The Maruti Suzuki Ertiga BS6 Diesel Has Been Spied Yet Again

• Maruti could upgrade its 1.5-litre DDIS engine to meet BS6 emission norms.
• Reports suggest that the BS6 Ertiga diesel could come with Fiat’s 1.6-litre Multijet engine.
• We expect to hear more information about Maruti’s BS6 diesel powertrain at Auto Expo 2020.

A BS6-compliant version of the Maruti Suzuki Ertiga diesel has been spotted testing in India for the second time. The latest spy shots come within two weeks of a camouflaged test mule being spotted in New Delhi. Maruti Suzuki had earlier reported that it will discontinue diesel engines post April 2020 due to the high costs associated with upgrading them for BS6 emission norms. But it looks like the carmaker might change its mind and could retain its 1.5-litre diesel models post April 2020. However, the 1.3-litre DDIS engine will face the axe as it won't be upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms. 

The Ertiga comes with an in-house developed 1.5-litre DDiS diesel engine that develops 95PS of power and 225Nm of torque. It is likely that this powertrain could be upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms before the April 2020 deadline. Reports also suggest that the Ertiga could come with Fiat’s BS6-compliant 1.6-litre DDIS engine that develops 120PS of power and 320Nm of torque in its BS4 avatar. Recently, an S-Cross with this powertrain was spotted in the country. 

While we would like to see the brilliant 1.6-litre Multijet engine make a comeback, it’s unlikely to happen as Maruti Suzuki has spent excess of Rs 1,000 crore to develop its 1.5-litre DDiS engine. Bringing in a new powertrain means further investments and it’s unlikely that the carmaker will take that risk. Further, achieving a competitive price tag with the 1.6-litre Multijet might be tough as the engine has plenty of imported components. So it’s unlikely that the Ertiga could come with the BS6-compliant 1.6-litre engine. 

A majority of the MPVs sold in India are diesel models.  A previous sales analysis revealed that out of 10 Ertigas sold, five are diesel variants. This shows that there is a healthy demand for a diesel Ertiga. Pulling the plug on a model that has healthy sales means customers walking out of showrooms and that is something Maruti Suzuki cannot afford.

We expect to hear more information regarding the future of Maruti Suzuki’s BS6 diesel powertrains at the Auto Expo. Meanwhile, could the Ciaz 1.5-litre diesel variants get the BS6 upgrade? And will Maruti Suzuki introduce the XL6 with a BS6-compliant diesel engine as well? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for further updates and watch out for this space.

Source: Gaadi Waadi