Report - Maruti to introduce LPG, CNG and diesel variants in existing models

08/09/2014 - 12:24 Maruti Swift, Maruti Celerio, Maruti Suzuki Anjan Ravi

New 800cc diesel engine under development for small cars.

Maruti-Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) will launch LPG, CNG and diesel variants on existing cars, the company is reported to have revealed on its Annual General Meeting report last week.

Maruti Swift Dzire side press image — Popular models like the Maruti Swift and Dzire are unavailable with CNG or LPG options.

At the moment, only the Wagon R and Omni are available with LPG options, and hence the carmaker could focus on extending this fuel option to other cars like the Alto, Swift, Dzire and Ertiga. Also, CNG variants are not offered on popular models like the Swift and Dzire and this too could change with time.

Speaking of diesel options, Maruti currently offers cars like the Swift, Dzire, Ritz and Ertiga with Fiat's 1.3-liter Multijet engine. Going forth, the Ciaz sedan would be available with the same engine as well. Maruti engineers are known to be working on an all-new 800 cc twin-cylinder diesel engine which would power Maruti's Y9T LCV, and small cars like the Celerio. In fact, the diesel Celerio can be expected by end of this financial year.

Maruti Celerio rear there quarter at the 2014 Nepal Auto Show — The Celerio diesel is expected by the end of this fiscal year.

Also read: Maruti Swift facelift spotted in India for the first time

Maruti's current market share in the petrol segment went up from 58.4 percent in 2012-13 to 60.8 percent in 2013-14. However, its diesel market share remained the same at 25.5 percent.

[Source - Autocar Pro]