SUZUKI is to build its own small diesel engines in India to avoid the shortages that have hampered European sales of its most popular model. The Japanese car maker has had trouble getting enough units of the highly rated 1.3-litre Fiat engine for the Swift.

Suzuki is to begin manufacturing a licensed version of the engine in India starting in December and the engines will be shipped to the Suzuki assembly plant in Hungary where the Swift is built.

Suzuki and Fiat build the SX4 and Sedici models at the Hungarian plant and some of the newly built engines could make their way into the Irish market in these models. Suzuki currently buys all its diesel engines from outside companies but the Indian plant will supply engines up to two litre in capacity when it is up and running.

ESP now standard for Fords

FORD has announcd the prices for the new Mondeo range which goes on sale this week. The entry level price for the 1.6-litre petrol LX version is 24,995. The LX 1.8-litre 100PS diesel is priced at 27,995. In the Zetec trim level, the 1.6-litre petrol model sells at 27,245 and the 1.8-litre 125 PS at 31,745. In Ghia trim the two litre petrol model is priced at 33,515 and the two litre diesel TDCi at 36,795, while the top trim level Titanium two litre models are priced at 36,115 for the petrol and 39,395 for the diesel. A 2.5-litre 220 PS petrol version is also on offer from 39,245.

Ford chairman Eddie Murphy said at the Irish launch of the Mondeo that ESP (electronic stability programme) was now standard across the range. "The contribution of ESP to saving lives is hugely undervalued and it is particularly appropriate to offer the system on the Irish market when you consider our high rate of road fatalities."