Maruti Suzuki will launch two of its best selling models Alto and Wagon R with a new generation engine as it prepares to meet April 2010 deadline of stricter emission norm.

According to industry sources, the company will discontinue the old F series engines in both Alto and Wagon R and replace them with its new K-series engine, which is Bharat Stage IV complaint.

When contacted a Maruti Suzuki India spokesperson said that “The successful K series engines will be mounted on more models in a phased manner without specifying details and timeline for the change in engines.”

Alto is MSI's best selling model. In November last year it crossed one million mark in domestic market, while Wagon R also accounted for a good number to its compact car sales. The company's newer models such A-Star, Ritz and the new Estilo are powered by K series engines, which the company claims are more fuel efficient and have lesser emission.

With 11 cities in India scheduled to move to stricter Bharat Stage IV emission norms from the current BS III by April next year, Maruti Suzuki India has been preparing itself for the change. It has already upgraded its mid-sized sedan SX4 to make it BS IV compatible and it will be shortly launched in the market.

It added that a similar upgradation for premium compact car Swift and entry-level sedan DZire is also on the cards but the company has decided not to upgrade its oldest model M800 to meet the new emission norms.

(Sourced from Business Line)