Alto : Limited Edition variants (Xcite, Spice, Flash etc)

tinnieboy · 25th May 2009, 10:14

Now, no-frills Alto to take on Tata Nano

NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki, which sells every second car sold in India, is going to refresh its entire existing portfolio of older models in the next two years, a top company executive said.

Swift, the largest selling premium hatchback in the country, will get a fresh design and new petrol engine while Maruti’s largest selling product Alto will come in two new variants.

A source in the automobile industry with direct knowledge of the plans said Alto will have a stripped down version to compete with Tata Motors’ small car Nano and an upmarket variant loaded with the new KB series engine to take on Hyundai Santro, GM’s Spark and other compact cars in the market.

Maruti’s other cars, the ageing WagonR and the Versa are also being overhauled while the company will tweak the engines of 25-year old Maruti 800 and the Omni to meet the new BS4 emission standards coming in April 2010. The sports utility vehicle Grand Vitara will also don a new engine.

Maruti Suzuki MD & CEO S Nakanishi said, “We have exhausted our quota of new cars with eight new launches in India in the past three years. Now we are looking at strengthening our leadership by refreshing our old portfolio.” The company has developed the new KB series petrol engines with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore, which will be strapped in several of these cars. In addition the company capex of Rs 1,800 crore in the fiscal will also fund the portfolio revamp.

By refreshing the portfolio Maruti will save on huge incremental costs that goes into developing new cars and platforms. As against the minimum cost of Rs 50-100 crore for upgrading a car, developing a new car could eat up investments of Rs 600-1,000 crore.

Meanwhile, Maruti may also bring its new sedan Kizashi to India sometime next year. Developed by its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corp, it will compete with the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra. The company spokesperson however refused to commit anything on the Kizashi launch.

Source : Now, no-frills Alto to take on Tata Nano- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times

-----------------

I wonder how trustworthy their sources are. Usually they rely on hunches than the facts but just though sharing.

misquitas · 13th July 2009, 21:48

Maruti seems to have launched yet another limited edition (Alto Flash) in a limited market (Pune). Check out the following news report.
___________________

PUNE (JULY 12): Maruti Suzuki launched a new variant of the Alto – the limited edition Alto Flash in Pune . Alto Flash is loaded with enhanced features and stylised aesthetics.
For customer comfort, it has front power windows, designer graphics and art leather seat covers. The body-coloured feather-touch mirror, door handles, bumpers and body moulding are other attraction, said a press release.
This car comes in five colour options: silky silver, pearl silver, blue blaze, fire brick red and white. Alto Flash is being offered with free in-built accessories worth Rs. 18,500.
Although a limited edition, Alto Flash is priced in the same ex-showroom price range as that of the Alto. The Alto has sold over a million units since its launch in 2000.
The car, certified by ARAI, has a mileage of 18.1 kmpl, said the release.

(Source: Indian Express)

Technocrat · 14th July 2009, 12:29

Yep the Flash looks like they dipped the whole car in paint. Similar to what they did earlier, only this time they are publishing details in Advert.

Btw what are these feather touch mirrors? They look like the VXi ones & they are certainly not feather touch.

Alto : Limited Edition variants (Xcite, Spice, Flash etc)-altoflash.png

pmbabu · 14th July 2009, 14:54

Just now enquired Bimal in Bangalore and they say that no such offer or limited editions are available in Bangalore for Alto. Seems like the offer is available only in Pune?

dhrishikesh · 14th July 2009, 16:43

Is that what we call as Limited Editions ???
Front power windows, body colored door handles-bumpers-mirrors are very much common now days !!
& BTW, what are those feather touch mirrors ??

gpa · 14th July 2009, 16:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by pmbabu

Just now enquired Bimal in Bangalore and they say that no such offer or limited editions are available in Bangalore for Alto. Seems like the offer is available only in Pune?

I have seen a few of these at Mandovi Motors on Lavelle Road in BLR.

dhrishikesh · 14th July 2009, 17:00

This Alto is there on the display @ Automotive, Nerul (Maruti Suzuki's Showroom) near D.Y.Patil College.

Furious55 · 14th July 2009, 17:08

So basically the Alto Spice, Alto Xcite and Alto Flash are the same thing. Body coloured bumpers and handles, Leather (fake) seats, rear parcel tray, feather touch mirrors (basically VXi type but not internally adjustable) and some stickers. They are all done up by the dealers as per Maruti specifications. Nothing great about them.

dhrishikesh · 14th July 2009, 17:15

I think Alto Swing used to have the same things fitted which were launched in 2004-05.

Abbas · 14th July 2009, 17:30

Blah !!! i am not Xcited at all.

Furious55 · 14th July 2009, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhrishikesh

I think Alto Swing used to have the same things fitted which were launched in 2004-05.

Never heard of this one. I should add it to my last post. The only LE Alto's I had heard of were the Celebration for the Type I and X-Fun for the Type II. These 2 versions came from the factory and were not dealer options.

Volt · 14th July 2009, 22:21

IIRC the current dealer discount on the Alto is more or less equal to the value of these 'accessories' being offered on the Flash. Looks like a smart move to increase dealer margins.

Bouncer · 15th July 2009, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volt

IIRC the current dealer discount on the Alto is more or less equal to the value of these 'accessories' being offered on the Flash. Looks like a smart move to increase dealer margins.

Yes, I confim that. My father-in-law bought Alto Lxi 15 days ago with total discount of approx. Rs. 17,000/-. He immediately called up dealership yeasterday on seeing this advertisement; as he felt he missed on these free extras. But the dealership confirmed that there are no disounts whatsoever on this Alto Flash.

rajeev k · 22nd September 2009, 15:16

Maruti launched Xcite the new LE today and has remote boot opener, central locking, internally adjusted ORVMs etc among others. Thoughat a price these features are needed. What the Alto really needs is another engine like that on the Vx version earlier. Slightly more powerful engine would definitely catapult Alto as a real challenger to the higher end B segment compact cars. Hope soon it will materials in view of the advent of BS IV norms which is mandatory from April 2009.

I have a gut feeling that Maruti would bring in the 1L erstwhile Zen engine with the required mods.

sharma_sanjeevi · 22nd September 2009, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajeev k

I have a gut feeling that Maruti would bring in the 1L erstwhile Zen engine with the required mods.

If your gut feelings are true, then it would be a stonker of a car

, but i think that it would come with the A-Star 3 pot K Series engine for the BS-IV version.

Bring it on Maruti..!!

25th May 2009, 10:14	#46
tinnieboy BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 80 Thanked: 6 Times View My Garage	Now, no-frills Alto to take on Tata Nano NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki, which sells every second car sold in India, is going to refresh its entire existing portfolio of older models in the next two years, a top company executive said. Swift, the largest selling premium hatchback in the country, will get a fresh design and new petrol engine while Maruti’s largest selling product Alto will come in two new variants. A source in the automobile industry with direct knowledge of the plans said Alto will have a stripped down version to compete with Tata Motors’ small car Nano and an upmarket variant loaded with the new KB series engine to take on Hyundai Santro, GM’s Spark and other compact cars in the market. Maruti’s other cars, the ageing WagonR and the Versa are also being overhauled while the company will tweak the engines of 25-year old Maruti 800 and the Omni to meet the new BS4 emission standards coming in April 2010. The sports utility vehicle Grand Vitara will also don a new engine. Maruti Suzuki MD & CEO S Nakanishi said, “We have exhausted our quota of new cars with eight new launches in India in the past three years. Now we are looking at strengthening our leadership by refreshing our old portfolio.” The company has developed the new KB series petrol engines with an investment of Rs 1,200 crore, which will be strapped in several of these cars. In addition the company capex of Rs 1,800 crore in the fiscal will also fund the portfolio revamp. By refreshing the portfolio Maruti will save on huge incremental costs that goes into developing new cars and platforms. As against the minimum cost of Rs 50-100 crore for upgrading a car, developing a new car could eat up investments of Rs 600-1,000 crore. Meanwhile, Maruti may also bring its new sedan Kizashi to India sometime next year. Developed by its Japanese parent Suzuki Motor Corp, it will compete with the likes of Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra. The company spokesperson however refused to commit anything on the Kizashi launch. Source : Now, no-frills Alto to take on Tata Nano- Automobiles-Auto-News By Industry-News-The Economic Times ----------------- I wonder how trustworthy their sources are. Usually they rely on hunches than the facts but just though sharing.
	() Thanks

13th July 2009, 21:48	#47
misquitas BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Panjim Posts: 875 Thanked: 324 Times	MUL flashes yet another Alto Flash Maruti seems to have launched yet another limited edition (Alto Flash) in a limited market (Pune). Check out the following news report. ___________________ PUNE (JULY 12): Maruti Suzuki launched a new variant of the Alto – the limited edition Alto Flash in Pune . Alto Flash is loaded with enhanced features and stylised aesthetics. For customer comfort, it has front power windows, designer graphics and art leather seat covers. The body-coloured feather-touch mirror, door handles, bumpers and body moulding are other attraction, said a press release. This car comes in five colour options: silky silver, pearl silver, blue blaze, fire brick red and white. Alto Flash is being offered with free in-built accessories worth Rs. 18,500. Although a limited edition, Alto Flash is priced in the same ex-showroom price range as that of the Alto. The Alto has sold over a million units since its launch in 2000. The car, certified by ARAI, has a mileage of 18.1 kmpl, said the release. (Source: Indian Express)
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 12:29	#48
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Yep the Flash looks like they dipped the whole car in paint. Similar to what they did earlier, only this time they are publishing details in Advert. Btw what are these feather touch mirrors? They look like the VXi ones & they are certainly not feather touch.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 14:54	#49
pmbabu BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On The Net Posts: 335 Thanked: 47 Times	Just now enquired Bimal in Bangalore and they say that no such offer or limited editions are available in Bangalore for Alto. Seems like the offer is available only in Pune?
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 16:43	#50
dhrishikesh BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mumbai / Pune B Posts: 806 Thanked: 214 Times	Is that what we call as Limited Editions ??? Front power windows, body colored door handles-bumpers-mirrors are very much common now days !! & BTW, what are those feather touch mirrors ?? Last edited by dhrishikesh : 14th July 2009 at 16:46.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 17:00	#52
dhrishikesh BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mumbai / Pune B Posts: 806 Thanked: 214 Times	This Alto is there on the display @ Automotive, Nerul (Maruti Suzuki's Showroom) near D.Y.Patil College.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 17:08	#53
Furious55 BANNED Join Date: May 2009 Location: Margao Posts: 94 Thanked: 9 Times	So basically the Alto Spice, Alto Xcite and Alto Flash are the same thing. Body coloured bumpers and handles, Leather (fake) seats, rear parcel tray, feather touch mirrors (basically VXi type but not internally adjustable) and some stickers. They are all done up by the dealers as per Maruti specifications. Nothing great about them.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 17:15	#54
dhrishikesh BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mumbai / Pune B Posts: 806 Thanked: 214 Times	I think Alto Swing used to have the same things fitted which were launched in 2004-05.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 17:30	#55
Abbas BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Visakhapatnam Posts: 465 Thanked: 544 Times View My Garage	Blah !!! i am not Xcited at all.
	() Thanks

14th July 2009, 22:21	#57
Volt BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 183 Thanked: 5 Times	IIRC the current dealer discount on the Alto is more or less equal to the value of these 'accessories' being offered on the Flash. Looks like a smart move to increase dealer margins.
	() Thanks

22nd September 2009, 15:16	#59
rajeev k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Emerging Metro Posts: 3,352 Thanked: 1,947 Times	Alto Limited Edition Xcite launched Maruti launched Xcite the new LE today and has remote boot opener, central locking, internally adjusted ORVMs etc among others. Thoughat a price these features are needed. What the Alto really needs is another engine like that on the Vx version earlier. Slightly more powerful engine would definitely catapult Alto as a real challenger to the higher end B segment compact cars. Hope soon it will materials in view of the advent of BS IV norms which is mandatory from April 2009. I have a gut feeling that Maruti would bring in the 1L erstwhile Zen engine with the required mods.
	() Thanks