Earlier this month, it was reported that the Maruti
Ciaz with an all-new 1.5-litre diesel engine is ready for launch. According to
Team-BHP forum member Dr. Naren, the launch is scheduled in February. Codenamed ‘E15A’, this engine
won’t replace the D13A unit initially. The engines will coexist, with the
latter continuing to remain the choice for customers preferring fuel economy
and lower price over performance. By April 2020, though, the E15A engine will
have leapt from BSIV to BSVI, while the D13A engine will have gone out of
production.
Developed by Maruti Suzuki, the E15A engine will
carry ‘DDiS 225’ branding in the Maruti Ciaz. It’s a four-cylinder unit
developing 94 bhp (95.30 PS) at 4,000 rpm and 225 Nm of torque at 1,500-2,500
rpm. While the D13A engine is coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, the
E15A engine will send drive to the wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission.
Both existing engines of the Maruti Ciaz (K15B
petrol and D13A diesel) come with dual-battery mild-hybrid technology that
reduces fuel consumption and enhances performance in all four grades (Sigma,
Delta, Zeta and Alpha). There’s no word on the availability of this technology
in the configurations employing the E15A diesel engine yet.
The Maruti Ciaz costs INR 9.19 lakh (ex-showroom
Delhi) onwards when specified with the 1.3L diesel engine. The prices of the
1.5L diesel engine model may start close to INR 10 lakh (ex-showroom), and
that’s assuming Maruti Suzuki will offer it even in the entry-level Sigma
grade.
