India’s largest car maker, Maruti Suzuki India has confirmed that its popular small car, Alto has touched sales mark of 25 lakh units in domestic market. With this achievement, Alto has become the second vehicle from the stables of Maruti Suzuki India after 800 to accomplish this land mark. Maruti’s A segment hatchback, Alto is on verge of completing fourteen years in India yet it does not show signs of ageing. In 2000, the vehicle was positioned to fill the void between 800 and Zen, though both 800 and Zen have been discontinued in India, but Alto continues to be a popular name in the entry level hatchback segment.
Despite launch of new entrants in the entry level hatchback segment, Alto managed to top popularity chart with strong sales every month. During its long itinerary of fourteen years, the petite vehicle underwent various makeovers that bettered it for good. The first major tweak was given in 2010 when MSI launched Alto K10 followed by the second preeminent upgrade given to the hatchback in 2012 in the form of Alto 800. Equipped with a 1.0 litre, three pot gasoline motor, Alto K10 offers more power and torque. On the other hand new Alto 800 dons contemporary bodywork and spruced up interiors, however under the hood it comes powered with a 800cc, three cylinder motor that generates 48 Bhp and 69 Nm.
Speculations are doing the rounds that Maruti is developing a facelift version of Alto K10. Buzz has it that MSI has already started testing the tweaked Alto K10. Changes made to the new version of the hatchback will include cosmetic changes on the front and rear profile of the vehicle. The highlight of the modified Alto K10 will be the automated manual transmission, launch of AMT equipped Alto K10 is likely to happen in the first quarter of 2015. No changes will be made on the mechanical front, but the vehicle is expected to deliver increased fuel economy as compared to the current version.
