Alto’s New Ego

Hey man, who is hero? Over 21,000 numbers of the item in question had been booked within a week of its launch, and that’s gravy by any sales industry standard. Maruti’s Alto 800 could quite possibly be the meanest utilization of local talent since the Mahindra XUV500 project.

The daring, yet warranted freedom gifted to Maruti’s Indian design team has produced a genuinely decent looking car. Inevitable initial ho-humdrum that accompanied the first spy pictures has now been quite vehemently doused by universal “Let me see too!” whining.

Could the Alto 800 be the country's most genius smoking hackney since the Nano? The signs point that way. The name, for example, combines two of the most successful bits of automobile nomenclature this nation has latched on to, namely, 800 and Alto. The applied experience and maturity of Maruti’s think tank wisely chose that Alto 800 christening; it knew fully well three generations of the sub-continent’s motoring population would germinate instant recognition. While the Nano will make sales, the Alto 800 will also steal sales.

The briefs of the 470-crore project are rather obvious.The Alto 800 needed to stand on its own four wheels, yet invoke sufficient memory of its predecessors. It’s got a stance slightly higher, but still reminiscent of a Maruti 800 on cross-ply rubber. For expansion, Google “Volkswagen Polo Allroad”. Them “too high” or “unnecessary” mutters would be forgotten very quickly when you spot that remarkably professionally humped bump at the last second, when it’s too late to slow down.Especially as a novice driver on a novice salary.Rest assured everyone would still see their car flash before their eyes in that situation, though.

Not taking anything away from the well-deserved successes of the A800’s previous brethren by any means, but they were adapted for our market. Practically perfectly, but still...Things have reversed with the Alto 800 as with trendsetter Mahindra previously, and future export adaptations will stem from local expertise. Familiarity with this importance is breeding customer contentment.

 

Image source - www.marutisuzukialto800.com

Fact is that this little star gets most of its design philosophy from the A-Star. That’s probably no coincidence. The A-Star is known as the Alto in other world markets; Suzuki probably realized an entry level hatchback interpretation might be good for international business. An Audi A6 to an A4, it’s the same thing. Let’s try Asean, the Middle East, Africa, and South America for now, the Jap giant mused.

If one was forced to rate the A800 on lass appeal, alas, it would probably score a seven, tops. But, good sir, those very lines are elements of a potentially dynamic canvas that could and should spawn believable limited edition variation runs.

Mandatory gripe? Sure. Why that C-pillar is so ridiculously thick is a bit of a mystery, since there isn’t, and almost surely will never be any form of electronic parking assist offered standard with this car. If function over form isn’t possible, form over function should be a given.

We could beat around the diamond-studded bush forever if we wanted, but yesterday’s accessible Maruti is thankfully still today’s accessible Maruti. The same money gets you a better drive now, but without losing its morals. And that’s a huge relief, really.