Maruti Suzuki has been road-testing the next-gen Alto in India since a few months. The new Alto will replace the current model ahead of the crash safety regulations that kick in on October 1, 2019. The new Alto was spied recently, giving us a hint of what the model could look like, and now a second spy shot has surfaced on the internet that not only reveals the car’s proportions but also gives us a glimpse of its interior.
The next-gen Alto will clearly feature an all-new design language – neatly inspired by the Future S concept shown at the 2018 Auto Expo – not only on the outside but also on the inside. It will feature a funky-looking dashboard with a centre-mounted circular display that looks inspired by the Mini models. There is a digital readout for the speedometer and the tachometer, along with other readings. The same circular display will carry an infotainment system or an audio player, depending on variant. Maruti could equip the higher variants of the Alto with the SmartPlay Studio system that made its debut recently on the Wagon R and the Baleno facelift. This setup not only looks cool, but it would also help Maruti save costs on a dedicated instrument panel and also by not requiring a separate, redesigned dashboard for a left-hand-drive version.
On the outside, the new Alto will now look more like a micro-SUV than a conventional hatchback – something like a Renault Kwid but slightly taller. Like most new Marutis, the Alto will also switch to the brand’s Heartect platform. The hatchback will come equipped with a decent list of safety features, like airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, seat belt and speed warning reminders, to name a few.
Expect Maruti to continue with the 800cc and the 1.0-litre K10 petrol engine options on the Alto, mated to a 5-speed manual and an AMT gearbox.
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