Concept A-Star from Maruti Suzuki

[srishiva]

The shape of this car looks good if its a little bigger than Alto class.

[Maverick1977]

Just pray that the car gets launched at a reasonable and acceptable price. The biggest drawback is that the manufacturer keeps sky high prices initially, only to drop them at a later stage, making early owners suffer big time when they want to dispose off their car.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by ashutoshb

Good job StarScream!

So, Maruti will be coming out with a new car for the A segment in late 2008.

Does this mean..
- Finally 800 will be put to sleep and the Alto will take the 800's place?
- Both 800 & Alto will be phased out and the A-Star will alone be battling with Tata's 1L and others from Hyundai, Bajaj-Renault?
- Alto will live for a few more years and A-Star will be for those who want something more than an Alto and do not have money for say a Swift or an i10?
- The talks of the Cervo coming to India are over?

And picture this.. post 2010.. Tata's 1L will have to battle with two year old used A-stars? It gets tougher and tougher for the 1L!

Thanks Ashutoshb.
I think with the A-Star Maruti is hedging its bets. They have a replacement for the 800. Alto if needed with a high FE petrol engine just in case the noise about diesel pollution leads to a ban in Delhi, the country's biggest car market. The A-segment after all is their bread and butter.
I dont think they will phase out the Alto just yet. Perhaps only the 800. They will wait and watch how the Tata 1L car does and whether it delivers on its price promise. Maruti can try to strip the Alto and/or 800 down further to get close to that price.

[blue_pulsar]

Originally Posted by srishiva

The shape of this car looks good if its a little bigger than Alto class.

Ya, our market is evolving...! If Verna can replace Accent, SX4 can replace Baleno, i10 can replace Santro(although the trend is to sell most of the cars alongside), then this car is going to replace the Alto.

OT: Probably one day we will see Tata-one lac replace the two wheelers . Just a crazy thought... No bashing plz .

[blue_pulsar]

Originally Posted by khanak

The bumpers also will most likely be changed to simpler, cheaper bumpers. The rear view cameras will also be obviously replaced by mirrors though I really hope they leave the read tail lamps and door handles the same.

Probably black bumpers and body coloured optional like Alto

[dockap]

wow thats the best looking car i have seen to date in india any idea how much it may cost if its below 4lakh its going to selll like hot cakes

[khanak]

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

Probably black bumpers and body coloured optional like Alto

Lets hope they dont do that. I wonder how much more it costs them to actually paint the bumpers. Black bumpers will look pretty wierd on this car IMO.

[speed_devil]

I think this will be very good competition for the i10. I hope the interiors are better than usual maruti ones.
If priced this can be a great success story for maruti.

[CaliforniaKnight]

sure that car if launched is going to be another success story from Maruti.Going by Marutis current trend the pricing cant go wrong either..

[flipsyde]

how can someone who can design something as good as this possibly come up with something as hideous as the swift sedan in the other thread!!!!

this world is bent!

i love the design..... looks good in every way.

[StarScream]

Originally Posted by dockap

wow thats the best looking car i have seen to date in india any idea how much it may cost if its below 4lakh its going to selll like hot cakes

It should be below 4l or in that vicinity since its a 1000cc, A-segment car.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Guys,

Doesn't it look 'too similar' to the Splash from front, and Swift from the rear?

Originally Posted by blue_pulsar

Ya, our market is evolving...! If Verna can replace Accent, SX4 can replace Baleno, i10 can replace Santro(although the trend is to sell most of the cars alongside), then this car is going to replace the Alto.

Am a little confused by this post. All these cars are selling alongside, not replaced.

[bmdesai1987]

Originally Posted by ram

Used to think that Maruti Udyog was no more than a simple assembly line set up to stamp and assemble Japan's cheapest tinboxes, exploiting Haryana's low-cost labor.

Didn't know they would someday grow brains and innovate and design concepts in-house, like a Mahindra or a Tata.

Will the Concept A-Star be the new kid in the Esteem/Swift space?

Ram

Mahindras and tatas dont really have any a-segment car like maruti-SUZUKI has.... . And secondly

"Japan's cheapest tinboxes, exploiting Haryana's low-cost labor." is highest selling here in india because its designed for an ordinary indian. We cannot have the whole sweetshop for price of 1 kg sweets.

There is lot of competition left.

[bmdesai1987]

Originally Posted by hrishig

"Concept A-Star is for a compact car"

Two possibilities...


1) This can be our esteem's replacement
2) Maruti knew i10 will be launched so they are also showing their points...


Good point is ,

Auto Company's have taken Indian consumers seriously are doing global launches India.

........ . Absolutely, after all its everything about making money.....honey....

[bmdesai1987]

and



Ready set and go... Start compairing Splash and a-star