Maruti Suzuki is expected to introduce the new 1.5L diesel engine in the Ertiga and Ciaz late next year, before expanding its reach to other products as per sources
There have been plenty of talks over Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming 1.5-litre diesel powertrain that would eventually replace the tried and tested 1.3-litre fuel-efficient DDiS unit sourced from Fiat for several years, and it has lot riding on its shoulders.
The in-house developed diesel unit is part of Maruti Suzuki relying on its own expertise and unlike previous reports surfaced on the internet, it could still be a year away. Maruti Suzuki introduced its facelifted Ciaz last month with a brand new and more powerful K15B 1.5-litre SHVS petrol engine standing in place of the 1.4-litre mill.
However, the 1.3-litre diesel has stayed put leading to rumours that it would be sacked to make way for the all-new 1.5-litre oil-burner by the end of this year. Moreover, speculations further said the upcoming powerplant would also be found under the bonnet of the soon-arriving new generation Ertiga MPV upon its launch.
However, it does not appear to be the case as Maruti Suzuki will take at least one more year to debut the newly developed engine. The Indo-Japanese manufacturer made the powertrain BSVI compliant and planning to launch it well ahead of the April 2020 deadline only.
The Indian auto industry is switching towards much cleaner BSVI emission standards bringing new vehicles on par with advanced European and American norms, and the transformation is underway across the board. Maruti Suzuki is expected to introduce the new diesel engine in the Ertiga and Ciaz late next year, before expanding its reach to other products within the portfolio.
In the meantime, the latest 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol will gradually be introduced across the range and the S-Cross seems to be next in line following the heavily updated Ertiga. With the MPV receiving major changes on its new avatar early next year, the new 1.5-litre petrol will likely accompany the existing 1.3-litre SHVS unit until its aforementioned replacement comes into act.