India’s largest car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki has launched the Ertiga utility vehicle at a price of Rs 5,89,000 – Rs 8,45,000 (Ex-showroom Delhi). The car can be availed in both diesel and petrol versions. The diesel versions will have a 1.3-litre turbocharged diesel while the petrol version will have the newly introduced K-14 VVT 1.4 litre petrol engine. The K-14 VVT 1.4 litre petrol engine which uses variable valve timing has been launched in India for the first time by the company.
The diesel version of the Ertiga is claimed to have a fuel efficiency of 20.77 kilometers per liter. While the headlamp is said to resemble the Swift hatchback’s lights, the rest appears to be an extended version of the Ritz hatchback. The car would compete with the likes of Mahindra Bolero and Tata Sumo Grande in the diesel powered segment.
The car, first unveiled at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012, is the company’s first car in the Utility vehicle segment and marks the creation of a new segment of compact MPV in the Indian auto market. The company plans on selling about 5,000 units of the Ertiga on a monthly basis.