The Ritz' heart rolls out!

The Maruti-Suzuki Ritz may still be a short while away from being launched, but it's powerplant is live and kicking already. On April 14 2009, the Indian car maker revealed the brand new K12M engine to the world. Manufactured within Maruti's Gurgaon facility in a special new engine plant, the K12M is the second of a family of modern engines. Its smaller sibling, the K10B was the first - and now does duty in the ultra-compact A-Star small car.

The K12M is essentially a 1197cc petrol engine that is capable of putting out 85 PS of power at 6000rpm in its current state of tune. Torque figures stand at 113Nm @ 4500rpm - which should make the Ritz a sprightly performer when it hits showrooms soon. The K12M's technological superiority is showcased in its all-aluminium construction and the extensive use of plastic parts as was with the K10B as well. Maruti's engineers worked closely with the Suzuki boffins in India and in Japan to make the K12M as advanced as possible. The main aim for the team was to reduce losses and an innovative rocker-less DOHC camshaft, plastic intake manifold and offset crankshaft with low tension rings help do just that.

All that weight saving also makes the K12M extremely fuel efficient too - and not at the price of performance! A high pressure fuel system and advanced injectors for better atomisation and combustion help this 1.2 litre unit pump out decent power and torque figures. Durability is also on the high side with the K12M as it employs a silent timing chain and clever tappet design along with an increased spark plug life.

The K12M is also BS-IV compliant - which will make the Ritz the first ever passenger car in India to adhere to the new pollution norm when it rolls out. With the K12M, Maruti has taken yet another step forward to providing India with cutting edge technology in their cars. And if the smaller K10B powered A-Star is anything to go by, expect the K12M powered Ritz to be a huge pleasure as well!