Maruti Suzuki

The big news is not that Maruti Udyog has introduced the all-new Zen Estilo, but the fact that they have actually retired the old one. Little Marutis started populating our country way back in 1984, and since then, all cars that the nation's carmaker introduced still live on in one form or the other. But now, the evergreen Zen gets the dubious distinction of being the first ever Maruti to officially go out of production. Not a fate that the doughty Zen deserved, after over 13 years of thrilling enthusiasts.

Replacing it is this, the new Zen Estilo. Adding that Estilo tag to the hallowed Zen brandname might have just saved Maruti Suzuki's skin. I can imagine hordes of Zen lovers banging on the gates of MUL's Gurgaon plant demanding that the Zen tag be removed from the new car – How can you call this the new Zen – it's just a funky Wagon R! The original Zen was a snappy, honest, fun-to-drive number, but this looks like one of those preening, self-conscious kind of cars that are indifferent to drive.