The Hindu Business Line : Cars with dual fuel option

Following Maruti's recent launch of the WagonR Duo, the dual fuel variant which comes factory-fitted with an LPG kit, I heard that Hyundai is also planning to offer a similar option for the Santro Xing. Is this right? What mileage and power can I expect from such an LPG-driven engine option? What is the retail price of LPG per litre?

Aniz Saif

A number of car manufacturers are working on offering a dual fuel option for their current models. The alternate fuel being considered could vary be LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), CNG (compressed natural gas) or biodiesel. On an experimental basis, many of the manufacturers, including Fiat, Tata Motors, Hyundai, GM and Maruti Udyog, have been testing their products with a dual fuel option.

The WagonR Duo is not the first product from Maruti with a dual fuel option, the Omni LPG was. But the WagonR Duo is the first in the competitive B-segment, where customer expectations on refinement and safety are much higher than in the entry-level segment. That is also why, if the WagonR Duo succeeds, it will not only attract attention from other potential customers but also Maruti's competitors.

Hyundai has worked on dual fuel vehicles and would surely be considering a similar variant for the Santro Xing. Reliability and longevity of the engine and fuel injection components, availability and quality of fuel and the additional warranty requirements are some of the considerations that a manufacturer looks into while planning a dual fuel vehicle.

With CNG available only in a few cities, LPG is what most manufacturers will offer in their dual fuel variants. LPG is easier to inject in tandem with petrol and, as such, can also be better tuned to nearly match the power output characteristics of a petrol engine. So, if and when Hyundai does offer a dual fuel LPG option on the Santro, the variant will be able to offer power which is nearly 95 per cent of its petrol sibling and almost similar torque characteristics too.

Currently, the retail price of LPG varies between Rs 24 and Rs 28 depending on the city in which it is being vended. The fuel is currently available in 43 cities.

I would like to know when the Hyundai Verna is likely to be launched in India? As the price range mentioned by some reviews makes this new car almost comparable to the Chevrolet Aveo and the Ford Fiesta, I want to know if it is worth waiting for? Or should I opt for the Aveo or the Fiesta?

Raj Hiremutt

Hyundai has said that the Verna, which has replaced the current Accent in other markets, will be launched in India later this year. We feel that the Verna will be launched before the commencement of festival season ( Diwali) sales in October-November.

The price of the Verna is unlikely to be very close to that of the Aveo or the Fiesta. The Verna is expected to help bridge the gap between the Accent and the Elantra, Hyundai's premium sedan, and is as such expected to be priced close to Rs 8 lakh.

Given Hyundai's ability to come up with killer pricing, the market expects the Verna to be very competitively priced. A newer generation common rail injection diesel engine will also be part of the options that will be offered with the new Verna.

It is not clear yet if Hyundai will completely withdraw the Accent and replace it with the Verna. The former has held its own amongst customers who value easy maintenance and looking for a sturdy sedan in the Rs 6-8 lakhprice range.

Market grapevine include Hyundai retaining the Accent Viva as the entry-level sedan option and then positioning the Verna in the price segments above it, all the way to the Rs 10-lakh mark.

If you are unwilling to wait for the launch of the Verna or if the price seems beyond your budget, the Aveo or the Fiesta can be considered. If you choose the entry-level GM sedan, buy the Aveo 1.4. If you choose the Fiesta, buy the 1.4 TDCi Doratorq diesel variant or the 1.6 Duratec ZXI petrol variant.

I plan to buy a B-segment car and my first preference is the Maruti ZenLXi petrol. My wife used to drive the Maruti 800 and she needs something similar or a slightly bigger model within Rs 3-4 lakh. The monthly average running will only be 150 km. Is the Zen the most suitable car for my budget?

Padman

The Maruti Zen LXi may be a suitable car to consider if you are not unduly worried about the risk of the car being withdrawn from the market. In the same price bracket, the new WagonR may be the better option to consider. You may not be able to get any discounts on this newly launched variant of the WagonR, but this tallboy design car may be friendlier to use for women and the fuel efficiency of this variant has been improved by optimising the air-conditioning of the car.

At about Rs 3.5 lakh (ex-showroom), the WagonR should be within your budget. We would have recommended the dual fuel Duo variant if the usage of the car had been higher.

Queries may be sent to: q&a@thehindu.co.in or by post to Q&A, Business Line, 859/860, Kasturi Buildings, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002.

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