The bizarre fallout of the excise duty regulations! Thanks to sub-4 metre cars attracting less duty, we already have two unusual creatures – the Tata Indigo CS and the new Maruti Suzuki Dzire. And the way it got reinforced even further in the budget, we will have more of the same. Mahindra has been taking its own time to chop the boot of the Verito, but now there’s all the more reason to accelerate its launch. Will Tata launch a CS version of the Manza? Who knows? And there are rumours that they will attach some sheetmetal to the venerable Indica in the shape of a boot! I am sure Volkswagen and Skoda would love to have a sedan that fits into four metres, but it will be difficult, as the Polo is just 30 mm shy while Fabia is bang on target! Another bizarre creature of course will be Mahindra’s Mini Xylo – but that’s for another rant on another day. Our roads are going to be filled with these hybrids of a different kind – I think I will migrate to Papua New Guinea.
Anyway, look at the Maruti Suzuki Dzire – it is a raging success in no time. The joke running around in the BSM office is that if Maruti Suzuki makes <I>karela<I> sweets also it will sell well. Case in point: the Estilo. Anyway, the Dzire is a disproportionate looking car and the designers have tried really hard to make it appealing despite its weird proportions - a long nose, a slashed boot and that dynamic window line of the Swift has been straightened up to look extra ordinary (two words, not one). But where does that stop us from buying it? Does that mean that the truncated boot holds a lot of appeal to us Indians? Even if it’s functionally suspect?
The answer is yes. We still have the three-box fetish. You have gone up in life if you have a three-box car, even if the car in question is actually a two-and-quarter box. That stubby boot, despite its compromise in functionality and in looks, is essential to say you have arrived. The world thinks you have got yourself a “sedan” and that’s what matters.
So this is how the typical conversation goes:
Mr Dzire Decider: “What do you think of it? Should I buy it?”
Me: “Do you need that boot?”
Mr Dzire Deciding: “Not necessary.”
Me: “Then why not go for a good hatchback?”
Mr Dzire Deciding: “We should upgrade, no?”
Me: “That’s not an upgrade, it’s only halfway there.”
Mr Dzire Decided: “Should I go for Pacific Blue or Silky Silver?”
This sedan fetish also explains why it will take time for us Indians to warm up to large hatchbacks. A terrific car like the Ford Fusion – which was brilliantly practical for our conditions – didn’t convince us. And the Jazz sold only when Honda dramatically slashed the price. So don’t be in a hurry to get yourself a VW Golf or Ford Focus. On the other hand, estates - which are supremely functional - are not hot with us either. Despite their practicality, they are downmarket.
There is nothing as premium in India as a car with a boot, even if that boot is just an excuse. No wonder Maruti Suzuki calls it the Dzire!
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