Next-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto spied testing ahead of October 2019 launch

If there’s one name in the Indian automotive industry that’s almost as big as Maruti Suzuki, it has to be ‘Alto’. The spiritual successor to the Maruti 800, the Alto has become a household name since it was introduced all the way back in 2000. The Alto is India’s all-time best-selling car and continues to jostle for the top position on the monthly best-sellers list. This is why the first spy pictures of the next-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto are a big deal. The all-new Alto will replace the current model which is due to bow out before the latest crash safety regulations come into force on October 1, 2019.     

Spied testing for the first time, the third-generation Maruti Suzuki Alto is clearly adopting a new design language. It’s still a small car, but its design will be influenced majorly by the Concept Future S micro-SUV that Maruti Suzuki debuted at the 2018 Auto Expo. It will be slightly larger than its predecessor and will be a muscular, high-riding, SUV-styled hatchback in the mould of the Renault Kwid, whose SUV-derived styling proved to find favour with buyers.

That being said, the new Maruti Alto will likely retain its core traits. It will still remain compact, and could be based on Suzuki’s lightweight Heartect platform, which will not only help it meet the updated crash test norms, but will also make it lighter and more fuel-efficient than the outgoing Alto. It is likely to be simple and straightforward in look on the inside but could get Maruti Suzuki’s 7.0-inch SmartPlay Studio touchscreen infotainment system, seeing as its chief rival, the Kwid, also gets a similar infotainment system.

Apart from getting more safety features such as airbags, ABS with EBD, rear parking sensors, a seat-belt reminder system and a speed warning system, the new Maruti Alto is also likely to continue with the 800cc and 1.0-litre petrol engine options, which will be upgraded to meet the upcoming BS-VI emission norms. Expect a 5-speed manual and an AMT option, as well as a factory-fitted CNG kit to be offered in the new Alto.

Expect the new Maruti Suzuki Alto to command a small premium over the price of the current-gen car, which is priced at Rs 2.63-4.23 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

What would you like to see being offered with the new Maruti Suzuki Alto? Let us know in the comments.