Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 facelift spied; likely to be launched this month

India's bestselling car Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 is reportedly getting mid-life facelift and the new version has been spied at a dealership. The pictures taken by GaadiWaadi indicate the facelift comes with minor cosmetic changes.

The face of the hatchback has been revised with newly-designed headlamps and grille. The hexagonal sharp-edged grille has given way to a rounder one in the new avatar. The front and rear bumper has been tweaked to add freshness, and the company logo is now housed on the front bumper.

The model will also incorporate changes inside the cabin. Under the hood, the current 796cc engine is likely to continue. The three-cylinder engine develops 47bhp and 69Nm of torque mated to five-speed manual transmission. Rumours also suggest that a diesel mill could also make it to the new model. If this is true, Maruti Alto 800 facelift is likely to get the same 800cc unit that does duty in the Celerio diesel. This engine can churn out 47 bhp and a peak torque of 125 Nm.

Alto, which is the bestselling car in India for over a decade, has been experiencing tough completion after Renault India launched Kwid hatchback in September last year. Nissan's Datsun brand recently unveiled redi-Go hatchback, which will go on sale in June with its price ranging from Rs. 2.5 to 3.5 lakh.