Maruti M800 to take the LPG route

The common man’s erstwhile favourite M800 is taking a new avatar. Soaring oil prices seems to be one reason why India’s own Maruti Suzuki has decided to go on gas for its standard model too. Maruti Suzuki has said that it plans to launch an LPG version of its M800 in a few weeks. The Maruti 800 is the cheapest car in India – and its throne will soon be usurped by the upcoming Tata Nano and the Bajaj small car.

According to company sources, it is likely that the new fuel variant could cost Rs 20,000 more than the petrol versions. Maruti Suzuki currently has LPG variants in its WagonR Duo and Omni LPG. While the company sells the petrol variants for around Rs 1,93,063 , the  AC version of the same comes for Rs 2,13,558. The new LPG model of the M800 will be made at the Gurgaon facility in the same line as the petrol variant and will have factory fitted LPG kits intalled..

Industry experts have said that the rising prices of oil has prompted carmakers to go for alternate options. The LPG variants are currently a serious option for consumers and so car makers are also going that way.Maruti Suzuki’ s shift toward the LPG M800 also may be attributed to this phenomenon. The market preference for the Alto also has spurred the company to spruce up the M800.

With Tata Motors all set to unveil its Nano, the model might see huge competition and it needs to bring in new features to survive in a cut throat market place. Maruti is hoping to double the sales of its flagship model with the new variant. The LPG variants constitute around 23 per cent of national sales for WagonR as well as Omni, the company has said.

Reports said that the M800 LPG will work on gas mixer system based on Integrated Gas Technology, which will deliver a power of 35 ps at 5000 rpm and torque of 56 nm at 2500 rpm. The car is expected to emit 10 per cent lower carbon dioxide than the petrol variant.