Here are further hints that the bigger and the most awaited 1.6 liter Multijet diesel engine is coming to India. And interestingly, it may not be offered on a FIAT, the makers of the motor! Maruti Suzuki has started the process of importing 1.6 litre MJD engines and these are expected to be plonked onto the upcoming S-Cross crossover, which was recently spied with a 1.6 DDIS badge, in its production form.
As per Zauba, many hundred units have been imported from Italy and their destination is Garhi Harsaru in Gurgaon. This place is very close to Manesar, the region where Maruti Suzuki has its major R&D and manufacturing centre.
Such great quantity of import confirms that these are not R&D units and further ‘Captive Consumption’ clears that they are to be consumed on some car for our market. The import price, as per Zauba, has been pegged at Rs 1.8 lakhs per engine.
The 1.6 litre DDiS engine, on the European S-Cross produces 119.6 PS of maximum power at 3,750 rpm and 320 Nm of peak torque at 1,750 rpm. Internationally this engine is mated to a 6 speed manual transmission. The crossover has also been snapped with a 1.3 liter DDIS and there is a possibility that the company may offer both the options. We can also expect Suzuki’s All-Grip four wheel drive on the higher variant(s).
With this update, we begin to take the S-Cross seriously, otherwise it just did not make the cut. Its launch should be near!
