Maruti’s Diesel SUVs Are Back: Ertiga, XL6, Vitara Brezza Will Soon Come In Diesel Variant By This Date

• Maruti Suzuki to begin the production of diesel cars once again
• Diesel engined model of Ertiga to hit the markets in 2021.

India’s biggest automobile manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki,is planning to produce diesel engines cars again. Previously the company used to manufacture diesel cars but its production didn’t turn out to be profitable.

Why Did Maruti Stop Manufacturing Diesel Engines Before?

Right now, Maruti suzuki has only petrol-powered vehicles under its brand name. 

The company manufactured diesel engine cars earlier but due to the new emission rules the company had to stop selling them. Maruti also tried to sell its diesel engine cars on offer but that plan didn’t work well for the company. 

The brand discontinued producing diesel vehicles since the cost associated with the BS-6 emission norms was too high. Besides, the money required to upgrade BS4 cars to BS6 would widen the cost price between petrol and diesel powered vehicles. 

Hence the manufacturers found it more sensible to stop the entire production itself. 

Is Maruti Going To Resume The Production Of Diesel Cars?

Considering the demand of diesel cars among consumers making executives of Maruti Suzuki rethink their decisions. Besides other car manufacturers like Hyundai, Kia, Tata, and Mahindra, are still making a lot of money selling diesel powered cars.

The company tried to come up with CNG vehicles as a solution to this situation, but it didn’t make any significant rectification.

To get back in the race, Maruti is planning to begin production of diesel engines once again. Few months ago a mule of an diesel engined Ertiga underwent tests in New Delhi. This prototype vehicle having a powertrain of either a 1.3-litre or a 1.5-litre is expected to be launched in 2021. 

Maruti Working On BS6 Engines

According to the insights by Gaadiwaali.com, earlier Maruti offered  a Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre, turbocharged, inline-4 diesel mill in its vehicles. This engine was available in two states of tune – 75 PS & 190 Nm, and 90 PS & 200 Nm. On select vehicles, Maruti offered a 1.5-litre, turbocharged, inline-4 diesel motor, which generated 95 PS & 225 Nm. 

The 1.5L turbocharged engines will need more research to make them BS6 compliant since its power plant was built by Maruti on its own. However 1.3L is preferable since Fiat’s unit already exists in the Euro-6 avatar. Even then the Ertiga prototype is assumed to have a 1.5L engine since it was spotted with a 6-speed transmission.

The car manufacturers are making sure that their engines are BS6 compliant since the emission rules are here to stay permanently. Even Maruti is planning to enter the BS6 zone with Brezza and Ertiga and try to establish itself in the market through Ciaz, S-Cross and other SUVs that will be launched in the market later.