Maruti's newer cars to offer better mileage

Known for its fuel efficient vehicles, car market leader Maruti Suzuki India is pushing it further to enhance mileage of its refreshed models as well as future product offerings to stay ahead of competition.

The company, which last week introduced the refreshed version of its popular hatchback Swift with 10 per cent enhanced fuel efficiency, will launch the new Alto K10 on Monday that will be 15 per cent more fuel efficient than the existing variant.

"Fuel efficiency is always on the top of our mind. For any model upgrade, we always try to improve it," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Executive Director, Engineering, C V Raman told PTI.

He said engineers at MSI and parent Suzuki Motor Corporation have been working in tandem to enhance the fuel efficiency of models like Swift and AltoK10.

"Various steps like increasing thermal efficiency, reduction of frictional loss and usage of low viscosity engine oil have been taken up to improve mileage," Raman said, adding the fuel efficiency had been achieved by working on engines alone and not through aerodynamics.

When asked if refreshed versions of other models and future models that would use the current series of engines could also undergo similar change, he said: "This is a moving target that we have to meet customer demands to achieve top of the mileage."

According to the company, the new Swift diesel comes with a certified fuel efficiency of 25.2 kmpl, up by 10 per cent from the outgoing model while the fuel efficiency of the petrol variants has been improved by 9.67 per cent to 20.4 kmpl.

Similarly, in the new AltoK10, the company said it would have 15 per cent better fuel efficiency which is equipped with lighter engine and drive-by-wire technology enabling precise throttle control.

Competitors like Hyundai and Honda have been giving Maruti competition in the compact hatchback and sedan segments with high fuel economy.

With the launch of Ciaz earlier this month, Maruti claimed the top spot for highest mileage in the mid-sized sedan segment with its diesel variant delivering a fuel economy of 26.21 kmpl against City's average of 26 kmpl.