When you think of an Indian automobile brand, Maruti Suzuki is one of the first names to pop up. Naturally, Maruti Suzuki has been giving one after another budgeted hit models that drive Indians crazy. But, even a brand like Maruti has terrible days.
Some of the Maruti Suzuki models faded away way too soon. Don't be surprised to come across cars you think you've never heard of because that's how historical they have become!
Maruti Suzuki Zen D was the flagship car for Indians. We are not sure if this car entered with a bang or not, but it certainly had a silent exit. Maruti Suzuki launched this diesel variant to stir things in the market.
The Zen D harbours a Peugeot sourced 1.5-litre capacity diesel engine. Interestingly, this variant can deliver 96 Nm of peak torque and 58 hp of intense power. Sadly for Maruti, Zen D failed to gain traction despite the modest pricing.
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Grand Vitara is the perfect candidate for the forgotten cars of Maruti Suzuki. This full-sized SUV came at a whopping price tag of ₹ 20 lakhs. Naturally, Indians were not ready to spend that kind of amount on a Suzuki car. Though the model attracted a few buyers, the company soon had to discontinue it. Besides, the Vitara Brezza is a much better successor for Maruti's SUV lineup.
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The A-Star was another damp squib from Maruti Suzuki's stables. With rivals like the Hyundai i10, the tiny A-Star didn't stand a chance. Moreover, Indian buyers were still not over with their craze for Wagon R and Swift, which interfered with the demand for A-Star.
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Maruti Suzuki had no idea that while launching the Baleno Alturo, it might turn into such a great disappointment. Previously, the Baleno was available only in a station wagon version. That car gained little traction in the European market, but in India, it failed altogether to gather the attention of Indian buyers. Station wagons, in general, have failed to get a grip in the Indian market. Some car makers made a feeble attempt to introduce one in the country, but it didn´t take. Maruti Suzuki was one among them.
Apparently, despite the elegance, that powerful Baleno engine and top features, the Baleno Altura couldn't overcome India´s resistance to station wagons . However, Baleno´s hot hatch model stirred up a storm, both the earlier version and the current upgraded version.
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If Maruti Suzuki Omni ever saw the light of the day, it was only because regional movies used it as the criminals' go-to vehicle (we're joking!). This versatile four-wheeler was a top choice for cargo transportation and ambulance.
What made Omni so versatile is that it came with a range of seating configurations. However, these pros couldn't overshadow the safety concerns Omni raised. The vehicle was rather prone to turn turtle because of its narrow, tall build. With the implementation of BNVSAP in India, Maruti had to scrap this model off their lineup.
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So, spotting any of these long-forgotten cars of Maruti Suzuki on the road would not be an easy task!
