Maruti will be launching the Zen D, the diesel version of its popular compact car today. It will also be the first time that a car badged `Suzuki' runs on diesel power. The only diesel model that ever bore the Japanese small car maker's name was the sports utility vehicle, Vitara, that featured a turbo-diesel 2000 cc engine.
The Zen D is an important milestone for Maruti Udyog (MUL)'s R&D department since the involvement of Suzuki Motor Corp was limited to product evaluation.
Though the Zen D will fight it out with Fiat's recent introduction, the Uno diesel, MUL had benchmarked the car against the more contemporary Citroen 106 that uses the same TuD5 engine. The four cylinder engine develops 58 bhp at 5000 rpm and can return fuel consumption figures of 16 to 18 kpl of diesel. Zen D will arguably be one of the most fuel efficient and economical cars ever built in the country.
I V Rao, general manager, engineering division, MUL said this was the biggest ever engineering challenge undertaken by the R&D department. The department had earlier worked on developing the 1300CC version of the Gypsy, and had carried out the face-lifting operations on the 800, the Omni, the Esteem and the Zen.
The biggest challenge that faced the R&D team was to shoe horn the TuD5 diesel engine sourced from PCM (Peugoet Citroen Motors). New engine mountings were designed and tested thoroughly . Another problem area was to squeeze in the air-conditioner unit after the big diesel unit had consumed most of the space. Once that was done, the NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) factors had to be made to match that of a contemporary automobile. This area needed special attention since Suzuki's Alto was never designed to carry a diesel power train. MUL got assistance from the French firm, Treves, to work out a NVH package that is now installed into the Zen D. Treves has a tie-up with a local firm, Supreme, and this company will continue to supply the NVH kits to Maruti.
Other modifications included a modified suspension system at both ends to match the weight and power characteristics of the TuD5 Diesel engine. A turbo charged engine was ruled out since the TuD5 was not available with a turbo variant.
Rao added the next goal is to concentrate on developing the diesel variants of the Esteem and Gypsy. PCM has agreed to supply all the engines that Maruti needs in the future. Peugeot had sanctioned the supply of the diesel engines only for the Zen since at that point of time, Peugeot was a player in the mid-size car market, and they did not want any competition to their 309 GLD powered by the same engine.
The engine already meets the year 2000 emission norms, and with minor modifications, will have life well into 2010.
