Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), the country's favourite passenger car maker, is all set for the launch of its Alto 800 model, the most awaited car of the year, on October 16, 2012 in the Indian market. The company has a long illustrious history of almost three decades during which the domestic entry-level buyers embraced all its entry-level products with both hands. The Industry boffins are citing the soon-to-be launched Alto 800 to become the next Maruti Suzuki 800, the company's iconic small car that has been discontinued.
MSIL has a knack of keeping the old variants of their popular cars along with their new models in the market. Hence, some competition between the current generation of Alto and the upcoming Alto 800 are nothing but inevitable.
At the first glance, both the cars look extremely different, the upcoming Alto 800 looks modern and sophisticated, while the current version of the car seems a little obsolete in terms of design. MSIL will be pitching the new Alto 800 against the likes of Hyundai Eon in the country, upon its launch. Hence, if exterior attributes are concerned the Alto 800 small car will prove to be a better competitor against the Hyundai Eon than the present Alto model.
Further, the new and old Alto models carry a 796 cc petrol engine under their hoods, so no considerable power-torque differential is expected between the two cars. However, as per the statements from the MSIL stables, the upcoming Alto 800 boasts of a mind numbing fuel economy of more than 22 km per litre on petrol and more than 35 km per litre on CNG. The current Alto model delivers a mileage of 19 km per litre and 26 km per litre on petrol and CNG, respectively and thus, falls immensely short of its successor in terms of fuel efficiency. Evidently, the Indian audience chases greater fuel economy, so from that perspective the new Alto 800 could be declared a winner.
The pricing is also going to be a dominant factor in deciding the fate of the Alto 800 in the Indian market, but considering the past launches of MSIL, the new arrival is expected to carry an aggressive price tag. The upcoming car is believed to be priced Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 more than the current Alto model and only the domestic audience will decide how the Alto 800 fares in the country, when it is launched at the cusp of Indian festival period. The new Alto 800 gives a better mileage, has refined interior and exterior attributes, which definitely will come handy in luring the Indian buyers towards Maruti Suzuki showrooms.
