Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, India's top car maker, today unveiled an all new K12M engine for its soon-to-be-launched model Ritz. This BS-IV complaint engine will power a passenger car for the first time in the country, Maruti Suzuki said in a release to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The 1197cc all-aluminium engine is the second in the K-series and retains the technological superiority and fuel efficiency of the K10 B engine that powers Maruti Suzuki's A-start, the company said.

Maruti Suzuki unveiled the new Ritz K12M engine at its Gurgaon plant.

'' The K12M engine is another example of Maruti Suzuki's commitment to take engine technology in India to the next level. This is in line with parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation's focus on maximising the environmental benefits of fully proven technologies.  For this, Suzuki is fully exploiting the know-how gained in over 50 years of compact-car production, Shinzo Nakanishi, managing director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki, said while unveiling the new engine.

''K-series engine is the latest innovation coming from this focus. K-series engines are not just fuel efficient but also low on CO2 emissions. The K12M engine further strengthens Maruti Suzuki's efforts for fuel efficient, green engine technology for customers in India,''he added.

The K12M engine is being manufactured in Maruti Suzuki's brand new state-of the-art engine manufacturing facility inside its Gurgaon plant, which was inaugurated last year with the launch of A-star's K10B engine.

The K12M engine reflects the company's continued focus on investment in long term strategic projects which include expansion of manufacturing capacity and introduction of new engine technology.

The first car to be fitted with this brand new K12M engine,  the forthcoming premium compact car Maruti Suzuki Ritz, will be yet another compact car to join the company's A2 (compact car) offering that include Alto, Zen Estilo, A star, Wagon R and Swift petrol and diesel.

The Ritz is in advanced stage of preparation for a formal launch shortly. With a new technology engine, the Ritz will be positioned in the upper end of the growing compact car segment, the company said.

The K12M engine has been specifically designed for Indian applications. Maruti Suzuki's engineers worked as part of Suzuki's Engine Design team for the design, calibration and testing of the engine in Japan and in India. This is a step forward in enhancing the engine development capability. The engine promises to be best in class fuel efficient, high performance, low emission, light weight, with lower NVH (Noise, Vibration & Harshness).

Like the K10B engine, plastic parts have been extensively used in K12M engine as well. The skirt area of the piston has been shortened to make the aluminum engine lighter, whereas the resin-coated piston helps reduce friction and increase fuel efficiency.

Some of the salient features of the all new K12M are:

• All-aluminum light-weight engine with best-in-class fuel efficiency
•  Innovative Rocker-less DOHC cam shaft, plastic intake manifold and offset crank shaft with low tension rings to reduce losses and improve fuel efficiency.
• Smart distributor-less ignition (SDLI) system with dedicated plug top coils, high pressure fuel system and advanced injectors for superior atomisation to provide uniform and optimised combustion for better performance
• Optimized cylinder block, light piston and nut-less con rod for light weight configuration
• Improved engine stiffness and use of advanced technology like silent timing chain to improve NVH characteristics

For lowering running costs, the new K12M engine uses higher grade engine oil which helps to increase the first changeover time from 1,000 km to 10,000 km.

The spark plug too has an increased life, which doubles the changeover time from 20,000 km to 40,000 km.

Silent timing chain ensures enhanced life in comparison to conventional belt design while the tappet design reduces valve clearance re-adjustment.