By April 2020, all cars and two-wheelers sold in India will have to meet the stringent Bharat Stage 6 or BS-VI emissions norms (equivalent to Euro 6 globally). To meet that deadline, most automakers in India have started updating their models.
The new norms involves significant changes to the engines of cars. Petrol models are easier to upgrade to the BS-VI norms, while diesel cars will need more technology added in, making them expensive.
For two-wheelers, carburettor-driven technology will be replaced by fuel-injection technology along with changes to the exhaust system to make bikes and scooters BS-VI emissions compliant. At present, BS-VI compliant fuel is available only in Delhi-NCR and a couple of other metros.
Here are some of the models that have been recently updated to be BS-VI emissions standards compliant.
Maruti Suzuki Swift
Maruti Suzuki has updated the Swift petrol, powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine to meet the new emissions standards. However, the diesel model that comes with a 1.3-litre multijet sourced from Fiat cannot be upgraded to BS-VI norms.
Maruti has announced that it will be discontinuing diesel motors by April 2020, and hence even the Swift diesel will be discontinued. A couple of months ago Maruti had updated the Maruti Baleno petrol as well.
Prices for the Swift have increased by Rs 15,000 on the base model, up to Rs 4,000 on the top-spec car after the upgrade. Prices range between Rs 5.14 lakh and Rs 8.89 lakh ex-showroom. Along with the emissions standard upgrade, the Swift also meets the new safety requirements too.
Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R
The Maruti Suzuki Wagon-R shares its petrol motor with the Maruti Swift on the top-spec variants. The same 1.2 litre petrol motor has been upgraded to BS-VI norms. The car also comes with a 1-litre, three-cylinder engine option, which has not yet been updated to meet BS-VI norms.
It’s possible that Maruti may do this at a later date when it updates the Maruti Alto, which also runs the smaller 1-litre engine. There’s no clarity on what it would do with its entry level 800cc motor though for the Alto.
Prices for the BS-VI compliant Wagon-R in 1.2 litre form range between Rs 5.10 lakh and Rs 5.91 lakh ex-showroom. Prices have also been hiked by about Rs 15,000 on the lower variants too.
Hero Splendor iSmart
Hero MotoCorp managed to beat its former joint-venture partner Honda in the BS-VI upgrading race. Hero updated one of its largest-selling motorcycles, the Splendor iSmart to BS-VI norms in early June.
However, the BS-VI Hero Splendor iSmart is not going on sale just yet. Hero did the upgrade only to show that it had the technology to update its fleet. It hasn’t said by when it will actually upgrade all its bikes and scooters.
The Splendor iSmart comes with fuel-injection technology, catalytic converter and an ECU. All the tech for this was developed in-house, although the original Splendor ran on technology inherited from its former partner Honda.
Honda Activa 125
Honda has updated one of its most popular scooters, the Honda Activa 125 to BS-VI emission standards. However, just like Hero, the new Activa hasn’t gone on sale yet. Prices are expected to increase by about Rs 6,000 when it does go on sale.
Along with the fuel-injection system to meet BS-VI emissions norms, Honda has also made small improvements to the design and added a few functional changes too, such as a side-stand indicator and a revised fuel-lid opening mechanism.
It’s likely that most two-wheeler makers will wait until the April 2020 deadline to fully introduce BS-VI emissions compliant bikes and scooters, in order to keep their manufacturing costs down and not upset demand.
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