AUTOMOTIVE SITE

Maruti Suzuki has launched a new Swift variant with a 1.2-litre petrol engine which complies to the stricter Bharat Stage IV standard. BS-IV, which is India’s equivalent to Euro 4, will come into force this April.

The new K-series engine, with a power output of 84 bhp and 113 Nm replaces the old 1.3-litre engine with 87 bhp and 111 Nm. Maruti Suzuki claims better refinement and fuel consumption of 17.9 km/l, 2 km/l better than the old 1.3. As a comparison, the M15A 1.5-litre Swift sold in Malaysia has 101 bhp and 133 Nm.

But many Swift buyers are turning to diesel. Maruti introduced the Swift with Fiat’s 1.3-litre Multijet diesel engine (common rail turbo with 75 bhp and 190 Nm) back in 2007 and it has been selling well ever since. Despite increased competition, Maruti sold 10,900 Swifts in December 2009, the model’s highest monthly sales since its debut back in May 2005.

Following the , Vopurchase of 19.9% of Suzuki lkswagen has wasted little time in executing its masterplan. Back then, VW said: “both parties are focused on achieving synergies in the areas of rapidly growing emerging markets as well as in the development and manufacturing of innovative and environmentally friendly compact cars”. Now, VW and Suzuki have revealed that they will be working together on hybrid and electric car projects in India.

The two companies are looking at establishing an R&D centre in the Subcontinent, and it’s likely to be on current Suzuki premises. VW has an arsenal of efficient drivetrains while Suzuki has plenty of small cars in all shapes and sizes. The latter also has a fuel cell programme going on. Will the Volkswagen Up! Lite Concept soon be reality?

It will be interesting to see the fruits of this marriage take shape, and how affordable they can make it to be. Millions of Indians adopting green cars will not only be good for VW and Suzuki, but the rest of the world, as the booming nation is set to be one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases.