Suzuki A-Star concept car launched

BY OUR AUTOMOBILE CORRESPONDENT

11 January, 2008

Apart from the Tata 1-lakh car launch, Day one of the Auto Expo 2008 also saw the launch of the Suzuki A-Star concept car.

The A-Star concept car is a hatchback powered by a 1-litre petrol engine, to be made well within all emission regulations of the Euro 5 norms and a carbon dioxide emission lower than those of European competitors. The A-Star has a prominent front grille, angular headlights, and thin-strip tail-lights flowing onto the rear door. The A-Star is the fifth world car launched by Suzuki after the Swift, Grand Vitara, SX4 and Splash.

The A-Star has been jointly designed by Maruti Suzuki and Suzuki Motor Corporation. The design is mainly European with some Indian accents. Designed by two Indians, Saurabh Singh and Kumar Gogu, at Maruti Suzuki India's research and development team, the A-Star has a design that derives its inspiration from an elephant's trunk, its eyes and curves of flower petals.

The company said that production of the A Star will start in October 2008, in the Manesar plant, and the company might start exporting the vehicle to its European markets by the end of 2008. The company expects the Manesar plant to sell as many as 3 billion units globally by the 2008-2009 fiscal.

The Suzuki launch coincided with the unveiling of other car makers’ vehicles at the Pragati Maidan. While General Motors launched its premier sports utility vehicle, Chevrolet Captiva, expected to take on the Honda CR-V and Mitsubishi Pajero, German giant Volkswagen said that it would introduce new models including Jetta and Phaeton in 2008.