Maruti Suzuki will be launching the Alto 800 this festive season and these pictures which seem to have been shot at the company’s plant is testimony to the same. The Alto 800 is based on the Alto platform and will slot in below the Alto. It is powered by the same 800cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine from the Alto, but with minor modifications to ensure it complies with the latest emission requirements. In order to ensure an aggressive pricing, Maruti Suzuki has shared many parts with the Alto, including the suspension.
The Maruti Alto 800 is expected to be priced below Rs. 2 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). At this price, the vehicle will compete with the Tata Nano, which till date was free of competition. While the Alto is known to be low on interior room, the Alto 800 will boast of more space, thanks to the taller height and better interior packaging. The styling of the Alto 800 is nothing to talk about and the vehicle looks very similar to the Ford Figo at the front. The rear is similar to the A-Star, while the interiors are all new.
The Alto 800 will produce 47 BHP of power and 62 Nm of torque. The engine will be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox and the mileage is expected to be around 20 km/l (as per ARAI). Maruti Suzuki recently re-started production at its Manesar facility, after a stike and lockout. The company feels diesel cars are important to maintain 40% market share in India. Thus India’s largest automaker will launch more diesel vehicles and will invest heavily in diesel engine capacity expansion.
Source – Autocar India
