To capitalize on the popularity of CNG-powered cars, Maruti Suzuki has launched the CNG-powered variants of its flagship SUV, the Grand Vitara. The new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG is now available in two variants – Delta and Zeta, both of which come with a 5-speed manual gearbox as standard. While the Delta variant of the Grand Vitara CNG is priced at Rs 12.85 lakh, its Zeta variant is now on sale for Rs 14.84 lakh.
The powertrain of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG is based on the 1.5-litre four-cylinder naturally-aspirated K15C petrol engine, which is already available in the pure-petrol variants of the SUV. Here, in the CNG-powered version, the engine produces a maximum power output of 87.83 PS and a peak torque output of 121.5 Nm. However, in the pure-petrol mode, the engine delivers 100.6 PS of maximum power and 136 Nm of maximum torque, which is down by around 2.5 PS compared to the petrol-powered version of the Grand Vitara.
Announcing the introduction of Grand Vitara S-CNG, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said “Since its launch in September 2022, the Grand Vitara has received a resounding response from Indian consumers, thanks to its SUV appeal complimented by multiple future-ready powertrains. The introduction of the S-CNG option further expands the appeal of the Grand Vitara. The Grand Vitara S-CNG will contribute to our aggressive plan to widen our green-powertrain offerings, expanding to 14 models.”
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Maruti Suzuki claims a maximum fuel efficiency of 26.6 km per kg of CNG, which makes it nearly as economical as the strong-hybrid version. With the arrival of the CNG-powered version, the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is now available in three versions – pure petrol, strong petrol hybrid and CNG. The launch of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG will be followed by the Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder CNG, which will have the same powertrain as the former and is expected to be launched officially at the Auto Expo 2023.
Bringing down the running cost
The arrival of the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG is a worthy option for those who want a more affordable solution or lower running cost for the Grand Vitara, which is as economic as the strong hybrid version but not as expensive as it is. Currently, only the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Creta are being offered the option of a 1.5-litre diesel engine in the premium compact SUV segment. Maruti Suzuki wants to capitalize on the buyer base of diesel vehicles, and with the CNG-powered Grand Vitara, it expects to draw more attention towards it.
The new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara CNG will be present at the Auto Expo, along with a slew of other current offerings from the brand. In addition, Maruti Suzuki will also showcase an all-new fully-electric SUV concept and the production versions of the Baleno Cross and five-door Jimny, both of which will be launched later this year.
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