Maruti launches CNG-powered Celerio

Maruti Suzuki India officially launched the Celerio Green, the CNG-powered Celerio, in New Delhi today. Priced at Rs 4.68 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Celerio Green is available in VXi trim (manual transmission). With this, Maruti’s stable of CNG-powered cars expands to six models including the Alto 800, Wagon R, Ertiga, SX4 and the Eeco.

The Celerio Green, which gets a factory-fitted CNG kit and Maruti’s patented iGPI (intelligent Gas Port Injection) tech, comes with the same 1.0-litre engine but develops 58bhp, around 10bhp less than the petrol-powered sibling. The company claims the Celerio Green will deliver 31.79km/ kg. The petrol-engined Celerio delivers 22.02kpl.

Speaking at the launch, Manohar Bhat, vice-president (marketing), Maruti Suzuki, said, “The Celerio has received an overwhelming response from the market. The idea of introducing a bi-fuel CNG variant was to strengthen the brand and offer more fuel choices to the customer.”

The Celerio, which was launched at the Auto Expo this year on February 6, has sold 21,948 units till the end of April. The company at present has 45,000 bookings for the car and the waiting period has come down from around 8-9 months to seven months now.

According to a Maruti spokesperson, a CNG model typically contributes around 40 percent to its overall sales in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi-NCR where CNG cars are sold. As such, it is expected the Celerio Green will follow a similar sales pattern.

Photograph: File photo of Celerio.