The new Dzire was recently launched by leading Indian carmaker Maruti Suzuki, which comes with an identical 1.2L 3-cylinder Z-Series motor debuting with the 4th-gen Swift.
What is being lauded is its increase in fuel efficiency levels as against the outdated K-Series 1.2L 4-cylinder engine on which they’re based. Now, a new hybrid version of this engine is being tested in India on the 4th-gen Swift, with spy shots coming up from Bengaluru. The mules themselves aren’t camouflaged and feature a Hybrid badge under the tailgate.
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Maruti Swift Hybrid Spied in India: New Engine and Potential Launch
The Swift has been one of India’s favorite hot hatches with great sales and performance. The 4th-gen Swift has undergone considerable changes such as a design overhaul and also moved to the 1.2L Z-Series 3-cylinder engine. Not only the engine ensure better mileage but is also cost-effective to manufacture, giving a win-win option for Maruti Suzuki and its customers. The Swift in India, however, misses the hybrid setup but it is slated to arrive in India at a later stage on the global avatar of the model.
The Swift sold abroad comes with a 1.2L Z-Series engine that makes 82 bhp and 112 Nm of peak torque while being a mild hybrid as well. Here, this engine gets an AMT gearbox, while the global version also offers a CVT automatic.
If Maruti Suzuki introduces the mild-hybrid version in India, we can expect improved fuel efficiency, though it may come with a slightly higher price tag. This hybrid test mule could also help Maruti Suzuki fine-tune its Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), similar to how the carmaker tested its global models to monitor ADAS domestically in India.
Although Swift already delivers impressive mileage, it is unlikely that Maruti would work on radically improving fuel efficiency but primarily focus on optimizing the technology per se since the competition in this particular segment has not yet caught up.
FAQs
Will the Maruti Swift Hybrid launch in India?
It is likely that the Swift Hybrid will be introduced in India, as test mules with a Hybrid badge have been spotted.
What improvements can we expect from the Swift Hybrid?
The Swift Hybrid is expected to offer better fuel efficiency and potentially include advanced safety features like ADAS.
