Maruti Suzuki A-Star to have GeNext K-series engines

Maruti Suzuki to equip Maruti Suzuki A-Star, Splash and all future launches with GeNext K-series engines.

15 April, 2008

Maruti Suzuki India plans to replace the engines of its existing small cars with a new series of next generation engines. The current F and G series Euro III engines will be phased out by year 2010.

The A-Star, Maruti Suzuki’s next small car, will be equipped with the GeNext engine - K-series petrol engine. While the Maruti Suzuki A-Star will sport a new 1 litre K-series Euro V engine, Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo, Swift and WagonR - will be strapped with different sizes of the same series (up to 1.3 litre) in the next few years.

All Maruti Suzuki new cars, that will be launched from now on, will have next generation engines. Maruti Suzuki will manufacture the next generation engines at its Manesar plant with an eye on the developed markets of Europe and the US. Maruti Suzuki will unveil the next generation engines in its A-Stars in October 2008.

Maruti Suzuki's hatchback Splash, which will be next in line for launch, will also have the new engines.

The K-series engine facility is part of the Rs 9,000 crore investment plan announced by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) chairman Osamu Suzuki earlier in 2008 for Maruti. The engines have been developed by Maruti Suzuki. The first series of the next generation engine, M-series Euro IV petrol engine was launched in the premium sedan SX4 in 2007.

Expected to deliver very high fuel efficiency and excellent environment protection, the engines that would power the A-Star will have the lowest carbon emissions in India, said a report. The next gen engines have been made to meet all emission norms for the next decade, Maruti Suzuki said.

Meanwhile, analysts believe that the K-series engine is sure to be pitted against Hyundai i10 's 1.1 litre, iRDE engine and the Chevrolet Spark's 1.0 litre 4-cylinder SOHC engine.