Maruti Swift Dzire is all set to carry on its reign with a new short and sweet version in the entry level sedan in the market.The car will bring a host of New Year goodies like the cut in excise duty of 10 per cent enjoyed by small cars. The official sources on the other hand say that the new version of DZire will not be priced lesser compared to the current one, which ranges between Rs 4.94 lakh and Rs 7.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

"We have invested a lot on the new DZire. It is on a brand new platform. There are at least 150 new features compared to the existing DZire and it is unlikely that the new one will be priced lesser," Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) Mayank Pareek said.

The good news is that the new car will come with both diesel and petrol engines right from the start. The new specifications mean that the car tucks in at just 3,995mm, just under the 4m mark, which should allow for the car to fall into the 10 per cent excise bracket. This should also keep of the competitors at bay for a while.

The front of the car looks is the same like the current version and has the same wheelbase of 2,430mm. The Legroom seems to be okay but the rear suffers in spite 60mm more than its predecessor.

The boot has also been given a nose job which is just 316 litres. The back of the car comes with an organic-shaped tail lamp clusters connected by a large chrome applique. The front benefits from a new egg crate- style grille. The alloy wheels go well with overall muscular look of the car.

The interiors have improved with a new two-tone beige and black. The upper section of the dashboard is finished in sombre black; the lower part is done in cheerful beige.

The top model, ZXi/ ZDi, comes with climate control and an upended sound system, two tweeters. The VXi/ VDi have an amber display and manually regulated air-conditioning. You can play your iPod/ iPhone through USB ports on both variants.The car is more like the Swift to drive than the previous Dzire and offers a good mix of ride and handling. The Maruti Swift Dzire roughs up the likes of Toyota Etios, Tata Manza and the Ford Fiesta.