Maruti SX4 Diesel to make its entry soon!

The success of the diesel variants of the DZire and Swift has made Maruti Suzuki consider launching a diesel powered SX4 by mid-2010. Sources say that a 1.6liter turbodiesel may be sourced from the company’s parent arm, which already has a diesel driven SX4 in its portfolio in various countries. The SX4 DDIS is expected to be priced about Rs. 50,000 more than the petrol SX4.

Maruti Suzuki senses that diesel saloons are gaining popularity in the Indian car market as such cars offer improved power, performance, and fuel efficiency. Once launched it would be pitted against Ford Fiesta, Hyundai Verna, Fiat Linea and Honda’s proposed diesel version of City.

“Diesel cars are becoming very popular as they are more fuel efficient and cheaper to run. Both our Swift and DZire diesel variants outstrip the sales of their petrol siblings. We, currently, don’t manufacture any diesel engines other than the 1.3-litre multi-jet and sourcing a new engine may take some time,” a Maruti Suzuki official said.
Maruti has lined up an array of launches with diesel engines, which includes Ritz and a couple of other models. According to a South-Delhi based Maruti dealer, a number of C-segment buyers are developing a fancy for diesel run cars. The dealer also hinted the possibility that Maruti Suzuki may bring in an SX4 sporting a 1.6 litre turbodiesel engine. :bball:

2010 is really long period. By that time, SX4 would have badly affected with growing competition.

Its a good move by MSIL to introduce SX4 in diesel "avatar", and cc don't think 2010 is so long period, its just next year and maybe by that time MSIL also plans to give SX4 a minor facelift, then it will be really great! :)

I had once read in ACI, say...about a year back, that SX4 was to come with a diesel engine by the current time. The engine would be the same Fiat sourced Multijet engine that currently does duty in the Linea..

But its good that Maruti has scrapped that plan and is considering the 1.6lt turbodiesel engine as it will be better for both performance and efficiency. Otherwise it would have had Linea diesel-like performance, infact a bit slower because of its huge tyres and non-aerodynamic stance..!!

SX4 considering it to be a 1.2 tonne car with a high ground clearance(which automatically reduces its aerodynamics) , so we need an engine that can provide ample power to such a heavy car, a 1.6 diesel might be powerful but it might prove to be a failure in the fuel economy department, now if a 1.8ltr or 1.9 ltr engine is there like the one in the VW Jetta for instance then it would be a little more economical, cause we all know that the average Indian, when buying a car give top priority to fuel economy, and comfort, power isnt a factor for the average car buyer cause traffic density is considerably high in our metros. You also feel a pinch on the posterior if you have a lot of horsepower and no room to gallop.

Take the case of i10, with bigger engine it still doesn't suffer from FE problems.

With 1.3 engine, the engine will struggle or work hard to pull the car. With 1.3, the engine will work less. Hence i think, the FE won't be affected much.

1.6 Diesel is a good idea. But it been long that we are listening about probable launch of SX4 Diesel. So by the time Maruti comes with 1.6 they could bring it with 1.3 Multijet with 90 BHP output. There was news about probable launch of SX4 Diesel with 90 BHP engine even before launch of Swift Dezire. By this time, it could be quite popular.

1.6 diesel is good choice by MSIL
but i think 2010 is wee-bit too far!
because linea will be commanding the diesel fort by then!

Ya diesel wil be a good addition in SX4 but personally i think its time to give SX4 a facelift after seeing a tough competition with linea, SX4 is not going to survive for long.

Road Rocket

I think the SX4 still looks pretty good. It just needs the economy of a diesel to get it going..!!

Nothing happening with Sx4 diesel engine as its been heard since launch of dzire, by that time linea would already get established and other models would be out in market, maruti would have to pull it up soon fir its diesel model.

SX4 DIESEL COMING!

On the sagging sales of SX4 due to the advent of new models like Fiat Linea and Honda new City, Nakanishi said
“the company is weighing various options to increase sales of SX4″. “One of the solutions is to bring a diesel SX4 but we don’t have a big engine as 1.3 litre engine (used in DZiRE) that we have is too small for the SX4,” he added.
(Vicky.in)

Let's hope the SX4 diesel comes soon along with a minor facelift and added features.

SX4 is a great car. The only thing that prevents it from taking off is its engine. It might be new, but personally speaking, the Baleno G-series engine was much better and more fuel efficient. SX4 must get a diesel varient, because all others in the class have it, and it must get a powerful one at that to keep it moving on the road.

autodude sparsh wrote:Let's hope the SX4 diesel comes soon along with a minor facelift and added features.

I agree, A small facelift should be given.

RoadRocket

IMO, Maruti will bring the 1.6lt diesel engine instead of the 1.3lt because Maruti understands very well that a car like SX4 is difficult to pull, even with a powerful engine, because of its shape and tires. Its unaerodynamic to say the least, and in this scenario, the 1.3lt will be a gross misfit. So, if it comes, I would expect the 1.6lt 120 BHP engine.

Fiat Sedici, the FIAT sibling of SX4 has the 1.9 Multijet Diesel engine with 1910 cc producing 120 PS (118 hp/88 kW) and a max speed of 180 km/h (112 mph).

So, do you think that MSIL will surprise us with this version?

I don't think MSIL will surprise us with 1.9l engine, that is too big. 1.3l VGT or 1.6l will be the engines.

I too don't think that MSIL will any soon introduce SX4 with the big 1.9l engine, I expect it to be the 1.6 litre MJD engine as its the direct competitor to Linea, So why would they offer the small 1.3VGT?

VT

Quiet unfortunate Anyways, SX4 will be my pick among the segment though people claim the issue with the blind spot. In fact I never heard about it here. More over, it is the best selling model in Itally for last 3 years or so

Yes, The A pillar in SX4 creates a blind spot.
I would still prefer Linea over it, But I will miss MSIL's customer support then.

VT

SX4 surely would be huge hit with diesel plant for this model, as maruti is missing is this category diesel sedan which 1.6 DDiS would do the honour for this.

People,
Leave the hopes of SX4 diesel any soon. Have a look at this article from IAB.

indianautosblog wrote:Maruti Suzuki is facing delays in acquiring permission from Fiat to fit a 1.6-liter Multi-jet diesel engine into its SX4. Fiat apparently wants to release a more powerful Linea with the same engine and then grant the license to Maruti Suzuki. Maruti is not willing to plonk the 1.9-liter engine that the European SX4 uses since costs would go out of hand.
In the last six months, Honda managed to sell 15,000 Cities while Maruti sold just 8000 SX4s. The agony is Suzuki’s in-house candidate, the Swift Dzire, has diverted buyers away from the SX4.
Expect to see a SX4 diesel in India next year. Expect to see a more powerful Fiat Linea before that.

VT

oh yea!
it is good that this time FIAT has learned from their mistakes.
i am glad to read that this time FIAT is taking the initiative for the power race!