[acsandeep]

There is nothing to XPLORE,in the new alto XPLORE lol .

[rajeev k]

Maruti in the given circumstances has to play the wait and watch game.
The Eon definitely is the Santro eliminator first and not the Alto killer. Alto will be carry on as the entry level car for some more time.
A two pot K series 660 cc engine can create wonders to a lstandard Alto and Alto K10 would be the Lxi variant until the Cervo or the new 800 is launched.

[BlackPearl]

Originally Posted by zulfi hansi

Remember when Alto was first launched with 1.1 L engine it was a big dud, and then 800cc version with drastically reduced prices was launched, today nobody remembers that story and Alto is a big hit.

IMO the alto 1.1L was not a dud. Maruti stopped producing it as it was jeopardizing the sales of zen.

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by zulfi hansi

Remember when Alto was first launched with 1.1 L engine it was a big dud, and then 800cc version with drastically reduced prices was launched, today nobody remembers that story and Alto is a big hit.

Mate both the Altos were launched simultaneously, the Lx and Vx1.1 and not as mentioned.
The 1.1 Alto is still admired for the sheer performance for an A segment hatch.

[Nilesh5417]

Originally Posted by viper_711

@Nilesh5417
The export version of Alto does feature air bags (Not sure of ABS though!) This car was sold in Europe till the A-star became the new Alto for the EU market. So for Maruti to provide these features should not be too difficult or expensive.

All said and done I do subscribe to the overall view permeating through this thread that Maruti probably needs to do more than this and that a fresh new design the Eon has the edge!

Guess then its bound to appear on the alto sooner than later! The eon sales figures, if any where close to what junta is predicting, will ensure that Maruti has to respond in kind and not just with cosmetics. But the price point of EON leaves little room for Maruti. Even with similar specs at the same price, wonder how Alto will make the same numbers as before let alone the numbers EON is predicted to make. Its unfortunately been out far too long.
If maruti manages to somehow get the A-Star into limelight against the EON, they might manage to keep the cumulative numbers i think.

[asdon]

The look of EON offers a refresh element, where the Alto K10 failed, as it is carrying the same 800cc look with few cosmetic changes. IMO the look and interior of Alto need a real makeover like integrated ICE, airbags if not abs, power windows and may be a 13" wheel for 800cc version. Being an ex alto owner an seeing other cars in the segment I felt bad that owning a segment topper in sales but lagging in many points.

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by HammerHead

Maruti needs a 'Cervo' to shake EON. To hold the fort till then, they should relaunch K10 at lower price point i.e. @ 2.4L onwards.
I don't see a reason why someone will not buy EON over Alto 800.

Here is Cervo again, if someone missed it in other threads.

Looks Eon has been designed with photoshopped images of Cervo at rear and Beat from side, i10 at front. I have seen unwanted comparison with Spark and Figo, these cars are never a threat it has their own loyal buyers. Let this new car prove on road, 6 months may be a good time to judge this new car. Still Santro is one of the most beautiful hatchback even after being for so many years it has an evergreen appeal, it should be a good fight between Santro and Eon, then other cars.

[misquitas]

If I had Rs 3.5-3.7 lakh, I would avoid also consider the Estilo or the Santro. Taller cars (easy ingress-egress), better boot space, roomier cabin space. Both cars would have good discounts on offer to make them an attractive buy.

[manasmadaan]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

Maruti in the given circumstances has to play the wait and watch game.
The Eon definitely is the Santro eliminator first and not the Alto killer. Alto will be carry on as the entry level car for some more time.

Couldnt agree with you more on this. I guess, eon is more in competition with estilo, wagon r and their own santro rather than alto. Maruti can sure take a sigh of relief for now. One more thing to remember is that these are introductory prices so we may see an upward correction in prices from hyundai.

[longhorn]

Spec to spec there is a difference of approximately 45k between the Alto and Eon. That is a huge huge sum in this segment especially when its powered by an 800 cc engine. I don't see the Alto taking a huge hit from the Eon. What will most probably be affected are the Santro and the Spark.

Agreed the Eon seems to pull the right tags for a small city runabout, but in this segment, FE and cost of ownership is king, and on these two parameters, I don't see the Eon anywhere near the proven Alto.

I'll believe that 21.1 kmpl after owners say so, not now. Competition is always good for the customer. Maruti is not going to take this lying down especially when their bread and butter model is under threat. Let's hope they provide better quality plastics on future models like the one that is lined up for the Auto Expo in 2012.

Personally, what I would be interested in to see is whether the there are going to tune the F8D more power (55 bhp is easily possible) or whether we'll get to see a two cylinder K series engine doing duty under the hood.

[manasmadaan]

Originally Posted by longhorn

Spec to spec there is a difference of approximately 45k between the Alto and Eon. That is a huge huge sum in this segment especially when its powered by an 800 cc engine. I don't see the Alto taking a huge hit from the Eon. What will most probably be affected are the Santro and the Spark.

Agreed the Eon seems to pull the right tags for a small city runabout, but in this segment, FE and cost of ownership is king, and on these two parameters, I don't see the Eon anywhere near the proven Alto.

I'll believe that 21.1 kmpl after owners say so, not now.

That is a huge amount in this price conscious segment and considering that hyundai may upgrade the prices and the amount of discounts available on alto, the effect of eon on alto sales should be minimal if any.
Also the total cost of ownership and A$$ of maruti further weighs the scale in alto s favour

[Durango Dude]

When you sit on your hands for too long (over a period of decades) this is what happens. There is a lot of old cars in the Maruti lineup that doesn't deserve floor space in Suzuki's largest market: India.



The 5th generation Suzuki Alto was released in October, 1998 as a 3-door and a 5-door sedan. Suspension remained the same and wheelbase is now 236 cm. The engines are the 3-cylinder 657 cc OHC 2-valve (still with carburettor, leaving this to be the last bonnet type kei car without injection) and 4-valve as well as OHC 2-valve turbo. New is the all aluminium 3-cylinder 658 cc DOHC 4-valve without turbo next to the one with turbo. Four-wheel-drive is available as usual. In October, 1999 arrived a retro version, the Alto C. By October, 1999 the carburettor engine was deleted, and by May, 2000 the OHC 2-valve turbo engine. A Mazda clone came in October, 1998. In September, 2000 the Maruti Alto (5-door only) was introduced in India, with a choice of a 3-cylinder 796 cc or a 4-cylinder 1061 cc engine with 4 valves per cylinder. The car is 10 cm longer and 2 cm wider than the Japanese version. The latter one arrived in Europe by spring, 2002 as next generation Suzuki Alto. By 2000 came in Latin America the Chevrolet Alto with a 4-valve 4-cylinder 996 cc engine.



The second generation Suzuki Wagon R arrived inOctober, 1998 also again on the same floorpan as the Alto, body types remained the same and the engines are the 3-cylinder 657 cc OHC 4-valve or turbo 2-valve as well as the light alloy 3-cylinder 658 cc DOHC 4-valve. A different grille and front bumper are used in the Wagon R RR with the 3-cylinder light alloy DOHC 4-valve turbo 658 cc engine with 64 PS (such a vehicle was already introduced in the previous Wagon R line in January, 1998 as a limited edition). In April, 2000 the 4-door (2+1) body was deleted after only one and a half year, together with the 3-cylinder 657 cc OHC 4-valve engine. The 657 cc turbo disappeared in January, 2002. This engine had also been used in the Wagon R RR, and the Wagon R now had the 658 cc DOHC 4-valve turbo available. A Mazda clone came in October, 1998. In May, 1999 came the Suzuki Wagon R+ with the same engines as before. The car was widened to 162 cm and has a length of 351 cm. In November, 2000 the Wagon R+ was renamed Suzuki Wagon R Solio, a 1.3 engine became available, while the 1.0 turbo was deleted. By December, 1999 arrived a retro version of the Wagon R. By January, 2001 the vehicle with 1.0 and 1.3 engine became available in Japan as Chevrolet MW. At the end of 1999 began production in India of the Maruti Wagon R with a 1061 cc engine and a width of 149.5 cm. In the export the vehicle is available with a 1298 cc OHC 4-valve engine (spring 2000) and is also built as Opel Agila and Vauxhall Agila with Opel engines (summer 2000).
I think instead of evolving old models with new engines, maruti should think fresh in respect of models shown below.

[Aroy]

Why mend it "if it ain't broke"? That is the summary of sales in India. If a model sells, and sells like there is no tomorrow, why bother.

In case of MUL, they had the following models of the "Alto"

. M800
. Zen
. Alto
. A *
. Alto K10

The funny thing is that, the older models sell much more than the newer models with modern facilities. The only exception is that Alto 800 overtook M800, and that is because MUL discontinued the 5 speed gearbox on the M800. The Alto has a better AC than the M800. Otherwise the more modern Zen and A* have been at the most "also ran". Alto K10 is a run away success as it is the good old Alto with a bigger engine giving it more Zip and better AC.

[rajeev k]

The Xplore was on display at the Nucleus mall today. Nothing at all to go overboard. Only the same old items like power windows, Music system, body coloured bumpers and body graphics. Unimpressive fare.

[sidindica]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

The Xplore was on display at the Nucleus mall today. Nothing at all to go overboard. Only the same old items like power windows, Music system, body coloured bumpers and body graphics. Unimpressive fare.

After the x-fun, it was the x-cite and now the x-plore that use the same x-sized graphics. Lol...was this the best MSIL could have one? Next what? another limited edition called the alto x-cess?