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It's been ten years since Maruti launched their 'original' tall boy, the Wagon R and as it heads for a makeover next month, it will also receive its first new engine in all these years. Strange, since it feels just like yesterday when the Wagon R hit Indian roads and digesting those looks was never difficult given how the Santro in those days would receive mixed reactions. After all, the bread box on wheels doesn't have any defining design feature. But that doesn't matter.
It doesn't because the Wagon R has been practical. It has enough space for four, has the split seats on the pre facelift models that made carrying large suitcases rather easy and is efficient, thanks to its 1.1-litre four. The dynamics are nothing to write home about, but are good enough if you generally explore up to 80 per cent of a vehicle's limits.
I can tell you all this because my family has owned one now for five years. That happened more by design rather than intended design. Originally we'd booked a Baleno, but my dad got spooked by a friend who'd told him that the Baleno was a bottomless money pit. So while I was busy at work, he quietly changed the booking and informed me about it only two days later. I protested, and then some more, but then again I wasn't the bread winner of the family (not even someone with a significant say) and all my protests went... er, rather unheard.
I don't drive it much, frankly I think the last time I drove it was two months ago. That's also because I spend most of my time with all those test cars that keep coming in at a rate that would make a swarm of houseflies seem like a missile boat attack on a flotilla of battleships. Or some such analogy.
But what I truly appreciate about the car, apart from its maneouverability and dimensions is that engine. Forget the fact that the gearlever's throw is rubbery, it's just the torque delivery that makes life easy, whether it is out on the highway or in town. This very nature has been the reason why Maruti sells upwards of 10,000 units a month. And yet, I worry it might create a problem for Maruti come next month.
If I am to believe news reports from certain quarters (and I am hoping it's not true), then Maruti will shoe in the K10 engine from the A-Star and the Estilo into the Wagon R. And by my personal experience with the three-cylinder 998cc K series engine, it works best in the A-Star but feels hopelessly out of breath in the Estilo. And if you know your Estilos from your Wagon Rs, you would have probably guessed what I am hinting at.
My solution is simple. Dear Maruti, the Wagon R needs a fourth cylinder. Period. The K10 in the Estilo has meant you need to work the gearbox hard and in real life conditions an efficiency that is actually lower than the erstwhile 1.1. So imagine what it would do to the Wagon R which is heavier to begin with and tends to be used to the hilt, especially say with five adults and some luggage on a K10 powered Wagon R trying to climb a slope. I shudder to think about it.
If this is true, then Maruti, do us a favour and bring in the Eeco's 1.2-litre four-potter. It's got the perfect ingredients in terms of engine power and torque and won't scupper the car's chances. Because the market now has enough new small cars to choose from and one mis-step from Maruti could see them lose their number 3 best selling position to a new entrant. That's surely something they wouldn't want to lose now, would they?
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