Maruti Suzuki discontinued the 800 after stricter BSIV emission norms kicked in, rendering the car unworthy to be sold in 11 cities. However the 800 was still available in BS3 markets. Now the company is said to be working on a replacement of the 800, which will be showcased at the 2012 Auto Expo. The new 2012 Maruti 800 will be positioned as the entry-level Maruti car in India, slotting right below the Alto and against the Tata Nano. The new 800 is based on the existing Alto platform and is powered by the same 796cc, 3-cylinder, F8D engine. The engine is tuned to meet new emission norms and the facelifted 800 model will feature a new dashboard and increased interior room.
Maruti Suzuki plans to price the new 800, atleast Rs. 40,000/- cheaper than the basic Alto. This will help the company clearly distinguish the new model from the Alto. Expect sub Rs. 2 lakh pricing, putting the new 800 bang into Nano’s pricing point. The new model looks much better compared the old 800, with the boxy looks gone and the adoption of chrome on the exteriors. Maruti might detune the engine from the Alto on the new 800, from the current 47 PS to make the new 800 more fuel efficient. The company plans to target rural and semi-urban areas with the return of the 800.
Source – ACI
