Suzuki Motor in advanced stage of developing new diesel engine

MUMBAI: Maruti Suzuki may have more diesel options from its own portfolio of engines to power its vehicles, as parent Suzuki Motor is in an advanced stage of developing a new 1.5-litre four-cylinder power plant targeting the Indian market.

Suzuki has already developed an 800-cc diesel engine and Maruti is expected to start using it soon. That engine is built on a modular platform, so multiple derivatives of it are expected. After the 800-cc engine, it is working on two derivatives of a four-cylinder engine, a 1.6-litre variant for Europe and a 1.5-litre one for India.

India levies higher excise tax on vehicles having engine size of more than 1.5 litres and that is the reason for developing a separate variant for this market. Maruti, India's top car maker by volume, currently sources diesel engines from Italian auto maker Fiat.

"This new engine is expected to complement the existing Fiat multi-jet engine and will not replace it. The aim is to offer wider choice to the customers," said one of the people close to the company."The first probable product (with the new diesel engine) is expected to be the next-generation Ertiga, even the future SUV and a new MPV are expected to be powered by this 1.5-litre engine," this person said.

He said the Ciaz sedan will also likely get the engine when it is upgraded. A Maruti spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on its future products. In an interaction with ET, Kenichi Ayukawa, Maruti's MD, said Suzuki was aiming to develop its own family of diesel engines, but didn't share the specifics then.

Chairman RC Bhargava had told ET that despite the bridging price gap between diesel and petrol, diesel-powered vehicles will continue to see strong demand. On diesel engine development, Bhargava said: "If Suzuki develops a diesel engine family, for sure it will help Maruti Suzuki."

With the advent of newer technologies, diesel vehicles have bridged shortcomings on refinement with petrolpowered variants. Diesel also offers better mileage, a major consideration for Indian vehicle buyers.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited