Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Unveiled: What's New?

India's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki introduced the all new Alto 800 at ₹2.44 lakhs on Tuesday.

The redesigned and re-engineered version of the best-selling Alto 800 won the heart of Indian consumers, fetching 10,000 prelaunch orders even before the announcement of its price.

There was a time when consumers felt pleasure and prestige in owning a Maruti Suzuki 800 and its successor Alto. Both cars swept the market for a long running period until sales took a hit owing to mounting demands for diesel-based cars.

In the fight against tough market conditions and to win industry supremacy, Maruti decided introduce its hybrid version of Maruti 800 and Alto. Though the company has retained the name of its Alto predecessors, the new Alto 800 is not just the old wine in a new bottle. It has integrated a lot of changes in its design, features and other specifications.

"The car has 100 new things which Alto doesn't have. It is loaded with features that will surprise any entry level car buyer, said Mayank Pareek, Chief Operating Officer (M&S) of Maruti Suzuki.

What's new in Alto 800?

As the new model is expected to compete in the small and affordable car market, the first thing that gets noticed is its size. The smaller version of Alto measures 3395 mm in length and 1490 mm in width. Maruti claimed a fuel efficiency of 22.74 kilometre per liter which is 15 percent more than the older models. Alto 800 is available in new colors like Frost Blue, Superior White, Silky Silver, Granite Grey, Blazing Red and Torque Blue. The interiors come in grey or brown.

The vehicle takes to the road with sill line, crisp petal shaped lamps and sculpted bumper. It has a sloping and wavy roof, muscular wheel arches and elegant tail lamps along. Alto 800 is roomier with 15mm higher roof and has enhanced seat fabric and ample leg room at the back.

When it comes to gearing and engineering technology, the company has introduced a new cable type gear shift with Detent Pin Technology, Diagonal Shift Assist and flat torque for better and smoother gear shifting experience. The top end variant of Alto 800 comes with an air bag option, which will unlikely be featured in the entry level models.

What's old?

Alto 800 is the revamped version of Maruti's Alto, so some features might have remained the same. Like its predecessor, Alto 800 is also based on the F8D 796cc engine which will generate an output of 48 PS at 6000 rpm and 69 Nm at 3500 rpm torque.

Since 1984, Maruti's entry level car Maruti 800 and later its predecessor Alto have gained enormous acceptance in the Indian market. With the arrival of Maruti Alto 800, the company expects the same. The car is priced ₹5,000 lesser than older models but slightly higher than its present competitor, Tata Nano.