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Maruti launches Celerio diesel @ Rs 4.65 lakh!

June 04, 2015 14:06 IST

Maruti Celerio diesel

Image: Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO Maruti Suzuki, poses with company’s Celerio diesel car during the global launch of Suzuki’s first diesel engine. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI

Maruti Suzuki on Wednesday launched the diesel variant of its 14-month-old Celerio hatchback at an entry price of Rs 465,000 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The top-end diesel model of Celerio will sell for Rs 571,000.

The variant, however, will not have the auto gear shift option available in the petrol version.

Maruti Celerio

Image: Maruti is banking upon the mileage that Celerio has to offer. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Maruti

Maruti Celerio diesel

(Left) Kenichi Ayukawa, MD & CEO Maruti Suzuki, with R S Kalsi, executive director, marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki, pose with company’s Celerio diesel car during the global launch of Suzuki’s first diesel engine. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI

Celerio’s diesel engine (793cc) is the smallest in the market and claims to offer 27.62 km a litre.

Some other hatchbacks that sport a diesel engine are the Chevrolet Beat, Ford Figo and Tata Indica. Maruti also sells its Ritz hatchback with a diesel variant and Swift also has options in diesel.

Maruti is banking upon the mileage that Celerio has to offer.

“Indian customers have been looking for diesel variants of small car.

Maruti Celerio

Image: The Celerio will be available in six colours. Photograph: Kind courtesy, Maruti

"The Celerio diesel offers record fuel efficiency and is India’s most fuel-efficient car,” said Kenichi Ayukawa, managing director and chief executive officer of Maruti Suzuki.

The Celerio will be available in six colours.

Maruti Celerio

Image: The engine of Celerio is the first diesel engine to be developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation (owner of Maruti) at an investment of Rs 900 crore (Rs 9 billion). Photograph: Kind courtesy, Maruti

The engine of Celerio is the first diesel engine to be developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation (owner of Maruti) at an investment of Rs 900 crore (Rs 9 billion), said C V Raman, executive director (engineering).

“Indians love diesel cars. About 20 per cent of prospective buyers surveyed by us said they would love to own one, irrespective of the price,” he added.

Diesel mileage chart

Image: A petrol pump employee caters to customers. Photograph: Reuters

Diesel sells at a discount to petrol (primarily because of lower government taxes), though it is a more polluting fuel. Diesel sells at Rs 52.28 a litre in the capital, a discount of 21 per cent compared with petrol that retails at Rs 66.29.

The Narendra Modi-led government has deregulated diesel prices and allowed it to move in line with the market.

Launched in February 2014, about 96,000 units of Celerio (petrol & CNG variants) have been sold.

BS Reporter in New Delhi
Source: source image