Maruti Suzuki launched its first hybrid vehicle on Tuesday, upgrading the diesel Ciaz with hybrid features at a price cheaper by up to Rs 20,500 than the variant being phased out. The hybrid Ciaz SHVS sports features such as idle engine start/stop, power assist and brake energy regeneration. It claims 28.09 km a litre, highest in the country. The earlier Ciaz diesel offered 26.2 km a litre.
The vehicle helps us participate in India’s vision of promoting hybrid vehicles, said managing director Kenichi Ayukawa. In a hybrid system, the energy saved while decelerating/braking, otherwise lost, is stored in the battery and assists during acceleration.