Maruti Suzuki Dzire facelift to get more powerful DualJet engine

Maruti Suzuki will give its popular Dzire compact sedan a mid-cycle facelift later this month.  The updated Dzire sedan will also have a change of heart and will be sold with the more powerful 1.2-litre K12N DualJet petrol engine. The 1.2 DualJet engine is expected to churn out 90hp, which is a 7hp gain over the 83hp K12M engine it'll replace. The 1.2 DualJet engine made its debut in the BS6- compliant Maruti Suzuki Baleno last year, and also powers the Toyota Glanza.

The Dzire will be the second model from the Maruti Suzuki stable to be equipped with this engine. Essentially a successor of the K12M motor found in the India-spec Swift, Dzire and Baleno, the 1.2 DualJet engine goes by the codename K12N and was first introduced internationally in the previous-gen Swift in 2015. The new engine is said to better the existing 1.2-litre K12M powerplant in terms of efficiency and emissions, which means the updated Dzire is likely to be more fuel-efficient than the pre-facelift version.

The 1.2-litre K12N engine gets a long list of upgrades over the existing K12M unit. Firstly, instead of one fuel injector per cylinder, the new engine utilises two. What this means is that each of the eight intake ports in the 16-valve engine gets its own injector, instead of every cylinder's two intake ports having to share one; this results in more precise control and finer fuel atomisation. It also features an improved exhaust gas recirculation system among other feature upgrades.

Sources tell us that the Dzire facelift with the DualJet engine will not come with Maruti Suzuki’s SHVS Smart Hybrid tech to keep costs in check. Gearbox options on the Dzire will be the same as the current car; it'll get the 5-speed manual and the AMT as well. With this, the refreshed Dzire will be the first Maruti Suzuki model to have an AMT gearbox mated to the DualJet engine.

Apart from the above mentioned mechanical changes, the updated 2020 Maruti Suzuki Dzire will get an all-new grille and front bumper, as well as minor tweaks to its rear bumper and tail-light. There are talks of Maruti giving it a new alloy wheel design as well.

On the inside, the Dzire facelift will sport new seat fabric design, slight tweaks to the wood finish, and just like the newer Maruti models, the Dzire too will get the SmartPlay Studio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The more powerful and more fuel-efficient Maruti Dzire will take on the likes of the BS6-compliant Honda Amaze, the Ford Aspire, Hyundai’s newly launched Aura, and facelifted Tata Tigor compact sedans in the Indian market.

Expect more details to be revealed as we near the updated Dzire's price announcement.