AutoPundit : Indian automobile news and reviews » Suzuki A-Star : The New Maruti-Suzuki Alto this Diwali

Suzuki A-Star : The New Maruti-Suzuki Alto this Diwali

Maruti Suzuki needs a new warhorse against the new Hyundai i10 and they have been planning this for quite some time now and is all set to release as the Alto successor by Diwali this year which is in October-November. Though this won’t actually replace the existing model, whose production will continue till 2010. This is the first time Suzuki will make a car only in India and will export around the world. Nissan has worked out on some kind of deal with Suzuki for for 50,000 units every year.

About the A-star

This new generation Alto will have the same 2360mm wheelbase of the existing Alto, Zen Estilo & WagonR but will be wider and longer. The A-star, like the i10, is designed and developed to meet the global safety and emission standards. As you can see in the images, unusually enough, the production car will look more like the concept car.
According to company sources, the A-star was simply created by the Maruti engineers to showcase their capabilities at the Auto Expo and not as reflection of what its future models would look like.

The K-series Engine

The A-star/Alto will debut Suzuki’s latest K-series Engine, the current F-series engine in Alto, WagonR and estilo, which was conceived in stone age (25 years ago to be specific) will not be carried over as fortunately the limit of its development has reached and will be unable to meet the emission norms in future.
The K-series engine facility is part of the Rs 9,000 crore investment plan announced by Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) chairman Osamu Suzuki earlier in 2008 for Maruti. The engines have been developed by Maruti Suzuki. The first series of the next generation engine, M-series Euro IV petrol engine was launched in the premium sedan SX4 in 2007.
The A-star will come with a 1.1L, three cylinder, all-aluminum engine developing around 60bhp. As this motor is more lighter and compact its expected to be more fuel efficient than the current 796cc three cylinder F-series motor. The new Alto will also come with an option of larger K-series engine which will have a 1.2 Litre motor that powers the Splash, so as to compete with the i10 Kappa.
There are no specific idea about the pricing of the car but looking at the size and specs, its estimated to be within Rs 3-4 lakh.

The Diesel Option

One of main problem Suzuki faces in Indian market is the lack of a diesel engine in its range so it has to rely on outside suppliers for a diesel engine. Maruti Suzuki drives the Swift, Dzire with FIAT MultiJet diesel engines Chevrolet Spark. FIAT is also in discussions with suzuki to offer its future two-cylinder engine, an extremely compact diesel which offers superb fuel efficiency and performance.