Swift VDI RS variants. They are priced at Rs. 5.21 lakh for the petrol Swift RS and Rs. 6.41 lakh for the diesel Swift RS. Also read: Maruti Swift Alpha limited edition launched

What we think

While cosmetic updates will attract a limited set of buyers for a limited period, the Swift RS is not really a true sports car, but one that has sporty pretensions. We would have loved this car to have had some performance enhancements, such as alloy wheels and wider tyres (using the tyres that come with the ZXI/ZDI variants). Of course, if Maruti truly wanted to bring out a sporty Swift, it would need an engine swap. Calling this cosmetically enhanced Swift a Swift RS does not do justice to the RS (Rally Sport) badge. It just seems wrong, but if it’s going to help sell a few more cars, why not? Also read: Maruti Swift diesel road test and review