Maruti gives Alto 800 a facelift to rival a Renault Kwid

The updates are purely cosmetic.In a bid to fend off the charging Renault Kwid, Maruti Suzuki has come up with an update for its best seller. The Maruti Alto 800 facelift has been spotted at what looks like a stockyard, indicating that that launch will happen anytime now.

The revised front fascia receives new headlamp clusters with orange lens covers for the turn signals, a slit of a grille, a trapezoidal secondary air dam and circular fog lamps. The profile and rear fascia continue untouched.

The interior has been retained as it is save for the new door trims and an audio system which now seems to fit better in the centre console.

The updated Alto 800 will continue to employ the time proven 796 cc three-cylinder petrol engine which is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission to dish out 48 PS and 69 Nm of torque. Maruti could be introducing an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) to have an edge over the Kwid. The price hike is expected to be nominal.

Maruti’s A-Mini segment which includes the Alto and Wagon R has been posting a steady YoY decline in first four months of 2016. The company is looking at a crossover body style for the next-gen Alto.

This article has first appeared in Rushlane.com