New Delhi:
Indian automaker Maruti Suzuki has finally decided to stop the production of its popular off-roader Gypsy. The car was launched in the year 1985 and was one of the oldest models being produced by Maruti after Maruti 800 and Omni van.
The company has issued an official announcement to all its dealers, asking them not to accept any new bookings for Maruti Gypsy.
When launched, Maruti Gypsy was a 1.0-litre petrol engine (MG410) which was mated by a four-speed manual transmission.
The engine was later upgraded with more powerful 1.3-litre variant and five-speed manual transmission.
For decades, the off-roader has been an important SUV for the Indian Army and the last order was given in 2015 to Maruti was of 2,017 units. The car has also been one of the most popular choice as rally cars and has won several championships.
On comfort and convenience front, Maruti Gypsy comes with fabric upholstery in hard top, vanity mirror on left sunvisor, reclining and sliding front seats, adjustable head restraints, front package tray, lockable glove compartment, floor carpet, steering lock, hazard warning light, hydraulic clutch in cooling fan, distributor–less ignition.
Maruti Gypsy was available in two colour options including Superior White and Silky Silver. The 4x4 car was offered in two variants, one with soft top and the other one with hard top at Rs 625,401 and Rs 640,014 respectively.
The reason for the production shut down of the popular 4x4 is being considered to be safety norms. As the SUV’s old school design from the 80s doesn’t have much scope for an upgrade to comply with upcoming crash test norms. And, to upgrade the car the company would have to invest a lot which may prove to be an expensive affair.
