Yesterday, Maruti Suzuki launched the new Swift (fourth gen for India) and with it a new mild-hybrid petrol engine. This engine produces 80bhp/112Nm and can be had with a five-speed manual or a five-speed AMT. It has an officially claimed mileage of 24.8kmpl for the MT and 25.75kmpl for AMT. The output is lower than that of the K12C four-cylinder petrol engine (88bhp/113Nm) but the mileage is up significantly as the four-pot gives 22.38kmpl for the MT and 20kmpl for the AMT.
The automaker has said that this engine will make its way to other models in its line-up such as the Wagon R, Baleno, Fronx, and of course, the new Dzire that will come along in the next few months. This also means that the Glanza and the Urban Cruiser Taisor will get these engine options.
In our books, this engine will enter with the smaller models first where mileage is a much higher priority. The other big question now is CNG compatibility for this engine. This should be on the cards considering the amount that Maruti has invested in the system over the last few years.