Maruti Udyog unveils Swift Diesel

Maruti Udyog Ltd has announced that the Company unveiled the much-awaited Swift Diesel on January 24, 2007.

Swift Diesel is powered by a state-of-the-art, 1.3 litre, DDiS engine. Unlike conventional diesel engines, this engine is silent, clean, compact and powerful, while clearly offering superior fuel efficiency.

The key features and benefits of this engine are as follows:

Compact and light:

This is the smallest 4-cylinder diesel engine for passenger cars in the world. Compactness of engine leads to superior performance and better fuel economy.

DDiS and Multi Injection Technology:

This is the new generation diesel engine, with 5-injection technology. An electronic control system in the engine sub-divides the principal injection into smaller multiple injections, leading to homogenous combustion. This makes the engine silent, minimizes vibration and reduces emission substantially, compared to the conventional 3-injection diesel technology.

Power packed:

The engine has a maximum output of 75 bhp @ 4000 RPM and a Maximum Torque of 190 Nm @ 2000 RPM. It possesses a high power-to-weight ratio, further reducing noise and vibration.

Engine Of The Year powers the Car Of The Year:

The engine that powers the Swift Diesel is an improved and more powerful version of the engine that was rated 'Engine of the Year 2005' in the 1-1.4 litre category in Europe by UK International Press Media & Events - Automotive Magazines Division. The Swift, on the other hand, has swept the Car of the Year awards not just in India, but across the world.

Managing Director & CEO of the Company, Mr. Jagdish Khattar said, "Demand for diesel cars is growing in India, and Suzuki Motor Corporation and Maruti Udyog have made major investments in diesel facilities to serve this customer need."

He added: "We were keen to launch a diesel car which, while offering the benefits of low fuel cost, would be desired for its refined technology and superior engine performance. The Swift Diesel, a world car with a new generation diesel heart, is the best combination of performance and fuel efficiency in the Indian diesel car market."

Manufacturing hub for diesel engines:

Technology for this diesel engine was obtained by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) through a technical licence agreement with Fiat and Adam Opel. The engine is being manufactured at SMC and the Company's diesel engine plant in Manesar near Gurgaon. The plant is under a joint venture Company, called Suzuki Powertrain India Ltd (SPIL) in which SMC holds 70 per cent equity with the rest held by the Company.

SMC and the Company will invest over Rs 2500 crore in this plant, up to 2010. The new facility has a capacity to manufacture 100,000 diesel engines annually, which is being scaled up to 300,000 engines.

While setting up the diesel plant in India, SMC had announced that diesel engines made in this plant would also be exported to subsidiaries across the world. Accordingly, the engine in the Swift Diesel meets the European norms and is future ready.

The engine has a localization level of 75.5%, ensuring, among other things, that the car is well suited for Indian roads.

Swift was SMC's global ear, launched simultaneously across the world including India. So is the Swift Diesel engine now. This engine is being introduced in India within months of its launch in Europe, making it the most contemporary diesel technology.

Source : Equity Bulls

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