Maruti Suzuki plans to roll out its Bharat Stage (BS 4) compliant models in a phased manner this year. The company said due to its vast product portfolio it may not be able to make all its models compliant at the same time.

“We have a staggered implementation plan. The deadline is April 1 for implementing the new emission norms. With the number of models we have, it may not be possible for us to launch all of them with Euro 4 norms at one time,” Mr I.V. Rao, Executive Officer, Research and Development, Maruti Suzuki, told Business Line.

He, however, did not reveal the production schedule of the new models. “We are still finalising it,” said Mr Rao. While the company did not specify the timeframe by when it could start rolling out models, Maruti indicated that the process of rolling out upgraded models could begin by June.

Maruti’s KB series engine plant, which has a capacity of 2.4 lakh units a year, will help to upgrade its models to the new emission norms. In its line-up, A-star is the only model that conforms to the new norms, apart from the to-be-launched compact car Ritz. Beginning next fiscal, 11 cities will adopt BS4 emission norms while the remaining cities will be upgraded to BS 3.

Ritz to sport new 1.2-litre K series engine
Maruti Suzuki said the Ritz will be fitted with a K series 1.2-litre petrol engine. The engine will meet the Bharat Stage 4 emission norms.

The company said that the 1197cc all aluminum engine, known as K12M, is the second in the K-series engines that are being produced at its Gurgaon plant. The first , K10B was fitted in A-star.

The Ritz, which is in advanced stage of preparation for a formal launch shortly, will be positioned in the upper end of the compact car segment.