Auto Expo 2023: Maruti Suzuki Shows CNG Car
Many unveilings and automobile debuts took place during the Auto Expo 2023. While the emphasis was on ideas powered by ICE, EV, and hydrogen. Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors, two Indian automakers, also showed CNG-powered vehicles during the expo last week.
The long-rumoured CNG-powered Brezza was displayed in matte blue exterior paint at Maruti’s booth. Apart from a CNG label on the front and back windscreen, the CNG model receives no design changes as compared to the petrol-only variant. The same can be said for the SUV’s interior.
Mechanically, it will be powered by a 1.5-litre K15 petrol engine with 102bhp and 137Nm of torque in petrol mode and 87bhp and 121Nm in CNG mode. The engine will be coupled to a five-speed manual gearbox. Furthermore, the CNG-powered Brezza is predicted to have a fuel economy of 26km/kg.
The brand has yet to confirm a debut date for the Brezza CNG, but we expect it to come in the Indian market very soon.
Tata Altroz i-CNG and Tata Punch i-CNG
Tata Motors was another Indian brand that actively participated in the Auto Expo 2023. At the ceremony, the carmaker displayed two CNG-powered vehicles, the Punch i-CNG and the Altroz i-CNG. Both cars use the country’s first twin-cylinder technology, with two CNG cylinder tanks of 30 litres each. This aids in improved space management in the vehicle’s cargo compartment.
Tata Motors was another Indian brand that actively participated in the Auto Expo 2023. At the ceremony, the carmaker displayed two CNG-powered vehicles, the Punch i-CNG and the Altroz i-CNG. Both cars use the country’s first twin-cylinder technology, with two CNG cylinder tanks of 30 litres each. This aids in improved space management in the vehicle’s cargo compartment.
The cars are powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine connected to a five-speed manual transmission, delivering 85bhp and 113Nm of torque in petrol mode. The same engine is present in Tiago and Tigor, producing 72bhp and 95Nm of torque in CNG mode, so we expect comparable power statistics with a fuel economy of roughly 26km/kg for both Punch i-CNG and Altroz i-CNG. Meanwhile, sources predict that the CNG duo will be available in mid-2023.
