The Hindu Business Line : Alt`o'ered looks

IT HAD been overdue for a while now and has finally happened when sales started plateauing. The Maruti Suzuki Altorecently underwent a cosmetic makeover and the refreshed looks of this entry-level car could set off a new round of aggressive marketing which has been going on between the market leader and the others in the small-car market.

The changes made to the exteriors of the new Alto seem to be aimed at making the car appear larger. The new Alto looks more contemporary and its improved, refreshed interiors should satisfy customers who felt that the older version's interior was too tacky.

The bonnet grille has been replaced with a larger version that also sports bigger slats and has the Suzuki `S' badging displayed prominently in the centre. The front bumper has been replaced with a slightly oversized one that also incorporates a larger central air vent and bigger, square-shaped fog lamp slots.

The Alto's head- and tail-lamps' overall design remains the same, but the new ones come with sparkling clear-lens type glass, a new layout and more efficient reflectors.

Two other new colours have been added to the Alto's existing range. Caribbean blue and wine red join the existing silky silver, pearl silver, midnight black, bright red, brilliant yellow and superior white to enhance the choice available to customers.

The vibrant new matching fabric gives the interiors a younger, brighter appeal. The HVAC (air-conditioning) system now comes with convenient rotary controls, instead of the earlier sliding knob type, for a more contemporary look and for easier operation. The new fabric and knob type controls are not offered in the base Alto Standard variant. Some of these changes to the Alto seem to have been triggered by customer feedback.

The Alto continues to be available with the same fuel-efficient 796cc, 47 bhp engine, which is assisted by a 32-bit microprocessor and the five-speed manual transmission. Improved looks and a more upmarket feel to the interiors now complementthe Alto's traditional focus on fuel-efficiency and low maintenance cost.

Maruti has also replaced the earlier Euro II compliant version of the Alto with the new Euro III version all over the country. The prices of the three variants — Alto Std, LX and LXi — remain unchanged and range from Rs 2.4 lakh to Rs 3 lakh (ex-showroom) depending on the trim level and body colour.

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