Rumour: Maruti Suzuki Swift hybrid could launch in 2017

Maruti Suzuki has always focused on its brand image as an affordable, fuel efficiency focused car maker. The Celerio hatchback is expected to get a diesel engine that delivers a fuel economy of over 30 km/l and a recent media report suggests that the highly successful Swift could be launched in a hybrid avatar in or after 2017.

Hybrid cars as a concept haven't gained much impetus in India, largely because the batteries imported and subsequently expensive. According to the report, Maruti is betting on economies of scale, government subsidies and most importantly, local production by making India an export base for hybrid powertrains.

Maruti Suzuki showcased the Swift Range Extender at the 2014 Delhi auto expo. The Indian government was believed to have shown interest in acquiring an undisclosed number of units, though there doesn't seem to have been any further development in the acquisition.

The Range Extender hybrid uses a 658 cc, 3-cylinder, petrol engine, along with a 74 BHP electric motor that is powered by a 5 kWh lithium ion battery. The battery takes about 90 minutes to charge fully, upon which, it is said to be able to give a range of 25.5 km stand-alone. The car has a combined fuel economy of 48.2 km/l as per Maruti's internal test results. The battery, electrical motor and other components are imports from Japan. For Maruti to make the Swift hybrid a passenger vehicle reality, localization of the major components will be of the essence to keep prices attractive.

Source: Business Standard

*Image for illustrative purposes only