Rumour: Maruti Celerio, Eeco to get 800 cc diesel engine

Maruti Suzuki is rumoured to be working on an 800 cc diesel engine, which it plans to use in the Celerio hatchback and the Eeco. It is a self-developed engine, which will also be used to power the company’s upcoming LCV (codenamed Y9T).

We had reported earlier that the new diesel engine would be a 2-cylinder, turbocharged unit which would first be used in commercial vehicles and later refined to make it suitable for passenger cars. The first vehicle to be launched with this unit will be the Y9T mini truck. The Celerio hatchback is next in line. Both these vehicles will be launched in the current fiscal.

The diesel Eeco is expected to be launched in 2016 and will be Maruti's first diesel commuter van. With it, the company is planning to target the low-cost passenger carrier segment in rural and semi-urban areas. This segment is currently dominated by the Ace Magic from Tata Motors and the Mahindra Maxximo. Presently, the Eeco is available with petrol and CNG options only, which puts it at a disadvantage against the two segment leaders. The addition of the diesel variant will make it a worthy competitor. The Eeco is also expected to progressively replace the Omni.

Source: Financial Express