The fuel efficient diesel seems like the only way ahead in India – even for the small cars. We know many manufacturers here are developing economical diesel mills for their smalls; few of them like the Tata Nano diesel and the Honda Brio diesel have been caught doing test rounds several times. Now there are reports that the small car major, Maruti Suzuki, is working on an all-new diesel engine that will power the global Alto and the A-Star in couple of years.
It has been reported that Suzuki Motor Corp is working overtime on developing a new diesel engine codenamed, E2, which may come to India in the next 6 to 12 months for indigenisation. The project is still in the initial stages and the engine is expected to be ready for commercial use by 2015. There is no official confirmation from Maruti Suzuki regarding this development. The news comes in just few days after the Maruti ‘s new M800 and 800cc Alto replacement was spied close to their facility in Gurgaon. Once ready, the diesel engine may also power the new smallest offering in India from Maruti.
The small-car and the hatch-back segment comprise 45 per cent of the total cars sold in India, and needless to say that Maruti sells maximum vehicles in these segments. The diesel engine will help Maruti maintain the edge as most manufacturers look to take the same way to increase their numbers in India.
