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Maruti raises prices as cars get Euro-fit

Maruti Udyog Limited today announced a Rs 21,045 to Rs 35,250 increase in prices of its bread-and-butter car Maruti 800 effective January 7, following the introduction of new tax slabs at 12 per cent and new multi-point fuel injection engine.

However, prices of existing Maruti Esteem LX and VX versions were dropped by Rs 1,139 and Rs 18,870 respectively despite introduction of 12 per cent sales tax, MUL Managing Director Jagdish Khattar said in New Delhi today.

The standard Maruti 800, which will be the entry-level model for the Indian automobile industry, will now carry a price tag of Rs 208,620 for the Euro-0-compliant engine and Rs 216,847 for the Euro-I-compliant engine version. The standard model would not sport a Euro-II-compliant MPFI engine for the time being.

The company also announced introduction of MPFI engines as an option in all the three variants of its mid-size offering -- LX, VX and AX.

The Maruti 800 EX and DX versions, Khattar said, would now be available only with the MPFI engines carrying a price tag of Rs 247,540 and Rs 271,369 respectively.

This translates into a Rs 35,250 and Rs 33,587 hike from the existing prices of EX and DX respectively. The new cars would also sport a five-speed gearbox.

''We wanted to make the base entry level car as affordable as possible and so decided against introducing an MPFI version on the vehicle for the time being,'' he added.

The car would be available for customers across the country, except Delhi, from January 7. ''The prices have been calculated on a 12 per cent sales tax regime and the prices for Delhi market are yet to be calculated as the government has not taken a decision on whether to hike sales tax or not. We would not be selling in Delhi till January 10, the day the government is expected to make an announcement,'' Khattar said.

The new Esteem LX with MPFI would cost Rs 499,271 while the existing Esteem LX would carry a price tag of Rs 465,666. The Esteem VX with MPFI will be priced at Rs 546,818 over the existing price of Rs 513,212. The new Esteem LX will have additional features as front power windows, central locking and chrome grill.

The company today also announced the introduction of MPFI engine on Gypsy King as an additional option. The soft-top version of the vehicle would sport a price tag of Rs 431,464 while the hard-top variant would be priced at Rs 457,168.

The company also announced price hikes on all its existing models due to the incidence of 12 per cent sales tax.

The Omni eight-seater (Euro-0-complaint) would be priced at Rs 204,375, up Rs 20,699, while the Euro-II-compliant version of the same would come at Rs 219,771, up Rs 29,095. The Omni five-seater E-0 is priced at Rs 220,966, up rs 21,588, while the E-2 version will sport a tag of Rs 236,136, up 33,758.

The recently introduced Omni XL eight-seater E-0 and E-2 versions would be dearer by Rs 21,101 and Rs 29,497 respectively while prices of five-seater variant of E-0 and E-2 would be hiked by Rs 22,021 and Rs 34,191 respectively.

The Baleno would also cost Rs 38,119 more at Rs 712,119.

UNI

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