Suzuki is the world’s largest compact car maker, thanks to Maruti Suzuki, its Indian subsidiary also the largest car maker in India.
With the surging fuel prices and the large difference between petrol & Diesel, Suzuki plans to introduce fuel efficient diesel engines in India. The company is working overtime on developing a small two-cylinder 800cc diesel engine along with its parent Suzuki Motor Corp in Japan.
The engine is codenamed E2, and Suzuki Japan is taking the lead for its development. The all-new diesel engine is likely to punch 40 horsepower and may deliver fuel efficiency of 25-30 kilometres to a litre. The project once completed will take atleast 6-12 months for indigenisation and will be ready to roll out by 2015.
The next generation A-Star, or globally Alto will be the first car to be powered. Once launched in India, other cars like Wagon R, Estilo and the upcoming A-Star sedan will certainly get the diesel option.
The entry-level segment makes up for 40-45% of the total car market, and barring 1 litre Chevrolet Beat Diesel, which delivers a fuel efficiency of 25 km to a litre, there is hardly any option in the market. Tata Motors is developing 800cc Nano diesel and South Korean auto major Hyundai, too, is reportedly working on a 1.1 litre i10 diesel, which are likely to hit the market in 2013-14.
Suzuki has also tied up with Fiat and currently sourcing the 1.3 diesel engines which are used on the Swift and Dzire cars.
Source: ET
