2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire bookings start ahead of India launch on May 16

Maruti Suzuki has started accepting bookings for the upcoming third generation of the Dzire compact sedan. Prospective customers can now pre-book the sedan for a token amount of Rs 11,000 at company dealerships. The new Dzire is scheduled for launch on May 16.

Also read: 2017 Maruti Suzuki Dzire unveiled; all you need to know

Maruti Suzuki has already divulged all the details of the new Dzire barring price. For the 2017 version, Swift name has been dropped and it will be called Maruti Suzuki Dzire. This is also the first time the new compact sedan is being launched in the country ahead of its hatchback sibling, Swift.

The best-selling sedan of India's largest car-maker now comes with rounded body panels with a flowing design. The fresh approach in design alone makes the car look a lot younger than the outgoing version.

The newly-designed face of the car has a large grille outlined with thick chrome touches. The new sweptback projector headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights have been neatly integrated to the reworked bumper.

The car also features a curvier A-pillar reminiscent of Baleno. The newly-designed alloy wheels add sportiness on the side, while the rear boasts of re-styled tail lamps with LED strip and tweaked bumper. The addition makes the rear of the new Dzire more cohesive and looks less chopped.

At 3,995mm in length, Dzire still remains a sub-four-metre sedan and it is now 20mm wider and a 40mm shorter in height. The wheelbase has been increased to 2,450mm giving more legroom for rear passengers. The boot space has been increased by 60-litres, ground clearance has been reduced by 7mm and the vehicle is now lighter by 105 kilograms.

The cabin is borrowed from the new Swift globally unveiled in Japan in December 2016 and due for India early next year. Dual-tone colour treatment in Dzire will stay intact in the new model. The cabin gets generous dose of faux wood trim even at the lower portion of the flat-bottom steering wheel and dashboard fascia.

The car will also flaunt tablet sized infotainment system at the centre of dash for Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirror Link.

There is no change in powertrains. The 85bhp 1.2-litre petrol and the 75bhp 1.3-litre diesel mill will come mated to five-speed manual transmission. Both the engines are also available now with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) or AGS in Maruti speak, except in the base trim. The new Dzire will be available in four trim levels – LXi/LDi, VXi/VDi, ZXi/ZDi and ZXi+/ZDi+ and it is expected to be priced from Rs 5.5 to Rs 9.5 lakh, ex-showroom.