[GTO]

With a poor sales average of 1,684 monthly units (Calendar year 2011), the A-Star is a slow moving product for Maruti. An interesting titbit is that the Automatic variant accounts for a third of the A-Star's sales (due to lack of choice in the AT segment); this is also a rare Maruti whose exports exceed local sales!!

The car gets some enhancements for the 2012 Model year.

High Points:

- Dual tone grey & beige interiors with beige upholstery

- 50:50 split folding function on the rear seat

- ABS & Airbags are now optional on the ZXi

- Slightly different front neck restraints (head-rests)

- A rear spoiler & new alloy wheel design

[Y@SH]

Nice move by maruti, lets just wait and see how welcome these changes are in the market.

[jacksons]

Looking quite bright, hope it sales more in numbers and Automatic should also come in ZXI,so we can take it to highway without any fear. By the way where are the new alloys ?

[kippu]

oh good thing i didnot book it last week then , now to go and book it next week the automatic for my other half,

did the prices go up or come down?

[romeomidhun]

An utter waste of changes considering A-Star's current level of sales.

This car needs a thorough refreshing inside out: an extra length of 200 - 300mm which goes to rear legroom and boot area (or a sedan-like boot?), more matured head lamps, more stylish grills (at-least like that of WR), lowered waist line at the rear doors, and a bit low-set dash. Nothing else can save this car in India, though it may survive in external markets as a second / third car.

[suhaas307]

The problem with the A-Star was never the seats or the interior (well, the boot was a let-down) but the fact that it wasn't positioned well by MSIL in the market. You can't price it along with the Wagon-R and Estillo and expect it to sell well, considering that it's a lot less spacious and has a smaller engine too. It's quirky looks didn't help it either.

Let's hope Maruti revise the pricing. (hopes squashed) An AT would have helped it pick-up, but I'm not sure why MSIL chose to avoid that route.

Good move by them anyway. Glad that they've livened up the interiors, which are otherwise very claustrophobic otherwise.

[bala80]

Please say that again. For people who are short in stature (like me), this car is such a pain to drive.

Maruti - Please do something about that high set dashboard before you change the design of alloys to make your car sell more.

Originally Posted by romeomidhun

, and a bit low-set dash. Nothing else can save this car in India, though it may survive in external markets as a second / third car.

[dkaile]

Thanks GTO. A Feature List of different variants would be most appreciated.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by GTO

An interesting titbit is that the Automatic variant accounts for a third of the A-Star's sales (due to lack of choice in the AT segment);

Very interesting indeed. But the A/T version still lacks ABS and Airbags??? Just shows that Maruti has still not understood the needs of an A/T buyer.

[suhaas307]

Oops, just realized that there is indeed an AT available with the A-Star! I remember reading a thread on it some months ago, but it didn't strike me. Wow, I'm slipping. Silly me.

But Mpower, this has always been the trend with Maruti. The previous-generation Swift diesel did not get airbags even as an option, and neither did the Ritz! Safety is not an important aspect for Maruti, I suppose. But then again, it isn't entirely a 'Maruti' thing.

[rajeev k]

In fact A Star should have fared better in the initial years itself. But its own sibling A800 was the main rival garnering all the market share. Now with the change in the customer mindset, I feel, A Star would take over as the A800 fades off. Some rear end change, not merely cosmetic, if done would also do the A Star a world of good.

[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Very interesting indeed. But the A/T version still lacks ABS and Airbags??? Just shows that Maruti has still not understood the needs of an A/T buyer.

AFAIK, the Automatic used to come in VXi trim, with ABS added over M/T cars. What is the present scenario, I don't know.

[anky]

Rear wash wipe and defogger in the vxi variant. Auto climate control in zxi. Or if none of the above a flat 50000 to 75000 price cut across all variants.

[Vid6639]

Just in time. This is a welcome change indeed. The interiors were a bit drab with black and grey.

Originally Posted by Mpower

Very interesting indeed. But the A/T version still lacks ABS and Airbags??? Just shows that Maruti has still not understood the needs of an A/T buyer.

Actually the AT has ABS standard. Pretty decent considering the i10 Sportz AT doesn't.

It's interesting that Maruti has the AT in the A-star only. If it weren't for the AT, the A-star would be a complete dud.

It kind of makes sense why they didn't get the WagonR with AT. The WagonR already sells 12K units a month.

ps: They went ahead and launched an upgraded car but they haven't bothered to check their own website. The Maruti official A-star AT website has been hacked for more than a few weeks!!!

[LongDrive]

thanks GTO, Official Website does not show new changes. Also what are Exterior changes any idea?