Diesel demographics

PITSTOP

What's an engine like you doing in a car like this? One of the most talked about engines in recent times is making an entry into the country.

Suzuki Motor Corporation, the parent company of Maruti Udyog Limited, has entered into a product license agreement with Fiat Auto and Opel, Europe, to obtain technology for the manufacture of the 70 bhp, 1300cc, common-rail direct-injection diesel engine in India.

Following the agreement, Maruti Udyog has announced that it will invest Rs 350 crore in setting up a new facility to manufacture this diesel engine "� which will be used in Maruti cars and also to be supplied to other manufacturers.

The facility will have the capacity to manufacture one lakh diesel engines annually and production will begin in 2006. The state-of-the-art diesel engine has been jointly developed by GM and Fiat, and is already available in the Fiat Panda, the Fiat Idea and the Opel Agila (aka Suzuki Wagon R).

Announcing the investment, Mr Jagdish Khattar, MD, Maruti Udyog Limited said, 'Our decision to invest in a new facility to manufacture diesel engines underlines Suzuki Motor Corporation's continued commitment to India.'

Which is just as well, for Maruti's current lineup of cars is getting rather old and should be replaced with fresh cars and newer engine options.

Expect the Suzuki Liana and/or the Ignis to be offered in India, with this 1300cc common-rail diesel. The same engine could also power Fiat's replacement for the Palio and a B+ segment hatchback from Chevrolet, if GM decides to bring such a car to India. Watch this space.

Feeling hot, hot, hot

Mattel Toys, the makers of Hot Wheels, have introduced the Hot 100 collection. You guessed it, it's a range of 100 new 1:64 die-cast scale models.

The Hot 100 collection includes Realists (authentic scale models of production cars) and a bunch of new fantasy automobiles.

These comprise segments termed Tooned (exaggerated features with big wheels, massive spoilers and bug-eating engines emerging from the hoods), Blings (trendy SUV-like machines), Hardnoze (in-your-face, tough front-end treatment with tapered rears), Crooze (all the action at the rear, with lengthy, smooth flowing backs that literally sweep tarmac) and Fatbax (big block power along with humongous rear wheels and tyres).

The Hot 100 collection, like all Hot Wheels models, come with a lifetime guarantee and the cars from the new collection are priced at Rs 69 per piece.