KATHMANDU: Suzuki has revealed details of a new 1.2-liter three-cylinder direct-injection turbo-petrol engine in Japan.
The prototype engine produces up to 126 hp and 230 Nm of torque. Suzuki is developing it to run on E100 ethanol, CNG and CBG fuels.
The new engine is reportedly based on Suzuki’s existing 1.2-liter Z12E petrol engine used in models such as the Swift, Baleno and Dzire. It gets a variable-geometry turbocharger and a water-cooled intercooler.
Suzuki is targeting up to 40% thermal efficiency at launch, with a longer-term target of 50% by 2035.
According to a report by Japan’s MotorFan, the company is also developing a series-hybrid system based on the Z12E engine. In this setup, the engine generates electricity while an electric motor drives the wheels.
For the hybrid application, the Z12E produces up to 82 hp and 108 Nm. The system uses two electric motors and a 0.6 kWh battery.
Suzuki is also considering combining the series-hybrid system with the new turbo-petrol engine for a future plug-in hybrid setup. The combined system could produce up to 177 hp.
Alongside the 1.2-liter engine, Suzuki is developing a 1.5-liter four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing up to 160 hp and 280 Nm. It is also being developed for E100, CNG and CBG fuels.
Suzuki has also shown a new 0.66-liter three-cylinder engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions for kei cars.
The new engines are designed for transverse-mounted, front-wheel-drive vehicles. Suzuki has not yet confirmed which production models will use these engines.
The 1.2-liter turbo engine could eventually find its way into sub-4-meter cars in India, although Suzuki has not confirmed an India launch.
