Alto and Wagon R are two of Maruti’s best-selling models. Now the company intends to bring both the models powered with the new K-series engines. Maruti has to meet the strict April 2010 deadline whereby it has to make all its models compliant with BS IV norms. "The successful K series engines will be mounted on more models in a phased manner," said a Maruti spokesperson. He did not specify the details or the time frame in which the models will have changed engines.
Currently, Alto and Wagon R have F-series engines and are MSI’s best selling models. Alto has already crossed 1 million mark in domestic sales last year in November. K-series engines are currently installed in Estilo, A-Star and Ritz. Initially Maruti will launch the new engine in 11 cities of India and will gradually replace the old engines in other cities as well.
New Maruti SX4 is also slated for a launch next month. It will not only have a new engine but will also be available in automatic version. It will also launch a diesel variant of SX4 by mid 2010. It is widely believed that the upcoming SX4 will be more expensive than the current top-end Zxi variant, which comes at Rs. 7.5 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).
