Taking the competition to all together a new level, Maruti Suzuki today launched its most anticipated Hybrid car, Ciaz Hybrid. The country’s largest car maker launched Ciaz Hybrid at a aggressive price of Rs.8.23 lakh (Ex-Showroom Delhi) pitching it directly against the segment leader Honda City. Putting the spot light back on diesel cars, Ciaz Hybrid promises to be all together a new experience for the buyers. The company claims it to be the most fuel efficient car in the country with a mileage of 28 km/litre. With this, Maruti has raised the bar with regard to fuel efficiency.
28 km/litre and that too for a diesel car is something which no other company has achieved in the present times. The all new Ciaz Hybrid which would be available in 5 variants comes with a Suzuki Hybrid Vehicle System (SHVS). This Hybrid Vehicle System is mated to a 1.3 litre diesel engine. Though the technology is imported, the company would be saving over Rs.1 lakh per car because of the incentives given by the government. The government levies a lower excise duty of 12.5 per cent and there is a subsidy extension under FAME i.e. a electric and hybrid vehicle policy.
Maruti has plans to introduce the same technology to its smaller cars and they are planning to launch Ertiga hybrid in October. Maruti has plans to roll out cars with the same SHVS technology in all its 1.3 litre diesel engine cars and is working on a 1.2 litre petrol engine as well. VDi version of Ciaz Hybrid would cost Rs.8.23 lakh and ZDi+ would cost Rs.10.17 lakhs
This is the first time that a car manufacturer is seriously bringing in a hybrid version of the car and that too in this price range. If Maruti is able to bring this technology for its small cars as well, it surely is going to be a game changer in the long run and we could see more companies joining the band wagon.
