Bajaj RE60 CNG posts mileage of up to 40 km/kg - Report

Powered by a 216 cc engine; to come in petrol and CNG variants.

A recent report by Autocar India reveals that the Bajaj is testing the CNG variant of the RE60, the inexpensive quadricycle which the company is working to launch since the unveiling of the prototype at the 2012 Delhi Motor show. The test vehicles are reported to give an impressive fuel efficiency of around 40 km per kg of CNG.

The low-cost four-wheeler, with a monocoque chassis, is claimed to weigh just 400 kg, and is powered by a 216 cc water-cooled DTSi 4-valve engine with a closed loop fuel injection system. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine sits at the rear of the vehicle, and drives the rear wheels.

Bajaj Auto, India’s second largest 2-wheeler maker, claims that the low-speed, lightweight quadricycle gives 37 km/l of petrol and emits a mere 60 grams of CO2 per km. The Government of India has recognized the RE60 as ‘quadricycle’, as it is unable to reach speeds of 90 km/h to be classified as a ‘car’.

Bajaj planned to launch RE60 by October last year, but several lawsuits challenged the move citing vehicle safety. It is now waiting for Supreme Court’s clearance for selling the quadricycle. A recent newspaper report suggests that other UV makers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Piaggio, and Tata Motors in the meantime are working on similar products to enter the quadricycle segment.

[Source - AutocarIndia.com]