SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto

architect · 27th November 2011, 18:43

Mod Note : The 2012 Maruti Alto 800 Review can be found at this link

I saw this 'Suzuki Alto' at Mehrauli Gurgaon Road today while coming back from the Ford DSFL training session. There was a long traffic jam so took pictures with my phone while standing still.

* Driven my a young-ish couple (definitely not a company test drive vehicle).
* HR26 (Gurgaon) registration.
* No Maruti marked anywhere. In fact, only two badges: Suzuki at front and Alto at the rear hatch door. Two small stickers in Japanese script on the rear windshield.
* Looks somewhat like the A-star from the shape of the headlamps but the similarity ends there.
*Smaller than i10 but more spacious than the current Alto, even the A-star, especially at the back.
*Excellent space maximisation inside.
*Looks like it could beat the Eon on space. It's like the 'Wagon-R'-isation of the A-star. Note the off-centre position of the registration plate up-front.
*145/R13 tyres.

I have no clue whether this is a random import by an individual or an import for test (presumably given to an MSIL employee for use) or already launched by MSIL. Is it one generation before the A-star that we get in India now (known as Alto in other countries)?

Any information, guys?

SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto-1.jpg

SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto-2.jpg

SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto-3.jpg

SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto-4.jpg

GTO · 28th November 2011, 00:02

Thread moved from the Assembly Line to the Indian Car Scene Forum. Thanks for sharing!

Quote:

HR26 (Gurgaon) registration.

Quote:

presumably given to an MSIL employee for use

HR26 = Maruti company registered car. Great scoop, thanks! This is the Japan-Domestic-Market (JDM) Suzuki Alto.

M124 · 28th November 2011, 00:07

new model to compete with eon ?

ethanhunt123 · 28th November 2011, 00:10

Might be next Suzuki Alto. Maybe Maruti will replace the A Star with this, space is the current one's pain point and this could make it a viable competitor to Eon

fx45 · 28th November 2011, 00:12

That's the JDM Alto. Looks too similar to the A-star from the front but it actually is quite different.

phamilyman · 28th November 2011, 00:22

Very interesting scoop. Thanks. HR26BN is like HOT off the presses. This car has been registered within the last 15 days, max November.

That said, its rather ugly compared to the beauty of Hyundai vehicles off late - even the EON makes the current Alto look borderline ghastly. MSIL needs to sort out the looks of its vehicles, and fast!

Is it the latest A-star iteration which is globally sold as Alto? File:7th generation Suzuki Alto rear.jpg - Wikimedia Commons looks very similar.

Shivank · 28th November 2011, 00:22

Japanese Suzuki Alto Eco returns 32kmpl !!

Now, Alto or A-star? I am confused. Clearly christened ALTO at the back but looks much like an A-star replacement. Only Lord or Maruti knows what it is.

zalaps · 28th November 2011, 00:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by architect

I saw this 'Suzuki Alto' at Mehrauli Gurgaon Road today while coming back from the Ford DSFL training session.

This is first time new Alto spotted on road. I think it was spotted 5-6 month ago on trailer. It's a big scoop.

Original Japanese model can be seen here.

Thanks GTO for watermarking images. Expect all indian auto blog sites to post it on Monday with big bold letters.

Also have a look at following AutoCarIndia scoop. Later half of car is exactly same, where as front is like current AltoF8. SCOOP! New Maruti 800 - News - Autocar India

CrAzY dRiVeR · 28th November 2011, 01:14

Look at the size!

Its defenitly going to be more spacious/ practical compared to the A-star. I recently tried my team-mate's A-star. The only way to fit someone at the rear, after adjusting the seat to my driving position - was to cut off his legs! :(

arvi86 · 28th November 2011, 06:27

That's a great scoop! Thanks for your efforts in bringing it to all of us. After the launch of the Eon, the Alto definitely needs a facelift (or next-gen model) to stay in the competition. Except the engine, Alto has nothing going for it now.

Having said that, this Alto definitely looks bigger than the current A-Star and Alto/K10. But, as pointed out by many others in the forum, it looks pretty bland and boring from the outside compared to the stylish Eon. But, I guess Maruti-Suzuki will play its usual trump card - "pricing" and come out on tops in the segment. Bring it on, Maruti-Suzuki!

benbsb29 · 28th November 2011, 06:50

Looks very much a cross between the A-Star and an Eon. Somehow, the Eon would score higher in the looks department, IMO.

.sushilkumar · 28th November 2011, 07:23

This is a suzuki Alto that i saw once here in Tokyo. looks like Maruti were desperate to revive sales of A-star & with eon making waves & alto nearing life cycle, they end up with this contraception which is neither alto nor A-star .

i highly suspect if this is under some test or like that. it;s properly privately registered car , quite possible individual import.

samigo · 28th November 2011, 08:18

On the design parameter, Maruti is getting it all wrong. They stand no chance in comparo with Brio & Eon. Rather focusing on the 32 Kmpl factor to woo buyers.

Regards,
Sameer.

Enigmatic · 28th November 2011, 08:52

I dont think this will replace the alto . Seems more like a replacement for the A star .
Just the sheer size of the thing puts it in a category above the alto .

Moreover does anyone know how badly the sales of alto have been affected after the launch of eon ??

phamilyman · 28th November 2011, 10:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by .sushilkumar

looks like Maruti were desperate ... they end up with this contraception which is neither alto nor A-star .

Word of the day: Contraption.

Many thanks for providing the unintended ROTFLMAO of the morning!

27th November 2011, 18:43	#1
architect Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ghaziabad, U. P Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 764 Times	SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto Mod Note : The 2012 Maruti Alto 800 Review can be found at this link I saw this 'Suzuki Alto' at Mehrauli Gurgaon Road today while coming back from the Ford DSFL training session. There was a long traffic jam so took pictures with my phone while standing still. * Driven my a young-ish couple (definitely not a company test drive vehicle). * HR26 (Gurgaon) registration. * No Maruti marked anywhere. In fact, only two badges: Suzuki at front and Alto at the rear hatch door. Two small stickers in Japanese script on the rear windshield. * Looks somewhat like the A-star from the shape of the headlamps but the similarity ends there. Smaller than i10 but more spacious than the current Alto, even the A-star, especially at the back. Excellent space maximisation inside. Looks like it could beat the Eon on space. It's like the 'Wagon-R'-isation of the A-star. Note the off-centre position of the registration plate up-front. 145/R13 tyres. I have no clue whether this is a random import by an individual or an import for test (presumably given to an MSIL employee for use) or already launched by MSIL. Is it one generation before the A-star that we get in India now (known as Alto in other countries)? Any information, guys? Last edited by GTO : 4th November 2012 at 14:40. Reason: Adding link to review
	(19) Thanks

28th November 2011, 00:07	#3
M124 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: mumbai Posts: 145 Thanked: 35 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto new model to compete with eon ?
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 00:10	#4
ethanhunt123 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,384 Thanked: 1,033 Times View My Garage	Might be next Suzuki Alto. Maybe Maruti will replace the A Star with this, space is the current one's pain point and this could make it a viable competitor to Eon
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 00:12	#5
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto That's the JDM Alto. Looks too similar to the A-star from the front but it actually is quite different.
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 00:22	#6
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,641 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto Very interesting scoop. Thanks. HR26BN is like HOT off the presses. This car has been registered within the last 15 days, max November. That said, its rather ugly compared to the beauty of Hyundai vehicles off late - even the EON makes the current Alto look borderline ghastly. MSIL needs to sort out the looks of its vehicles, and fast! Is it the latest A-star iteration which is globally sold as Alto? File:7th generation Suzuki Alto rear.jpg - Wikimedia Commons looks very similar.
	(2) Thanks

28th November 2011, 00:22	#7
Shivank BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chandigrh/Noida Posts: 324 Thanked: 193 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto Japanese Suzuki Alto Eco returns 32kmpl !! Now, Alto or A-star? I am confused. Clearly christened ALTO at the back but looks much like an A-star replacement. Only Lord or Maruti knows what it is.
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 01:14	#9
CrAzY dRiVeR Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bangalore / TVM Posts: 17,174 Thanked: 73,464 Times View My Garage	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto Look at the size! Its defenitly going to be more spacious/ practical compared to the A-star. I recently tried my team-mate's A-star. The only way to fit someone at the rear, after adjusting the seat to my driving position - was to cut off his legs! :(
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 06:27	#10
arvi86 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chennai Posts: 1,162 Thanked: 992 Times View My Garage	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto That's a great scoop! Thanks for your efforts in bringing it to all of us. After the launch of the Eon, the Alto definitely needs a facelift (or next-gen model) to stay in the competition. Except the engine, Alto has nothing going for it now. Having said that, this Alto definitely looks bigger than the current A-Star and Alto/K10. But, as pointed out by many others in the forum, it looks pretty bland and boring from the outside compared to the stylish Eon. But, I guess Maruti-Suzuki will play its usual trump card - "pricing" and come out on tops in the segment. Bring it on, Maruti-Suzuki!
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 06:50	#11
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,963 Thanked: 13,154 Times View My Garage	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto Looks very much a cross between the A-Star and an Eon. Somehow, the Eon would score higher in the looks department, IMO.
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 07:23	#12
.sushilkumar BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: HP21 Posts: 787 Thanked: 961 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto This is a suzuki Alto that i saw once here in Tokyo. looks like Maruti were desperate to revive sales of A-star & with eon making waves & alto nearing life cycle, they end up with this contraception which is neither alto nor A-star . i highly suspect if this is under some test or like that. it;s properly privately registered car , quite possible individual import.
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 08:18	#13
samigo BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 55 Thanked: 16 Times	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto On the design parameter, Maruti is getting it all wrong. They stand no chance in comparo with Brio & Eon. Rather focusing on the 32 Kmpl factor to woo buyers. Regards, Sameer.
	() Thanks

28th November 2011, 08:52	#14
Enigmatic BHPian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Mumbai/Doon Posts: 484 Thanked: 725 Times View My Garage	Re: SCOOP Pics! New Maruti Suzuki hatchback spotted testing. Badged as Alto I dont think this will replace the alto . Seems more like a replacement for the A star . Just the sheer size of the thing puts it in a category above the alto . Moreover does anyone know how badly the sales of alto have been affected after the launch of eon ??
	() Thanks