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S. Muralidhar

TODAY, it is difficult to believe that just two decades ago the Maruti 800 was the most coveted passenger car available in the market. The car, a product of the then historic tie-up between the government and Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, was an instant hit, with massive bookings. Customers were willing to wait months for their "allotment" to materialise. In the eyes of the aspiring car buyer, the two other passenger car options available then seemed to pale in comparison to the Maruti 800's looks and fuel-efficient engine.

In retrospect though, we now know that the Maruti 800 was not a globally comparable product, even of its times. But, amazingly, for the level of maturity that the Indian car market was at in the 1980s and the 1990s, the Maruti 800 was an extremely relevant product. It had captured the imagination of the middle-class Indian and continues to be a major draw even now among a certain class of the car buying population, though the current version is much improved and is strictly not comparable to the one that was launched in 1984.

The Maruti 800 quite literally started the automobile revolution in the country. There have been other milestones that came later which have been significant too, and have contributed to the current maturity in the compact passenger car space. In the first 15 years of the two decades since the Maruti 800 was launched, there were just two small cars with a few variants between them. In the remaining five years between 1999 and now, eight new small cars were launched with nearly 40 variants between them. The next major milestone in the development of the compact (small) passenger car segment would be crossed within the next few months.

The whole concept of what is a small car is fast becoming nebulous. Similarities with what used be called a small car a few years back probably end with exterior dimensions. The demands and expectations of the small-car buyer have dramatically changed and so has the definition of, the once all important, value-for-money equation.

Three new compact cars (two-box hatchbacks, would be an unfair, but simple definition) that are set for launch in the next few months may redefine the small-car segment forever. And will also have the power to completely alter the fortunes of the three companies launching them.

We profile the awesome threesome — Ford Fusion, Hyundai Getz and the Chevrolet Spark. Read on and remember to stash away your cheque-book until these vying beauties hit the road.

Ford Fusion

The Ford Fusion could be the car that is really worth waiting for, especially for those who are looking for a high quality, globally renowned compact from the Blue Oval. The five-door, five-passenger car will be one of the most distinctive compact in the Indian market, once it is launched. And that will be despite the fact that the Fusion's design also follows the tall-boy styling theme.

Externally, the Indian spec Fusion could look a bit like the Chevrolet Cruze (desi Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R) with its "squarish" headlamps and a bit like the Tata Indica with its elongated, high-mounted tail-lamps. But that would be where the comparison ends. The taller body of the Fusion should help it earn more respect on the road. Its higher stance will give better visibility and the elevated seats will give the driver a clear view of the bonnet edge and the car's position on the road.

Rugged individual styling, the new protective body armour which includes the wheel arch lips and bumper spoilers, its large wheels and greater ground clearance would also give Fusion a tough on-road presence. This Ford car will also have a slightly larger overhang at the rear, thereby offering more luggage space in the boot. From the information that is currently available with us, the Fusion is likely to be launched with two petrol engine options and one diesel engine option, with about five different trims levels between them.

The Fusion's interior is also expected be a notch higher than the current crop of small cars. With trim quality that will be on a par with the car's international versions, the Fusion will also sport innovative storage options and low luggage loading lip at the rear for easy access into the boot space. A higher gear lever position in the Fusion should also help take the strain out of frequent gear changing in city traffic.

The Fusion should be able to seat up to five adults comfortably and the 60:40 split rear seats will enable you to carry both passengers and extra-long luggage simultaneously. Generous head, shoulder and leg-room can be expected for a car in this class.

Ford offers the Fusion in Europe with three engine options — a 1.4 litre and a 1.6 litre Duratec, both 16-valve gasoline engines and a 1.4 litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engine, that features a common rail direct fuel injection system. It remains to be seen if Ford India will bring in the Fusion with these engine specs or choose other engines from the company's stable.

For a company, which has not seen the need to bring in an automatic transmission variant for any of its previous cars, it will also be a pleasant surprise if Ford India decides to bring in the Fusion with its revolutionary Durashift EST (short for electronic shift technology) transmission. The Durashift EST transmission allows the driver to switch between full manual control mode (without the clutch) and an intelligent and responsive automated mode with a simple toggle of the gear-shift stick.

Hyundai Getz

When Hyundai Motor India launches the Getz by August, it would quite literally also be letting loose a wolf among the lambs. The Getz will be one of the most well designed and graceful looking cars from the Korean Chaebol, especially since the company has tended to conceive cars that have a "streak of queer beauty" about them.

The Hyundai Getz will have European looks also because it was designed with the help of the company's design studio in Frankfurt. A compact, stylish hatch, the Getz will catch the eye, with its straight lines and squat, thickset looks. Though the Getz will not be as tall as its older sibling — the Santro — it will still be sufficiently tall. Fit and finish quality of the Getz and its practical styling are expected to be class leading. As in the case of the Fusion, the Getz will also come with large clear-lens type headlamps and tail lamps.

Interiors will also be extremely user friendly, ooze European styling and coming from Hyundai, can be expected to be more feature rich than its competition. Hyundai offers the Getz with two petrol engines — 1.3-litre and 1.5-litre — options in other markets. For the Indian market, given its penchant for coming up with new technology, Hyundai Motor India is also expected to look at a 1.5-litre CRDi diesel engine option. With that kind of packaging, this could be a compact that is definitely worth waiting for.

Going by Hyundai's success at pricing its previous products right, expect killer pricing for the Getz too, making it all the more attractive for buyers looking for an upgrade from their B segment car to one in the cusp between B and C.

Chevrolet Spark

After sporting the Chevrolet bow-tie in three passenger vehicles in the sports utility and the mid-size sedan categories, GM India is said to be mulling the launch of the smallest passenger car that has been badged a Chevy. Remember the cute, extremely compact and very oriental looking Daewoo Matiz? After the collapse of Daewoo Motors — the company that originally put the Matiz on the roads — and after the company was taken over by GM, the car has been relaunched in a few markets as the Chevrolet Spark.

The Matiz had a fairly successful run in India since its launch in 1998-99. The adorable looks of the Matiz was created by Italdesign and it quickly became famous for its revolutionary "monospace" design that enabled the car to offer the most interior space for a vehicle with as compact an exterior dimension. The short overhangs also ensured that the space inside the car was the best in its size.

Minor changes to the exterior of the car have been made after GM rebadged it a Chevrolet. The Matiz's interiors, which were extremely fresh and pleasing, have been retained for the most part even in its new avatar. The car is also most likely to be offered with the same 800cc, multi-point fuel injected petrol engine that the Matiz originally came with. If and when GM takes over the vehicle assembly assets of the erstwhile Daewoo Motor India, manufacturing the Chevy Spark will almost become a certainty. Pricing could be comparable to the Matiz and may start with a price of Rs 3.5 lakh for the entry-level variant.

All these three cars will go on to create a new cusp segment between the small car and mid-size categories. They will expand the market and offer far greater choice to the fast maturing Indian small car buyer. Pricing for all three of these new generation compact cars should be in the range of Rs 3.5 lakhs to Rs 6 lakhs depending on the model and trim level. These smart cars may not be the last words in this segment.

We are licking our lips and waiting for the others that may follow these into the Indian market. And what may they be: The Toyota/ Daihatsu Passo, the new Suzuki Ignis and the Fiat Panda.

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