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These are the first official pictures of the Suzuki A-Star concept. A concept sub-compact car that will be the platform on which Suzuki’s next global small car will be made.

The A-Star concept will be showcased at the forthcoming Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi and the design cues from this concept will form the basis for the design of Suzuki’s next global model or the ‘fifth world strategic model’ as the company puts it.

With fish-eyed, LED headlamps, a plunging bonnet grille and air dam (that remind you of a Audi), automatic doors and cameras instead of rear view mirrors, the futuristic and snazzy A-Star concept has one other significant first — it has been designed predominantly by Indian engineers in Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL). After the Swift, Grand Vitara, SX4 and the Splash, the new car born from the A-Star concept will be Suzuki’s fifth world car.

The forthcoming production model of the A-Star will be a five-door hatchback that will reflect Suzuki’s focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort in an A-segment model. It is expected to feature a newly developed Euro 5 compliant, one-litre, all-aluminium petrol engine with CO{-2} emissions that will be lower than those of European competitors. It is also expected to be capable of class leading fuel efficiency.

The production model of the A-Star concept will be manufactured at MSIL’s Manesar plant by the last quarter of 2008. A large chunk of the car’s production has been earmarked for exports to European markets where it is also be sold under the Nissan badge.

The new one-litre, all-aluminium petrol engine will also be manufactured by MSIL, while the manual transmission for the car is expected to be produced by Suzuki Powertrain India, a Suzuki subsidiary that is located close to MSIL’s plant in Manesar. The Suzuki subsidiary is already in operation and currently manufactures the 1.3-litre DDiS diesel engine that is offered with the Swift. But this engine is unlikely to make it to the new car, since the proposed new petrol engine is more environment-friendly.

S. M.

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