pixo and a-star the same cars??

scuderiamania · 10th August 2011, 16:54

Guys, in the recently concluded Top Gear season, episode 4 [if I am not mistaken] had Jeremy Clarkson providing "alternatives" to the cheapest car in Britain, i.e., Nissan Pixo. During the video I realised it was nothing but a changed a-star. The interiors are the same and so are some of the exterior parts [such as the tail lamps]. Today I was casually checking the uk suzuki site, only to notice that suzuki also sell the a-star there. But they are both basically them cars if I am not mistaken! Do the two companies actually expect to fool the public by artificially increasing there options?

Whats going on here??

LongDrive · 10th August 2011, 17:13

see this site, will help

Nissan Pixo and Suzuki Alto: identical twins

BANDHAV · 10th August 2011, 17:23

Check this out two different French car companies selling a same product calling it by different names, while technically this a product of a Japanese company.

scuderiamania · 10th August 2011, 17:27

So they basically make an a-star, change the front on some of those a-stars, stick on a nissan logo, and sale them as two different cars? SO how does one choose between the nissan and the a-star?

@bandhav- didn't get you, mate. check what out???

Samir Taheer · 10th August 2011, 18:53

Are you surprised that Nissan and Suzuki platform share or just surprised in general that two cars are made out of the same parts bin?

Everyone platform shares!!The VW Group does it internally, Renault and Mercedes just signed an engine sharing deal, there's too many to mention.

Just because company's share parts and platforms it doesn't mean the cars have the same gearing rations, handling characteristics or interiors. That's how you choose.

Scorcher · 10th August 2011, 19:02

Yes, Nissa Pixo is definitely Maruti A-Star. Jezza even says in the film that it is produced in India.

What's new in it? The Chevy Spark for instance is a Daewoo Matiz, the Logan I believe is not Renault but a Dacia. Similarly Indica sold by the Rover company in the UK is City Rover.

Companies who share stakes/tech etc often borrow some of their products for different markets. I recently heard a talk that VW India is gonna strike some deal with MSIL but somehow the deal fell apart, otherwise we would have seen Wagon-Rs and Swifts with VW or Skoda logos.

One of the most interesting switches being the all-new Aston Martin small car, The Cygnet. Its a Toyota IQ

Thilak29 · 10th August 2011, 19:59

Our local Ritz has a twin too..

Sankar · 10th August 2011, 20:43

Its the same car apart from the exterior cosmetics and branding. Interior is identical apart from the badging. The lowering springs i bought for my AStar were sold as for Nissan Pixo's.

Tassem · 10th August 2011, 21:04

This is something that has been going on for a long long time. Lots of manufacturers share engines, platforms and as some of these pictures indicate - whole cars!

The one good thing is that we should be able to source similar/upgraded/aesthetically different parts from their international clones.

A new addition to this list is the Dodge Attitude sold in Mexico. I won't say which car it is. Google it and surprise yourself

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongDrive

see this site, will help

Nissan Pixo and Suzuki Alto: identical twins

Is that a translated site?! Some of the things written here is hilarious! See below

Quote:

If you agree you will not even drive ridiculed.The car is as good as his hole. Only the sale of small and economical city car is still good.

oxyzen · 10th August 2011, 21:09

Pixo is produced my Maruti and then sold to Nissan for marketing (abroad only). It is same as Astar with just a few visual differences.

rajeev k · 10th August 2011, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuderiamania

Guys, in the recently concluded Top Gear season, episode 4 [if I am not mistaken] had Jeremy Clarkson providing "alternatives" to the cheapest car in Britain, i.e., Nissan Pixo. During the video I realised it was nothing but a changed a-star. Whats going on here??

Quote:

Originally Posted by scuderiamania

So they basically make an a-star, change the front on some of those a-stars, stick on a nissan logo, and sale them as two different cars?

Pixo is manufactured by MS and exported to Nissan. Both are the same. Except in India A-Star is sold as the the new gen Alto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oxyzen

Pixo is produced my Maruti and then sold to Nissan for marketing (abroad only). It is same as A-star with just a few visual differences.

Only Maruti makes A-Star/Alto for Suzuki.

scuderiamania · 11th August 2011, 10:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samir Taheer

Are you surprised that Nissan and Suzuki platform share or just surprised in general that two cars are made out of the same parts bin?

Everyone platform shares!!The VW Group does it internally, Renault and Mercedes just signed an engine sharing deal, there's too many to mention.

Just because company's share parts and platforms it doesn't mean the cars have the same gearing rations, handling characteristics or interiors. That's how you choose.

Platform sharing is one thing, but its like twin brothers but from different mothers!

I am aware of the fact that companies do sell cars of other companies by changing the looks slightly and then sticking on their logo. Something like Renault using the Dacia Logan in India. But what surprises me is even Suzuki is selling the same car in the same country. Wouldn't it be dumb if say in a couple of months Dacia decides to come as a separate company only to sell their version of a slightly cosmetically modified Logan where Mahindra is already selling the logan?

laxmanrk · 11th August 2011, 11:18

This is not new I suppose.

The first time I came across this kind of re-badging was in the UK. Suzuki sell the SX4 hatchback which may be termed a mini SUV. Fiat sell the same thing as the Sedici.

Both are precisely the same vehicle with different badges. Engine, gearbox, interior.... the works!

In fact the prices of both these vehicles are also almost the same.
I think Fiat got this car due to their sharing the diesel engines to suzuki.

salbin · 11th August 2011, 12:22

There is already a thread on the same subject.
Even I have seen Pixo in Germany during my recent visit. It was having Apollo tyres- so confirmed made in India!

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...an-pixo-3.html
Pixo is made by MSIL and being exported.
AFAIK, there is an understanding between Suzuki and Nissan such that both brands will not compete in the same market.
But now is the UK scenario an exception to this?

10th August 2011, 16:54	#1
scuderiamania BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 363 Thanked: 172 Times	pixo and a-star the same cars?? Guys, in the recently concluded Top Gear season, episode 4 [if I am not mistaken] had Jeremy Clarkson providing "alternatives" to the cheapest car in Britain, i.e., Nissan Pixo. During the video I realised it was nothing but a changed a-star. The interiors are the same and so are some of the exterior parts [such as the tail lamps]. Today I was casually checking the uk suzuki site, only to notice that suzuki also sell the a-star there. But they are both basically them cars if I am not mistaken! Do the two companies actually expect to fool the public by artificially increasing there options? Whats going on here??
	() Thanks

10th August 2011, 17:13	#2
LongDrive BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New Delhi Posts: 67 Thanked: 12 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? see this site, will help Nissan Pixo and Suzuki Alto: identical twins
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10th August 2011, 17:23	#3
BANDHAV Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ghaziabad Posts: 1,401 Thanked: 2,859 Times View My Garage	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Check this out two different French car companies selling a same product calling it by different names, while technically this a product of a Japanese company. Attached Thumbnails
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10th August 2011, 17:27	#4
scuderiamania BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kolkata Posts: 363 Thanked: 172 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? So they basically make an a-star, change the front on some of those a-stars, stick on a nissan logo, and sale them as two different cars? SO how does one choose between the nissan and the a-star? @bandhav- didn't get you, mate. check what out???
	() Thanks

10th August 2011, 18:53	#5
Samir Taheer BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London & Pune Posts: 459 Thanked: 278 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Are you surprised that Nissan and Suzuki platform share or just surprised in general that two cars are made out of the same parts bin? Everyone platform shares!!The VW Group does it internally, Renault and Mercedes just signed an engine sharing deal, there's too many to mention. Just because company's share parts and platforms it doesn't mean the cars have the same gearing rations, handling characteristics or interiors. That's how you choose.
	() Thanks

10th August 2011, 19:02	#6
Scorcher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Trivandrum, KL Posts: 4,916 Thanked: 7,118 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Yes, Nissa Pixo is definitely Maruti A-Star. Jezza even says in the film that it is produced in India. What's new in it? The Chevy Spark for instance is a Daewoo Matiz, the Logan I believe is not Renault but a Dacia. Similarly Indica sold by the Rover company in the UK is City Rover. Companies who share stakes/tech etc often borrow some of their products for different markets. I recently heard a talk that VW India is gonna strike some deal with MSIL but somehow the deal fell apart, otherwise we would have seen Wagon-Rs and Swifts with VW or Skoda logos. One of the most interesting switches being the all-new Aston Martin small car, The Cygnet. Its a Toyota IQ Last edited by Scorcher : 10th August 2011 at 19:04.
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10th August 2011, 19:59	#7
Thilak29 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: KA21 Posts: 926 Thanked: 3,493 Times View My Garage	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Our local Ritz has a twin too..
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10th August 2011, 20:43	#8
Sankar Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Location Posts: 5,766 Thanked: 9,053 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Its the same car apart from the exterior cosmetics and branding. Interior is identical apart from the badging. The lowering springs i bought for my AStar were sold as for Nissan Pixo's.
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10th August 2011, 21:09	#10
oxyzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pune Posts: 1,050 Thanked: 393 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? Pixo is produced my Maruti and then sold to Nissan for marketing (abroad only). It is same as Astar with just a few visual differences.
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11th August 2011, 11:18	#13
laxmanrk BHPian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 139 Thanked: 90 Times	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? This is not new I suppose. The first time I came across this kind of re-badging was in the UK. Suzuki sell the SX4 hatchback which may be termed a mini SUV. Fiat sell the same thing as the Sedici. Both are precisely the same vehicle with different badges. Engine, gearbox, interior.... the works! In fact the prices of both these vehicles are also almost the same. I think Fiat got this car due to their sharing the diesel engines to suzuki. Last edited by laxmanrk : 11th August 2011 at 11:19.
	() Thanks

11th August 2011, 12:22	#14
salbin BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bangalore, Kochi Posts: 525 Thanked: 306 Times View My Garage	Re: pixo and a-star the same cars?? There is already a thread on the same subject. Even I have seen Pixo in Germany during my recent visit. It was having Apollo tyres- so confirmed made in India! http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...an-pixo-3.html Pixo is made by MSIL and being exported. AFAIK, there is an understanding between Suzuki and Nissan such that both brands will not compete in the same market. But now is the UK scenario an exception to this?
	() Thanks

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