2018 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz plans to go Toyota Yaris way? Facelift may come without diesel engine

It looks like the charm of diesel sedan around the Rs 10 lakh mark is diminishing and buyers are increasingly opting for petrol powered variants. The trend may prompt Maruti Suzuki to drop the diesel engine option.

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, is all set to launch a facelift version of the Ciaz sedan sold via Nexa premium dealership chain. The company has already teased the upcoming new avatar of the Honda City rival and launch is expected sometime in August.

Emerging reports claims Maruti Suzuki may not offer diesel engine powered variants with the new version. Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel models are powered by 89bhp, 1.3-litre DDiS200 units that also comes with the mild-hybrid system. Withdrawal of duty concession on hybrids last year by the central government saw the price of the Ciaz diesel going up.

This has also resulted in sales split of Ciaz petrol and diesel to 80:20. This may prevent Maruti Suzuki to bring Ciaz facelift with a diesel engine, reports Cardekho.

2018 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz facelift — New grille of 2018 Maruti Suzuki Ciaz

If the report is anything to go by, new Ciaz will be the second model in its segment without diesel engine option, first being Toyota Yaris offered only with 1.5-litre dual VVT-i petrol engine.

Meanwhile, the new Ciaz is expected to offer with an all-new engine. The mill in question is the 1.5-litre unit that debuted with the 2018 Suzuki Ertiga at the Indonesia International Motor Show in April 2018. The K-Series family of the engine will develop 103bhp of power at 6,000rpm and 138 Nm of torque at 4,400rpm. Reports also claim that it will be offered with the mild-hybrid system, making the Ciaz the first petrol mild-hybrid model from Maruti.

At NEXA, we always believe in creating new that inspires. #NEXA #CreateInspire pic.twitter.com/kWoODsiV2X
— Nexa Experience (@NexaExperience) July 22, 2018

Does that mean no more Maruti Suzuki Ciaz diesel?

The report adds Maruti Suzuki will not discontinue diesel-powered Ciaz altogether. "No, we don't plan to discontinue because there are customers who are hardcore diesel lovers as well and diesel certainly has its own advantages of higher fuel efficiency, higher calorific value, more power. So we'll continue with the diesel engine," the publication quoted RS Kalsi, senior executive director of marketing & sales at Maruti Suzuki as saying. The new Ciaz with the diesel-powered engine is expected to join the range later.

Source: Cardekho