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Some names command respect, others gain a cult following. Ask the average hop-up specialist about Nismo, and he or she will tell you how different it feels from a regular Nissan. In India, the mere utterance of the name Zen causes some to talk about it passionately, while others get defensive. While some others rue the day Maruti Suzuki removed the badge from the famed torch-bearer and plastered it on the MR-Wagon, or what we call the Zen Estilo. It's not hard to conceive why - after all the MR Wagon is nothing but a latter generation Wagon R and for those who know their Zens and Wagon Rs - the twain shall never meet.
Latching on to a famous brand name meant Maruti Suzuki had a price to pay. The Estilo never got more than a second glance at showrooms and those who did were middle-aged men plonking for 'Purpilicious pinks'. Someone in the marketing department certainly read too much of Philip Kotler and even tried to read 'between the lines' - and failed miserably.
So Maruti have given the car another shot, this time retaining the Zen badge, but with more focus on the Estilo branding. They've also gotten rid of those controversial colours, sharpened up the front end, run an ironed crease on the bonnet, changed the grille and bumper, freshened up the interiors and... huff, changed the engine and gearbox! Now that certainly ranks as more than just a facelift; in fact Maruti have also rejigged the pricing and positioned it as an alternative to the A-Star. Is it worth all the effort?
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