Maruti eyes to launch the new Alto 1.0L in India

Maruti Suzuki India, the largest car maker of the country, is believed to be mulling the option of launching an all new Maruti Alto in the country, powered with its latest 1.0L K-Series all-aluminum petrol engine. The company is already using this 1.0L K-Series engine in its popular cars like Maruti A-Star, Zen-Estilo and recently launch updated version of Maruti Wagon R.

Just like WagonR, which Maruti refreshed recently with a new platform, including engine, transmission and suspension –– even the Alto is due for an overhaul soon, Maruti Suzuki chairman, R. C. Bhargava was quoted as saying to a leading business news daily.

Maruti has already started delivering the BS-IV compatible version of its best-selling Alto in India, powered with the same 796cc MPFI 3-cylinder gasoline engine. No major changes have been made in the BS-IV compatible Alto, besides the addition of new integrated headrests in the interiors. Same as before, this Alto is available in three variants including LX, LXI and STD, in the price range of Rs. 2.2- Rs. 2.7 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Now, as major car makers of the world automobile market coming-up with their respective small cars in India, Maruti's long held market share of more than 50 percent is seems to be under threat. In last four months many new small cars have been launched in India, that are- Chevrolet Beat (in January), Ford Figo and Volkswagen Polo (in March). With this, many compact hatchbacks are in their final stage of launch in the country including Nissan Micra (June 2010), Toyota Etios (December 2010).