Maruti Suzuki plans to source a 1.6-litre diesel engine from Fiat to power its upcoming models including the S-Cross sport utility vehicle (SUV), reports the Economic Times business daily. The report adds that the bigger engine will also be introduced in the Ciaz sedan, which currently employs a 1.3-litre Fiat diesel engine. At present, the 1.3-litre diesel engine is used by companies such as Tata, Fiat, and Maruti in India. The company has started manufacturing the S-Cross at its Gurgaon plant in Haryana. Besides this, development of an indigenous 1.5-litre diesel engine is also under way. The 1.5-litre engine is expected to come onto the market in 2017.
Significance: Maruti's plans to use a bigger engine than the tried-and-tested 1.3-litre powerplant are well documented. The automaker's Japanese owner has also shown an interest in developing a family of diesel engines to reduce its dependence on Fiat. Maruti has received feedback suggesting that the Ciaz sedan is underpowered, and so the availability of a bigger and more powerful engine would be positive for the company. Meanwhile, the indigenous 1.5-litre engine – aimed at taking advantage of lower excise rates – remains under development.
