Maruti Alto 800 : The small hatchback that millions of Indians learned to drive in is back. After much conjecture and a couple of camouflaged test mules spotted on the roads in and around Gurgaon, I can tell you for sure that Maruti Suzuki is bringing back the Alto 800, just the way you know it best.
The news arrives at a time when majority of the manufacturers are fading off the entry level devices and gelling around the brand new range with more features.
I dropped by at this Maruti dealership in South Delhi last Thursday and the sales manager (who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity) revealed some interesting details of the (now) upcoming model. “It’s been the worst-kept secret in the business,” he acknowledged with a laugh.
“We’ve had queries on the new Alto 800 over the last few months – particularly from first-time buyers who think the current market has no vehicle to offer at that price-point.
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Maruti Alto 800 Staying True to Its Roots
In an automotive industry dominated by radical designs and resurrected brands, Maruti has dared to be different by staying conservative with the Alto 800.
The new model, the silhouette and dimensions of which will be identical with those of the old, has shared in the INTERRO-process, and will share in the glory on the Indian roaster.
At an auto components expo I attended at Pragati Maidan recently, I noticed some body panels of the new Alto hidden away at a supplier’s stall.
The silhouette wasn’t, however – not when taking into account the same tall-boy proportions that has served the Alto well over a decade.
“We’re not repairing something that is not broken,” Rajesh Kumar, a Maruti executive I was able to pin down at the expo, said.
While not willing to provide details, he admits the strategy: “There’s a reason that the Alto has sold over 4.3 million cars in India.
Its design carries on the tradition set by our core customers, and we are respecting that legacy.”
The front end does get a few contemporary touches in the form of mildly restyled headlights and an updated grille which is in line with the current design vocabulary of Maruti.
But the alterations are more evolutionary than revolutionary, with the car’s design continuing to be instantly identifiable as an Alto.
Maruti Alto 800 A Bargain in an Expensive Market
And the most important one is the pricing. In an era where ‘affordable’ hatchbacks themselves so commonly breach the ₹6 lakh sales point, it’s like the Maruti is consciously going back to the old resume – pressing the “I really want a scrappy cheap hatchback” reset button.
Dealers have revealed the bike is expected to be priced between ₹3.49-3.69 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base version.
If true, that would be a lot less compared to most of the current options as well, which includes Maruti Suzuki’s own S-Presso and Celerio.
“There’s a big gap in the market now that the company is trying to fill,” said Vinod Sharma, a longtime car dealer in Noida who I have known for years.
“When the earlier Alto 800 was discontinued, some prospective customers simply migrated to the second hand car market while some even opted to spend more and upgrade, in stead of purchasing a well-priced new car. This is a means to reclaim that customer base.”
The pricing approach sounds especially relevant in the face of economic downturns today. When I went to the dealership I ran into Ramesh Yadav, a 28-year-old delivery executive in the market for his first car.
“I was saving for three years,” he said, scrolling through his phone to share his budgeting. “Just when I think I’m getting close, prices go up again. If the new Alto actually begins at below ₹3.7 lakh, I might just have myself a wheels!
Maruti Alto 800 Efficient Engineering and Design
The new Alto 800 is likely to still use an improved version of the current F8D 796cc 3-cylinder engine under the hood.
Nevertheless, engineering modifications and calibration refinements have potential to lift fuel economy even more.
“We’ve heard of figures in the region of 25.5 kmpl for the manual,” said a service advisor with a Maruti workshop in Gurgaon.
“That would put it easily in the top three of most fuel-efficient petrol cars in the country, and that means quite a lot to that particular customer.”
The engine will generate approximately 47 bhp and 69 Nm of torque -not much on paper, but sufficient for a car which weighs below 800 kg.
The base transmission offered will be a 5-speed manual transmission with an AMT available on top-variants.
In a recent phone chat with a vendor who supplies to Maruti, I discovered that diminishing loss from friction has been a significantly pursued avenue across the powertrain.
“They’ve done dozens of little improvements rather than any one big change,” he said. “New low-friction bearings, revised valve timing, lighter internal components − it all adds up.
Maruti Alto 800 Functional Interior with all the Basics
On the inside, the new Alto is as practical as it always has been. The dashboard is still simple, with analog instruments and dial controls for the AC.
However, there are significant improvements by Maruti to comply with regulations and offer the new age requirements.
All trims will get dual airbags, ABS, EBD, rear parking sensors, and a seatbelt reminder as standard fitments.
Higher trims will be available with a basic touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone connectivity – a nod to modern expectations without adding to the cost of the car with too much technology.
“The interior is delightfully minimal,” said Ananya Gupta, who designs automotive interiors and whom I met at an industry event recently. “There’s a sense of purpose about it that many of today’s car interiors lack.
There are no surprises, except that you find everything exactly the way you’d expect, which is actually pretty rare these days.”
Maruti Alto 800 Built for Indian Conditions
Property of robustness and reliability in tough conditions has arguably been one of the strongest suits of the Alto 800 and it is clear Maruti has further gone in with this aspect for the new model.
During my dealer visit, I saw some training stuff that went into the 5mm higher ground clearance (which stands at 165mm), tougher suspension pieces, and more dust-proofing for electricals – all a reaction to Indian-style driving.
“We have customers who’ve been driving their Altos for over 15 years without much problem,” the dealer’s service manager said.
“This type of reliability builds large brand loyalty. The engineering team does not mess with that formula.”
Maruti Alto 800 Positioning And Impact On Market
The comeback of the Alto 800 places Maruti well to own the bottom-of-the-pyramid segment with negligible rivals.
As competition moves upmarket, Maruti will own the overheads in sub-₹4 lakh space, serving as a natural progression for millions of two-wheeler owners into the car parking.
“It’s a fantastic move,” said Sunil Saxena, an automotive market analyst whom I met up with for coffee last weekend.
“Instead of turning around and walking away from their base, they’re doubling down on it.
That while there’s already a 100,000 uptick in the offing just from second-time buyers; the first-timers will get into the Maruti universe with an Alto 800 and move up to more expensive Maruti products later.
The timing has also never been better—there’s an exploding hinterland market and the people of the small towns and country-sides want nuts-and-bolts transportation, something the Alto provides in spades with its no-nonsense demeanour as well as its low cost of acquisition and operations.
Maruti Alto 800 Launch Timeline
The showrooms have been told by multiple sources within the dealer network that the official launch will take place in the last week of July or the first week of August and deliveries will commence before the festive season.
A few dealerships have even began accepting unofficial pre-bookings for token amounts ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹11,000.
The production is said to have commenced at Maruti’s Gurugram plant and the initial monthly run is said to be in the vicinity of 8,000-10,000 units, but this might be increased depending on the demand.
Maruti Alto 800 The Last Word
In an automotive universe that has gone gaga over bigger, fancier and more expensive, Maruti’s move to revive the Alto 800 in its old, familiar form is also refreshing counterculture.
It acknowledges that for millions of Indians, the dream of owning a car must be kept within reach.
As I was walking out of the showroom, I looked over at a faded photograph on the sales manager’s desk— a first-generation Alto and that was almost 20 years ago.
“That was my first car,” he said, looking over at what had caught my attention. “Outstanding Setup The scope was a little…” 2016-11-07 19:40 Cost me everything I saved, but it never let me down. Some cars are like that — they play a role in your story.
For more than four million Indian families, the Alto has been precisely that.
And now a new generation will get to take their first step towards making a little history of their own: when behind the wheel of India’s most beloved ‘not so small’ car!
