Coming soon: A-star VXi A/T (spotted testing in Gurgaon).

sidindica · 17th June 2009, 22:05

I was going to gurgaon when a mountain green A-Star with NO badging caught my eye. First I thought that the boot must be repainted or the monograms may be stolen, then when I saw its registration number (HRU ****), I realised something is fishy.

The car soon stopped below the IFFCO chowk flyover and was taking a u-turn. the next red light, a bit of a traffic jam and then I saw that the car had automatic gear lever sprouting from the console.

again, I was skeptical, thinking that it may be the export model alto for trial purposes, but the minute I saw the rear window of a rolled down type and a sticker on the front windscreen "ON TEST", I realised it is the a-star automatic that may be coming soon in our shores.

Sorry, my mobile phone (Sony Ericcson K530i) is currently dead, so was just carrying a normal 6-year old Nokia 3350, so could not take any pics.

if anyone catches the car by chance, kindly put some light on it.
It is in mountain green with no badging and a number which reads like HRU ****A.(don't remember the numerals).

It is a VXI model, since it had no defogger.

Dippy · 17th June 2009, 22:09

Great find sid,

I think its after a long time that Maruti are introducing an AT again in the market. I hope it comes with a good 4 speed box atleast. The earlier 3 speed boxes on the Esteem, Zen and Wagon R were out right horrible and unreliable.

OT: My 800 AT used to have a 2 speed box

Parm · 17th June 2009, 22:09

thats good news, i guess its to take on i10 AT!

pulsar56 · 17th June 2009, 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parm

thats good news, i guess its to take on i10 AT!

And I hope the A Star will have a better FE compared to the i10!

Equus · 17th June 2009, 22:18

Great news indeed! I think auto's will become a lot more popular in the next 2-3 yrs in India and why not!!

ahuja365 · 17th June 2009, 22:20

Wow an a star automatic transmission.

jesal · 18th June 2009, 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Equus

Great news indeed! I think auto's will become a lot more popular in the next 2-3 yrs in India and why not!!

i converted 4 years back, havent looked back to manual again and do not intend to. with the way bombay's traffic is going, even autos are pain in the neck. i want a linea in autobox now with diesel engine. if only...

aadix · 18th June 2009, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

OT: My 800 AT used to have a 2 speed box

do you still have it dippy? would sure like to own one,any pics?

Dippy · 18th June 2009, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by aadix

do you still have it dippy? would sure like to own one,any pics?

No aadix. This was a long time ago. I was gifted this car by my dad when I started driving with my driving permit. We bought it used in 1997. It was an 88 model. Used it till 2001 then sold i to get the Zen and then as you know the OHC in 2006.

It was a 2 speed box. I have done a max of 110 120 kph in that. But these Maruti AT boxes are horribly unreliable and Maruti doesnt know how to deal with their AT boxes at all. I hope thats not the case when the A Star AT comes out.

aadix · 18th June 2009, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

It was a 2 speed box. I have done a max of 110 120 kph in that. But these Maruti AT boxes are horribly unreliable and Maruti doesnt know how to deal with their AT boxes at all. I hope thats not the case when the A Star AT comes out.

oh ok. i too hope the same, would love to pick up the a-star a/t as and when it comes. lets see how it fares.

4x4addict · 18th June 2009, 01:55

I just hope it is not the outdated 3 speed. Five speed would be ideal but atleast 4 speed I hope.

d3mon · 18th June 2009, 07:46

One question: Couldn't it have been for the international market?

numerouno · 18th June 2009, 19:04

I believe the A-star which is sold as the Alto in UK does come with a 4 speed automatic. I guess the a-star is manufactured and exported as the Alto for the European market which means that if this is sold in India it would come with the 4 Speed automatic.

GeekSrik · 19th June 2009, 09:33

firstly sid, you must be banned from this forum for owning nokia 3350 and operating it even in 2009

your find is music to my ears. was wondering when to get my wife a good car which is automatic! finally there is a good option and hopefully cheaper than i10 automatic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidindica

Sorry, my mobile phone (Sony Ericcson K530i) is currently dead, so was just carrying a normal 6-year old Nokia 3350, so could not take any pics.

.

vineethvazhayil · 19th June 2009, 09:58

Definitely must be cheaper than the i10 auto.. i10 cheapest automatic is 4.45 odd ex showroom... I hope A star comes with a Vxi and Zxi auto.. one at 4.1 l and another at 4.5 l..

17th June 2009, 22:05	#1
sidindica Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: - Posts: 4,419 Thanked: 1,448 Times	Coming soon: A-star VXi A/T (spotted testing in Gurgaon). I was going to gurgaon when a mountain green A-Star with NO badging caught my eye. First I thought that the boot must be repainted or the monograms may be stolen, then when I saw its registration number (HRU **), I realised something is fishy. The car soon stopped below the IFFCO chowk flyover and was taking a u-turn. the next red light, a bit of a traffic jam and then I saw that the car had automatic gear lever sprouting from the console. again, I was skeptical, thinking that it may be the export model alto for trial purposes, but the minute I saw the rear window of a rolled down type and a sticker on the front windscreen "ON TEST", I realised it is the a-star automatic that may be coming soon in our shores. Sorry, my mobile phone (Sony Ericcson K530i) is currently dead, so was just carrying a normal 6-year old Nokia 3350, so could not take any pics. if anyone catches the car by chance, kindly put some light on it. It is in mountain green with no badging and a number which reads like HRU **A.(don't remember the numerals). It is a VXI model, since it had no defogger.
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 22:09	#2
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,270 Thanked: 56 Times	Great find sid, I think its after a long time that Maruti are introducing an AT again in the market. I hope it comes with a good 4 speed box atleast. The earlier 3 speed boxes on the Esteem, Zen and Wagon R were out right horrible and unreliable. OT: My 800 AT used to have a 2 speed box
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 22:09	#3
Parm Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Back from Exile Posts: 2,245 Thanked: 181 Times	thats good news, i guess its to take on i10 AT!
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 22:18	#5
Equus BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 592 Thanked: 26 Times	Great news indeed! I think auto's will become a lot more popular in the next 2-3 yrs in India and why not!!
	() Thanks

17th June 2009, 22:20	#6
ahuja365 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jamshedpur Posts: 200 Thanked: 4 Times	Wow an a star automatic transmission.
	() Thanks

18th June 2009, 01:55	#11
4x4addict Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 2,905 Thanked: 484 Times View My Garage	I just hope it is not the outdated 3 speed. Five speed would be ideal but atleast 4 speed I hope.
	() Thanks

18th June 2009, 07:46	#12
d3mon BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 218 Thanked: 14 Times	One question: Couldn't it have been for the international market?
	() Thanks

18th June 2009, 19:04	#13
numerouno BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 26 Thanked: Once	I believe the A-star which is sold as the Alto in UK does come with a 4 speed automatic. I guess the a-star is manufactured and exported as the Alto for the European market which means that if this is sold in India it would come with the 4 Speed automatic.
	() Thanks

19th June 2009, 09:58	#15
vineethvazhayil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,089 Thanked: 176 Times View My Garage	Definitely must be cheaper than the i10 auto.. i10 cheapest automatic is 4.45 odd ex showroom... I hope A star comes with a Vxi and Zxi auto.. one at 4.1 l and another at 4.5 l..
	() Thanks

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