Maruti Publishes Fuel Efficiency Figures!

The company has announced "Fuel Economy Consumer Information" of its full range of 12 brands, and these figures will also be displayed on the particular models at various company dealerships from today onwards.

Speaking on this initiative, Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said "The 'voluntary disclosure of fuel economy' is a proactive measure undertaken by the company in customer interest. The fuel economy figures obtained in tests by premier automobile research institutions emphasize Maruti Suzuki's overall leadership in making highly fuel efficient cars. It would enable customers to make an informed choice when purchasing a car in the market."

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), at its Annual Convention held in New Delhi in September 2008, had announced a Voluntary Labeling Program for all member companies to make a voluntary disclosure of fuel efficiency by end of March 2009. Maruti Suzuki is implementing the program on the first day of the New Year.

MSIL got its complete range of vehicles tested at three government approved agencies in order to finalize and give out this information. The cars have been tested at ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) Pune; VRDE (Vehicles Research and Development Establishment) Ahmednagar and ICAT(International Centre of Automotive Technology) Manesar, and the results can be seen in Table 1.

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An all aluminium-superstructure (using extruded forms and cast inserts) is the starting point and the most important detail behind the rock-like stability of the R8. The mid-engined layout coupled to Audi's fabled all-wheel drive quattro system makes the R8 a most predictable performer even at the uppermost reaches of her performance envelope and that's a mighty assuring detail. Getting it wrong at 300km/h even if it doesn't feel so in the cockpit is a lousy feeling but the R8 has it all covered. There is none of that snap oversteer exhibited by many mid-engined supercars when the right foot is planted to the floor coming out of corners. The controls are sensitive yet so superlatively configured that the R8 is almost telepathic in its behaviour. Racecar-inspired twin wishbone suspension at all four ends helps as does the optional Magnetic Ride shocks which can change the ride from comfort to sport to hardcore racer.

Further to displaying the fuel consumption sticker alongside the models, Maruti Suzuki has also undertaken an initiative to provide new car buyers with information on how to derive the best mileage from their vehicles. An educational film showcases various methods to keep a car in optimum condition in order to gain the best mileage, plus it also discloses how the government agencies were able to achieve the efficiency figures as displayed in Table 1.

It should be noted that the mileage figures disclosed by the government agencies are all carried out in standard test conditions (STC), which commit to a set of parameters. Amongst many parameters set, STC include, two persons in the car, air-conditioning is put in switch-off mode, fuel type is standard, standard air pressure in tyres, predetermined gear change patterns at predetermined acceleration levels. The testing also factors in forces such as wind speed. Since the STC procedures are applied to all manufacturers, it can safely be said that the figures, once all manufacturers release them, will hold true to which car actually delivers according to its claims.