Maruti Suzuki launches Auto Green Mission with automatic S-CNG Swift, Dzire and Baleno

Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Friday launched its Auto Green Mission with the introduction of automatic S-CNG variants of the Swift, Dzire and Baleno, offering automatic driving convenience along with superior fuel-efficiency, making the Dzire automatic S-CNG India's most fuel-efficient sedan with a fuel-efficiency of 36.47 km/kg, as per JATO Dynamics certification dated September 18, the company said in a press release.

"We at Maruti Suzuki are always listening to our customers. With modern Indian cities experiencing rapid growth, new-age customers are looking for the convenience of an automatic car without compromising on fuel-efficiency and performance in traffic conditions. Under the Auto Green Mission, our new range of automatic S-CNG models are perfectly suited for today's aspirational customers who seek the best of both worlds," Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said.

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Rising S-CNG demand

Banerjee said the company has seen a sharp rise in demand for its S-CNG range, driven by growing customer preference for eco-friendly options. "We have been receiving unprecedented demand for our S-CNG range of vehicles as evolving, environmentally conscious customer expectations are driving acceptance for eco-friendly options across all segments. During the first quarter of this year, we experienced a 58 per cent increase in sales over the same quarter last year for our S-CNG vehicles. In July, we recorded the highest-ever S-CNG vehicle sales in a month at 83,000 units," he said.

Engine and transmission

The Swift, Dzire and Baleno S-CNG automatics are powered by the 1197cc Z12E engine featuring Dual Variable Valve Timing and Idle Start Stop technology, mated to Maruti Suzuki's five-speed Auto Gear Shift transmission.

In petrol mode, the engine produces 61 kW (82.93 PS) at 5,700 rpm and 112.4 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, while in CNG mode it delivers 51.3 kW (69.75 PS) at 5,700 rpm and 101.8 Nm of torque at 2,900 rpm. The cars come with a 37-litre petrol tank and 55-litre CNG water-filling capacity. Fuel efficiency stands at 35.34 km/kg for the Swift, 36.47 km/kg for the Dzire and 34.47 km/kg for the Baleno, certified under Rule 115 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

According to the company, the S-CNG system has been tested at Maruti Suzuki's Research and Development facility for safety, performance, durability and fuel-efficiency.

It comes with an Intelligent Injection System that maintains an optimal air-fuel ratio, stainless steel pipes and joints to prevent corrosion and leakage across the CNG structure, and integrated wire harnesses to eliminate short-circuiting.

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A microswitch ensures the vehicle does not start during the CNG refuelling process, while the newly added Idle Start Stop technology helps save fuel in heavy traffic by enabling a quick, silent engine restart.

The company described the Auto Gear Shift as an affordable, clutch-less two-pedal transmission technology powered by an intelligent actuating unit, designed to make driving easier in heavy traffic and city conditions.

Commonly referred to as Automated Manual Transmission, the five-speed gearbox allows automatic gear shifts while also giving customers the option to shift gears manually without using a clutch pedal, letting them enjoy automatic convenience without compromising on fuel-efficiency.

Prices

The automatic S-CNG Swift is priced at Rs 7,92,400, the Dzire at Rs 8,53,100 and the Baleno at Rs 8,32,400, ex-showroom.