With the rise in cost of traditional fuels like petrol and diesel, demand for CNG vehicles has seen tremendous growth in the last few years. Maruti Suzuki is by far the biggest player in the CNG space of the Indian passenger vehicle market both in terms of sales as well as portfolio.
It is also the first major OEM to adopt CNG technology in India, as a result this technology has now aged. The Indo-Japanese carmaker now plans to update its CNG vehicle with its updated range of CNG models. The same has been shared by the company on its social media handles.
Maruti CNG models: Expected updates
Maruti has teased an updated range of CNG models on its social media handles which indicate the use of a new technology. However, the company is yet to reveal the specs and working of this new CNG technology. Maruti refers to its CNG line of models as S-CNG which will undergo some significant changes.
The most critical attribute about CNG is their low running cost and enhanced fuel efficiency, but a major grunt for CNG owners is the lack of boot space in their cars. The CNG tank placed in the trunk, takes up almost the entire storage space making it very inconvenient for a family hoping to venture into a road trip with sizable luggage. Last year, Tata was able to address the boot space issue by introducing a new dual-tank setup in their CNG cars.
This new CNG setup was introduced in Altroz first and then later offered in Tiago, Tigor and Punch. We assume, Maruti will offer a similar setup for its updated range of CNG vehicles. The twin-tank CNG setup is no revolutionary technology. In fact, Maruti offers this setup in its Super Carry LCV. The twin CNG tanks, with 35-litre capacity each, in Super Carry are placed along the length of the vehicle.
The factory-fitted S-CNG kit by Maruti offers a specialised injection system that ensures an optimal air-fuel ratio during combustion. This allows benefits such as consistent performance and higher fuel efficiency. Maruti also tuned the suspension and braking setup in the CNG cars differently to ensure optimal performance across varied terrains.
Maruti Swift CNG on cards?
Currently, Maruti offers factory-fitted CNG kits in models like Alto, S-Presso, Celerio, WagonR, Baleno, Fronx, and Brezza. In the latest teaser on social media, we can spot models like Brezza and Fronx, but we expect Maruti to introduce the updated CNG kit in the new-gen Swift. For the uninitiated, Maruti launched the fourth-gen Swift last month but it is yet to receive a CNG option which was previously offered in the outgoing model.
The new Maruti Swift is powered by a brand new 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z series engine which churns out 81 bhp and 112 Nm of peak torque. Transmission duties are carried out either by a 5-speed manual or a CVT automatic gearbox. This motor offers fuel efficiency of 24.80 kmpl and 24.75 kmpl for manual and AMT versions, respectively.