Maruti Alto

Infobox Automobile
name = Maruti Alto
manufacturer = Maruti Suzuki India Ltd
production = 2000–present
class = Subcompact
related = Suzuki Alto
layout = FF layout
predecessor =
successor = Suzuki A-Star(Alto)

The Maruti Alto is a city car manufactured by Maruti Udyog in India. It is the best-selling car in India.It is India's largest selling car and has recently crossed the 1 million production figure. [ [http://www.automotoportal.com/article/the-continental-divide-the-most-popular-cars-by-continent The Continental Divide: The Most Popular Cars by Continent] ] It is exported to a number of countries including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and to Chile. Alto has crossed the 150,000 export target.

The alto is powered by a 796 cc gasoline engine with 3 cylinder, 4 valves per cylinder MPFI engine with 32bit ECM.

* Maximum Power: convert|47|PS|kW|0|abbr=on
* Acceleration 0-100 km/h: approximately 20 seconds
* Top Speed: 138 km/h

The Alto is offered in the following variants:

* Base model - All that is needed in a basic car.
* LX - Base model with A/c, cup holders, fabric seats , remote fuel lid opener and few small changes
* LXi - Same as LX with power steering.

There used to be a VX/VXi model with a 4-cylinder 1061 cc engine (64 bhp/80 Nm torque). This has now been discontinued. But this VX model is still sold in certain European countries. The Alto VX model also featured a tachometer which was absent in LX model.

All models are equipped with 5-speed manual transmission.

The popularity of the Alto has increased over the past few years, mainly due to the reduction in prices. This reduction in prices has mainly come in due to the reduction in excise duty over time. It has now become the first choice of young car buyers intending to upgrade from a 2 wheeler. Some of its appeal is from stylish looks, attractive features, and impressive fuel economy at a very affordable prices compared to the other cars in the Indian market.

Powered by a healthy growth in the GDP, increasing disposable income & increasingly younger car buyers, Alto established a number of records. Alto was the first brand In Indian Domestic Automotive History to sell over 200,000 units in a single financial year, the last 100,000 units being sold in 5 months. Alto was the only brand to sell over 22,000 units in a single month. And an Alto was being sold every minute.

Second generation

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Generation II


production = 2008
assembly =
wheelbase =
length =
width =
height =
body_style = 3-door hatchback
5-door hatchback
engine =
transmission = 5-speed manual

The second generation Maruti Alto will be based on the new Suzuki Alto, set to be unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It is based on the Suzuki A-Star Concept global car. [ [http://paultan.org/archives/2008/08/08/new-suzuki-alto-images-released-details-to-come/ New Suzuki Alto images released, details to come] ]

References

* [Maruti Alto website http://www.marutialto.com/] Maruti Alto LXI costs 3.2 lakhs in chennai as of January 2008. Post a cut in Excise Duty , the price is now around 3.1 lakhs.

External links

* [http://www.marutialto.com Maruti Alto Official Website]

Maruti Suzuki