Following months of spotting camouflaged test mules
on public roads, the 2018 Maruti Ciaz has leaked online in spy shots published
by autoX. The new Maruti Ciaz features a subtle design refresh and a new engine
among other changes.
The 2018 Maruti Ciaz has cosmetic
changes at the front. It features sharper headlamps with what looks like a LED
signature light on the top, a sleeker radiator grille and chrome bonnet
garnish. The lower intake and fog lamp housings’ shape looks inverted. The
C-shaped chrome details on the outer ends of the front bumper are also new.
The Maruti Ciaz’s interior will likely remain more
or less the same post facelift. The updated model will likely come with cruise
control, which is unavailable in the current model. The current model is
offered with a 1.4-litre petrol engine and a 1.3-litre diesel engine. The
petrol engine produces 92 PS and 130 Nm of torque. The diesel engine
develops 90 PS and 200 Nm of torque. The diesel engine model comes with
the SHVS mild-hybrid system for enhanced fuel economy.
The 2018 Maruti Ciaz (facelift) will come with a new
1.5-litre petrol engine in place of the 1.4-litre petrol engine. No details are
available, but a possibility is that the new engine in question is the 2018
Suzuki Ertiga (2018 Maruti Ertiga)’s K15B unit that delivers 104.7 PS and 138
Nm of torque. Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki will offer the SHVS system in the
petrol engine model also this time.
A Suzuki-developed 1.5-litre diesel engine is
planned to replace the Fiat-sourced 1.3-litre diesel engine, but that will
happen in 2019. The new engine should meet the BSVI emission norms that will
become applicable from April 2020.
The 2018 Maruti Ciaz’s market launch could take place
in June-July as per a new report. From the looks of it, production of the sedan
is already underway. Its prices could start at around INR 8 lakh (ex-showroom).