Earlier we had reported that Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest carmaker is gearing up to launch the diesel version of its top selling small car, the Alto 800. While previously it was rumoured to be launching sometime in December 2015, reports now claim that Alto diesel will be launched in the first half of 2016. Being somewhat a major step for Maruti Suzuki India, we expect the car will be showcased next month at the 2016 Auto Expo in Delhi.
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Now the Alto has been associated with Maruti Suzuki India for over two decades now and even today continues to be the best-selling car in the country. And now with the upcoming diesel Alto, Maruti is up for setting a new benchmark in the small car segment. We say that not just because the diesel Alto will be the first entry level hatchback to come with an oil burner, but for the fact that with the current popularity and demand for the car, a diesel version will be no less than simply icing on the cake.
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Maruti Suzuki hasn't officially announced it yet, but as we mentioned earlier the car will be showcased at the 2016 Delhi Auto Expo. What we can tell you for certain is that the Alto diesel will come powered by the same 793cc unit that powered the Maruti Suzuki Celerio diesel. As for its power figure, the oil burner in the Celerio put out a maximum of 47 bhp and a peak torque of 125 Nm, which is quite impressive in our opinion.
Other addition that is quite likely to be seen in the upcoming Maruti Suzuki Alto diesel is the 4-speed AMT gearbox that does duty in both the Alto K10 and the Celerio. What's left to be seen is that whether Maruti will pair the diesel engine to the Alto 800 or the K10 or will it come with a new nomenclature altogether.
