Last month, news about Maruti Suzuki planning to launch the sedan version of the A-Star surfaced. While this news looked hard to believe at first, it is most likely true. We say that because when Maruti Suzuki can add a boot the Swift, they definitely can do the same to the A-Star. The A-Star has not sold well in the Indian market, which gives Maruti Suzuki all the more reason to develop new products on the A-Star platform. The company has reiterated the fact that it wants to create new categories within segments to boost market share to 50%.
Now an A-Star sedan might look terrible but if Maruti Suzuki carries out the design thoughtfully, it would atleast look half decent. Our rendering specialist has rendered the A-Star sedan, by giving it an overall profile similar to the Tata Indigo CS. The sub 4-meter sedan could give a boot space of just under 300-liters and be priced below the Swift DZire. Engine output would come in from the 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder, KB-Series engine which produces 67 BHP of power at 6200 RPM and 90 Nm of torque at 3500 RPM. A 3-cylinder version of the 1.3-litre Multijet can be offered as well.
The A-Star hatchback measures just 3500mm in length, giving Maruti Suzuki engineers a good 500mm of length to add a boot. The wheelbase can be extended to increase the rear legroom of the car, something which the hatchback lacks in. A 5-speed manual gearbox will be offered with a 4-speed automatic most likely to make way soon after launch. With Indians aspiring to buy sedans, an A-Star sedan might just do the trick for Maruti Suzuki. Furthermore, Maruti Suzuki could export the A-Star sedan to European markets, thereby challenging for the cheapest sedan position.
