Diesel Maruti Suzuki SX4, Ritz coming in 2010

Maruti Suzuki announced that the diesel variant of Maruti SX4 and Ritz would be hitting Indian roads by mid-2010.

This should not come as a surprise to many with Maruti Swift diesel version being announced as one of the most fuel efficient four wheeler in its class on the Indian roads. Moreover the stunning market response of Maruti DZire diesel made the company ride high on success.

Photo: Suzuki Ritz. The Ritz and the SX4 would both come in diesel versions in 2010

The Suzuki SX4, however, has suffered due to its positioning as well as not having a diesel version, in a market that is crazy about diesels. That had to change, and now Maruti Suzuki has decided to bring in a diesel engine for the SX4.

Maruti Suzuki’s diesel version of SX4 will be Rs. 40-50,000 costlier than the petrol version which is already on the roads. The company believes that Indian market is upbeat with the diesel run cars and hence plans to manufacture the diesel version of SX4. The fuel efficient car when launched is expected to give a tough competition to the likes of Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Honda’s proposed diesel version of City.

Anindya Banerjee, Senior Creative Director, Publicis Communications (India) Limited, agrees that this was bound to happen,“Such a move by Maruti Suzuki was always on the cards. With the new wave diesel engines, diesel cars are more accepted in India. This mirrors the European continent where diesel is king. But then again, one has to wait and see whether diesel retains the same price advantage that we have seen so far,” he said.

He further went on to explain a few facts. He said that the gap between diesel and petrol prices has gradually narrowed. He also said that with the government planning to lower the subsidy on diesel, diesel might not have the same price advantage that we have seen in India. “Secondly,” he said,  “diesel engines are more expensive to maintain. They cause more wear and tear of tyres.”

He also explained that one would have to pay interest on the extra money one would take as a loan from the bank as the diesel variants are more expensive than the petrol counterpart.

The Suzuki SX4 car would be sporting a 1.6 liter diesel engine when it is launched in India in 2010.

The company’s hatchback Suzuki Ritz which is soon to hit the roads will also come with a 1.3 liter diesel engine, though the petrol version would make its appearance first, as is typical of Maruti in India. “There is a good demand for diesel cars in the Indian market, and we are looking at the possibility of introducing more diesel engine options. But, we face some capacity constraints for expansion,” MSI managing director S Nakanishi said.

Currently Suzuki Motor Corporation sells the 1.6-Litre diesel version of its SX4 in Europe by sourcing engines from Peugeot and Fiat.