New 2012 Maruti Suzuki Ritz facelift spy photo is here

Maruti Suzuki Ritz facelift was caught testing in Gurgaon. The Ritz test mule had a camouflaged front end while the sides and the rear were clearly visible.

The Ritz test mule had a clamshell bonnet as in the new Swift. The front grille has minor tweaks with slightly prominent mesh grille. The fog lamps housing also gets a new shape like in the new Dzire.

Hence, expect the new Ritz to closely resemble the outgoing model with prominent changes only at the front. The Ritz has been criticized by some people for its slightly awkward rear styling with the boomerang-shaped tail lamps. But Maruti Suzuki seems to think otherwise and has not changed its rear design in the facelift version.

The upcoming Ritz is expected to get the new 1.2-litre K-series petrol motor and the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel motor from the new Swift. At present, the 1.2-litre petrol engine of the new Swift, puts out 86 bhp of power and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 18.6 kmpl while the 1.3-litre diesel engine puts out 75 bhp of power and returns an ARAI-certified mileage of 22.9 kmpl.

The new engines will likely make the Ritz, slightly more fuel efficient than the outgoing model which has ARAI-certified mileage of 17.70 kmpl for the petrol version and 21.10 kmpl for the diesel version.

Maruti Suzuki Ritz was launched on 15th May 2009 and was priced below the Swift’s price range. The Ritz offers slightly better ‘value for money’ than the Swift as it comes with the same engines as the Swift, but with a little more mileage.

However, despite the VFM proposition, the Ritz sales have been average. For instance, in the last three months, the average sales of Ritz stood at 4,222 units. Do you think the facelift changes will help improve the sales of Ritz?

(Photo Credit: Gaadi.com)