Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Geneva Preview: Suzuki To Show A-Star

Suzuki is to show its A-Star city car concept at the Geneva Motor Show in early March.

The A-Star, to be built in India in partnership with local manufacturer Maruti, made its debut recently at the New Delhi Auto Expo. It's a small five-door hatchback with a new 1.0-litre petrol engine which meets the Euro 5 emissions standards and gives carbon dioxide emissions of less than 109g/km. A diesel engine is also under consideration.

Suzuki promises that the A-Star 'will prove that sporty and exciting performance can be enjoyed together with outstanding fuel economy', and from the pictures released so far, it certainly looks the part.

The A-Star, which may not continue with the Alto name, is intended for sale in Europe as well as India and production will start in December 2008. Suzuki will invest ¥200bn into its Indian factories by 2009, increase the Maruti Suzuki facility to 960,000 cars a year by 2010 and expand research and development activity in the country.

Suzuki will also display the Splash mini-MPV, the concept Kizashi and Kizashi 2 prototype family cars, and its 2008-specification SX4 WRC rally car, to make its debut later this month at the Monte Carlo Rally.

No comments: