Currently, the recently launched Hyundai Venue comes equipped with a BS4-compliant 1.4-litre diesel engine and Hyundai has already announced that it will continue selling diesel cars in India once the new norms come into place. On the other hand, market leader Maruti Suzuki has confirmed that it will stop selling diesel vehicles once BS6 norms kick in. It is, however, ready to go back on that decision if there is enough demand for diesel vehicles in the BS6 era.
Korean carmaker Kia Motors recently entered the Indian four-wheeler market with its compact SUV offering, the Seltos. It comes with a BS6-compliant 1.5-litre diesel engine. Expect to find this motor under the hood of the Hyundai Venue soon to make its diesel version BS6-compliant.
The Seltos’ 1.5-litre diesel engine produces 115PS of power and 250Nm of peak torque, but we expect Hyundai to detune the engine before offering it in the Venue. The Venue’s current 1.4-litre diesel engine produces 90PS and 220Nm and comes with a 6-speed manual. Hyundai has not yet confirmed if an automatic transmission will be offered, like Kia does on the Seltos.
The 1.5-litre diesel engine will replace the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre diesel engines currently offered in Hyundai cars like the Venue, Creta, Verna and Elantra. However, the state of tune will differ according to the model. Expect the Venue with the new engine to be introduced early next year.