Is it still too early to call it the golden period
of the automotive industry in Pakistan? Or have things finally changed
for the better?
Consumption trends suggest that
the recent increase in duties and taxes on vehicle imports has
encouraged manufacturers to move towards local auto assembling and
manufacturing. Renowned manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia are already
testing their vehicles on the roads of Pakistan, and a number of budding
market entrants are aggressively inking agreements to start assembly
and production of vehicles here.
This has pushed local
manufacturers to ensure continuous innovation in their vehicle
portfolios and maintain their place in the market. Pak Suzuki, for
example, is all geared up to woo consumers with a wide line-up of
options in Pakistan and recently launched four new vehicles.
Suzuki Cultus Auto Gear Shift
The new Suzuki Cultus was first introduced in Pakistan
with manual transmission, and now Pak Suzuki has introduced the vehicle
with a revamped transmission system to provide comfort to the needs of
those stuck in rush hour traffic.
The hatchback comes with an automatic transmission offering three options: Park, Drive and Reverse.
On
the left side of the gear, there’s an M mode with ‘+’ and ‘-’ which is
the manual mode of the vehicle for those who like revving it up in
accordance with traffic situations.
Suzuki says that the
transmission is a manual one, but with the addition of an AGS unit it
takes care of the the clutch depression automatically. This isn’t a CVT,
per se.
Rest of the vehicle remains the same with the
Cultus VXR manual version except the price. The same 1000cc K10B engine
produces enough torque and horsepower to maintain a fair enough balance
for a city-dwelling ecobox.
Suzuki Cultus AGS is priced at Rs1,528,000.
Suzuki Mega Carry
With accelerated growth in the country’s economic
situation, the need to ferry goods around the country and within cities
has increased as well. The Mega Carry, as the name suggests, is here to
cater to the need of moving bigger loads, thanks to its powerful 1500cc
4-cyl engine.
It is based off the Suzuki AP-V, retaining
its interior among other things. Suzuki has removed its cabin and
introduced a 3-side opening flat-bed.
The vehicle has
been a major success in Indonesia, which is why it is being imported and
introduced to newer markets like Pakistan.
Suzuki Mega Carry is priced at Rs1,499,000.
Suzuki GR-150
Suzuki 150 has always been a popular choice among
consumers. I've personally witnessed a large number of people preferring
the GR-150 for inter-city or cross-country travel - and that says a lot
about the ride's popularity and efficiency. The new GR-150 can surely
be considered as the sporty variant of the esteemed 150cc motorcycle.
Suzuki GR-150 is priced at Rs219,000.
Suzuki GSXR-600
You can say that Suzuki doesn’t do the best cars in the world, and I might agree to that.
But when it comes to bikes, Suzuki is probably among one of the few best motorcycle manufacturers around the world. Period.
The
GSXR-600 is a total steal for the looks and specs it carries. The bike
also has several noted motorcycle championship wins to its name.
With
sales of sports and heavy bikes reaching a total of 150 units annually,
the bike is launched globally as well as in Pakistan at the same time.
Nicknamed 'Gixxer,' the ride is imported directly from Japan with a two-year warranty or 24,000 kms.
Suzuki GSXR-600 is priced at Rs1,950,000.
