When Maruti launched the SX4, many were thrilled by this sedan that was at first look, more value for money (and exciting too) compared to its competitors. However, many were disappointed too - there was no diesel version of the SX4.

That disappointment is going to get deeper - Maruti has said that it has no plans to make a diesel version of the SX4. Indian diesel fuel prices are substantially cheaper than petrol prices; and there are many who would go for a diesel car over a petrol car any day.

Recently, Maruti had successfully introduced a diesel variant of the popular Maruti Swift - to much acclaim from automobile magazines and consumers. Jagdish Khattar, Maruti MD, said that "There is already a high demand for the diesel version of Swift, so we rather concentrate on the model we have rather than spread ourselves too much."

In a way it makes sense for Maruti to proceed prudently. Before the diesel Swift, its attempts at entering the diesel car market had flopped. The company still doesn't seem to be comfortable with diesel tech - that is what one can make from Mr Khattar's statements.

It might also make sense from Maruti's point of view to not have a diesel version of the SX4 cannibalizing sales of the petrol version. It is a bad situation for the customers, yes, but for all we know, the company may have just deferred the launch of a diesel SX4. Perhaps, the strategy is to capitalise on the initial demand for the petrol SX4, then after six months to one year, introduce a diesel variant.

Another theory is that if there was a Maruti SX4 diesel, the tourist taxi trade may take to it, and that can be real bad for the car's image.

What we would advise our readers is, do not lose heart. Maruti has a 1.3 litre diesel engine and a Fiat 1.9 litre Fiat Multijet engine which it can plonk down into the car later, and offer us a diesel SX4. Let's hope that's what will happen.

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