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S. Muralidhar

CAR and motorbike makers seem to have looked towards Hollywood for the flavour of the season when it came to the spate of recent launches. Hollywood, incidentally, is teeming with new releases, which are reruns, sequels or special editions.

Cut to the domestic automotive world and that seems to be the credo here too. The Diwali season and the ensuing weeks each year are usually the most expectant for car and bike makers. With the "depreciation benefits-driven" sales in September behind them and with a clearer picture emerging about the potential full year sales numbers, companies try new tactics to put some pep into their second half performance.

As a result, it is not unusual to see special editions and upgraded versions during this time of the year directed at offering more value to the car buyer. However, the ones that were launched this time around were additionally expected to refresh the wearing image of the existing vehicles that were getting the face-lift.

Amongst the cars that got the makeover were Maruti Udyog's "multi-activity vehicle" — the Wagon-R — and the Hyundai Accent.

After waiting long enough for the Wagon R's sales to take off, Maruti has finally decided that it needs a facelift to raise the car's package to meet customer expectations. The Wagon R has been a huge hit in Japan, where Maruti's parent Suzuki leverages that country's car buyers' weakness of a small car that is easy to park and fun to drive.

The new Wagon R that Maruti launched a few weeks back is clearly only a cosmetic makeover, but it still manages to improve the car's looks. Clear lens headlamps and tail lamps, and new bonnet grille with an integrated mid-line in chrome garnish have been added.

The car also gets a rear defogger, new wheel covers and better upholstery. Apart from these add-ons, the Wagon R (supposedly the original tall-boy) continues to feature the same specs.

The new Wagon R will continue to be available at the same old prices as part of the launch scheme. A revision in prices could come a couple of months down the line.

The Hyundai Accent has also got similar treatment, though in addition some of the safety and comfort features have also been improved. The quick to react Hyundai has, as in the past, reworked the looks and some of the features of the Accent clearly in anticipation of the launch of the new Honda City.

Some of the new features on the new Accent include a fresh look front radiator grille with horizontal slats and a chrome-finish outline, new broad waistline moulding (body coloured in the GLS), clear lens type rear combination lamps and a clear lens high mounted stop lamp for better visibility, gas filled shock absorbers in the GLS variant, disc brakes, new upholstery for seat fabric and door trims and illuminated power window switches with the driver's side being an automatic power window option. The GLS also features power telescopic antenna, body coloured outside mirror housing, anti-lock brakes, central door locking, new wheel covers and dual height adjustable driving seat.

The new Accent will also sport a slightly higher price tag. The increase in prices range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. New prices range from Rs 5.64 lakh + (ex-showroom) for the GVS 1.5 litre to Rs 6.98 lakh for the GTX (Tornado) 1.6 litre.

Closely following the launch of the Passion Plus, Hero Honda has earlier this month introduced a value-added version of its all time best seller — the Splendor.

The new variant Splendor+ starts with a higher price tag of just Rs 500 than the older version; the disc brake option is more expensive. The older version will also continue to be available in Hero Honda's showrooms. The company claims that like the Passion Plus, the Splendor+ has also been launched on the basis of an extensive market survey conducted by it to gauge the changing customer requirements.

The Splendor+ comes with enhanced features such as a new multi-reflector headlight with a halogen lamp, clear lens type tail light and a similar finish twin turn indicators. The instrument panel dial design and the rear view mirror design have also been renewed to give the bike a more contemporary look.

The new Splendor + also comes with a helmet lock as standard fitment. The Splendor+ will also be available with a disc brake option and new colours and flashy decal have been added to the design theme of the bike.

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