Maruti Suzuki unveiled the A-Star Cabriolet at the 2012 Auto Expo. This is a one-off version of the A-Star, with the roof chopped off and 2 door removed. There are no chances of this going into production anytime in the future but Maruti Suzuki has always generated eye candy at Auto Expos and the A-Star Cabriolet was done to do the same. The car looks good and should be offered as a limited edition. A price of around Rs. 6 lakhs for this machine could easily see the wind in your hair lovers amongst us purchase one for the weekends. Other than the slight modifications to the exteriors and interiors, the A-Star Cabriolet is largely unchanged from the regular hatchback version.

The Maruti Suzuki A-Star Cabriolet is powered by the same 998cc, K-Series engine which produces 67 BHP of peak power at 6200 RPM and 90 Nm of peak torque at 3500 RPM. Seating capacity is 2 adults at the front and 2 children at the back, while the car is mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. The design does not seem very practical though and one needs a indoor garage to ensure no one messes with the vehicle, which does not have a soft or hard top as a roof. Do you think this car should be offered in India? If yes, would you buy one for Rs. 6 lakhs?

The country’s largest selling auto manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki has launched an updated version of its global small car, the A Star. The A Star is sold in many overseas countries like Europe and Latin America apart from being sold in the Indian market. The A Star, though a big hit in the European and other markets, didn’t quite become as much a success as compared to Maruti Suzuki’s other models. Now, however Maruti has made few changes to the 2012 version of the A star and first of all, all the changes made can be seen only in the interiors. The exterior remains the same and there has been no change to it. The changes made to the interiors include fresh upholstery, new front head restraints, ABS and air bags now made optional and new alloy wheels. Apart from this, the rear also gets a 50:50 split folding to double up as a boot when necessary.

The new A Star will now be available in Caffeine Brown and Glistening Grey paint jobs as well. The changes made are all welcome but there could have been many more enhancements offered. Under the hood, the car is still powered by the 1-litre, 3-cylinder K series petrol engine that delivers a power output of 67 PS at 6200 RPM and 90 Nm of torque at 3500 RPM. The engine is mated to a 5-speed manual or a 4 speed automatic gearbox and power is delivered to the front wheels. The car rides on 13-inch new alloys introduced. At the front, it features a McPherson strut and coil spring suspension while at the rear, it gets an isolated trailing link and coil spring. Stopping power is given by ventilated discs at the front wheels and drum brakes at the rear wheels. The updated A-Star is offered in all the 3 levels of trim. The updated A Star LXi variant starts at Rs. 3.66 lakhs while you have to pay Rs. 3.97 lakhs for the VXi manual variant. For the automatic, the VXi costs Rs. 4.47 lakhs while the ZXi costs Rs. 4.47 lakhs. With airbags and ABS, the VXi variant will retail at Rs. 4.40 lakhs.

Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant has caused havoc for the car maker these few months. We been continuously reporting you regarding losses Maruti is facing in India and how the waiting period for Swift has gone beyond anybody’s measure. It seems now that the losses are not just restricted to the domestic market but have also started hitting the international market where Maruti Suzuki exports their cars. The main export which is facing issues is the A-Star. Not to forget that Manesar is the only plant where A-Star, Swift and SX4 are made. A-Star, which is is sold as the Alto or Celerio in Western and Eastern Europe, South America, Africa and other parts of Asia.

The shipment of the A-Star is sent every month and around 2 – 3 shipments go at once, orders for which come six months prior. Maruti has also had an agreement with Nissan, under which Nissan sells the same car in Europe as the ‘Pixo’. Maruti is expected to supply a minimum of 35,000 units this fiscal, as part of a three-year agreement (2011-12 is the last year) for a total of 1.05 lakh units. Along with A-Star and Swift now the SX4 diesel is facing the time lapse issue. Where the minimum waiting period for SX4 diesel is around 2 – 3 weeks minimum, if the production does not begin expect another increase in the waiting period. Though the petrol version of the SX4 and the A-Star  are enough left in stock and is readily available. On a normal daily production run, Maruti would make around 150 units of the SX4 and 300-400 units of the A-Star at Manesar.

Source – The Hindu Business Line

Maruti Suzuki A-Star Wrapping - Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Maruti Suzuki has introduced the concept of ‘Wrapping’ to the Indian customer, with the introduction of an exclusive accessories pack for the A-star customer. Customers could now personalise their Maruti A-star and A-star automatic to suit their personality and choose from 16 interesting options. A special catalogue, displaying the available choices was also released. Each of the 16 designs are meant to bring out the lighter side of the customer and challenge him to don the avatar of a rock star or a sturdy rock or a nocturnal or an enigmatic personality, and many more such interesting looks. An A-star or an A-star automatic customer could get his car wrapped for a nominal cost by calling at 18100 1800 180.

“Designer car wraps lend novelty, makes the user stand out in a crowd and looks really attractive. Moreover, Gen Y – which forms our core TG, is always on the lookout for new and creative things to match their personality type. The best part about a wrap is that it makes the car look like an extension of you. This special accessory pack will provide discerning customers a ‘sporty feel’, and provide them with an opportunity to customise the car to reflect their attitude,” Shashank Srivastava, Maruti Suzuki India Chief General Manager, Marketing, said.

2010 Maruti Suzuki A-Star AT - Click above for high resolution picture gallery

Car tested: 2010 Maruti Suzuki A-Star Automatic VXi (ABS)

Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 5,03,446/-

MotorBeam rating:

Maruti Suzuki is the king of small cars and there is little to doubt that considering it has the widest selection of entry level hatchbacks. Market share may have dipped below 50% but Maruti Suzuki is leaving nothing to chance and is on a roll as far as new launches are concerned, the latest being the Automatic variant of the A Star. Its a common perception that automatic cars are expensive and are harsh on mileage. Not anymore. Maruti claims to have ARAI figures of 17 kmpl, a fantastic value for an automatic. This version is primarily targeted for first time buyers, especially women, who find an automatic transmission handy and considering the traffic situation in the metros of the country only deteriorating, the Maruti A-Star AT is sure to have a fan following. We drive this AT version over a spirited 450 km stint between a mixture of  jam packed city roads and fast moving highway traffic and find out just how good it gets.

Exteriors – According to statistics, about 60 percent A Star buyers know that they want an A Star when they enter the showroom and are young professionals looking for a sporty hatchback and sporty it is. The A Star is a young sassy looking machine. Sporty looks are complemented with the bulging headlights and from the side profile, thick c pillars with the upward sloping rear windows. Alloy wheels are absconding and the A Star automatic is available in only one variant, the Vxi with ABS as standard. No fog lights but lets not forget that Maruti had to keep the pricing competitive. The rear right portion of the boot portrays the ‘Automatic’ badge, setting is apart from the manual variants. Sloping roof line adds to the young feel of this car.

Interiors – The A Star AT gets extra goodies over the manual Vxi variant, such as integrated music system, drivers seat height adjuster, central locking and all 4 power windows. Seating is comfortable at the front and all the controls are easily accessible from the driving position. Rear legroom is appalling and the A Star is basically a car for two and maybe a small kid will fit well behind. Another factor contributing to the rear space is the front seat travel. The A Star has the highest front seat travel and hence in the last position of the front seats, rear legroom is bare minimum. Rear headroom is just about right for a 6 footer with a few millimeters of hair grazing the roof. The AT variant has scrapped the need for a clutch, hence a big brake pedal and the accelerator are the only pedals seen.

The music system provides for iPod connectivity and sound quality is decent. Boot space isn’t the largest in the segment but handy to say the minimum.

Built Quality – Over our drive, our A Star took a beating riding over the deepest of potholes but did not utter a single rattle. It would not be out of place to mention that we were driving brand new cars which were just out of the factory, the odometer read 88 km when we stepped in. Gauge of the metal used is better than few other Maruti’s we have seen. Overall quality is good and that’s basically because the A Star is a frequent at the export market.

On the Move – Start the engine, press the brake and shift out of the P (Parking) mode and slot the lever into D (Drive) and you will notice that the car will accelerate out with ease. The gearbox uses a slot shift mechanism rather than the conventional (press button and shift) mechanism.

There are 6 positions which include P, R, N, D and 3, 2 and L. This gearbox can be used to manually shift and drive in 3, 2 and L. L is more like first gear and is useful while doing sharp inclines, where one needs more of the low end grunt. D and 3 are locate in the same slot and can be shuffled by just flicking the gear lever left (D) and right (3). There is a small button to the left of the gear lever and reads ‘Shift Lock’. One can press this button after selecting a gear (say D) and the car wont change gears unless its pressed again. This works as a protective mechanism to prevent accidental gear changes in a moving vehicle by kids, for example. We did not feel the need to use this on our drive. Effectively the gearbox can be used in automatic as well as manual mode without the fuss of the clutch. Overtaking on the highway was not much of a problem, floor the accelerator pedal and the car darts forward. Lag between shifts is in the acceptable range.

Ride, Handling and Braking – The 155/80/13 tyres certainly improve the ride quality of the A Star. The suspension is a balance between too soft and outright stiff and strikes the right balance giving the A Star a comfortable ride. Steering is light and responsive and the car is extremely nippy making it an ideal drive in extreme traffic situations. Addition of ABS as a standard feature is a sensible move by Maruti. On hard braking the car stops in one line, though one feels the tires are losing grip a little earlier than expected, braking is satisfactory.

Performance – The A Star was the first car to be fitted with the all new K series engines and this 998 cc SOHC K series engine punches out 67 Bhp @ 6200 rpm and a torque of 90 Nm @ 3500 rpm. The AT version hits 100 km in about 19.5 seconds and hits a top speed of 150 km. In the manual mode, the ECU cuts off the second gear at 95 km and in third gear the car reaches 120 comfortably and then struggles. At speeds of 130+ slight amount of wobbling starts and one feels unsafe to push further. By all means this is a city car and not an ideal highway cruiser. In terms of mileage, ARAI figures indicate 17 kmpl, a drop of only 2 kmpl over the manual version. The AT returned us a mileage of about 12 – 13 kmpl, not bad considering we were hitting maximum revs in 3 and 2, spirited driving at its peak.

Conclusion – With the traffic situation only getting worse, especially in the big metro cities, the A Star AT comes out as a perfect car to deal with metro traffic woes a little more comfortably. People have inhibitions about automatic transmission but Maruti has set this straight with good ARAI figures and at the same time giving an affordable automatic car to the consumer (its a full 20k cheaper than the i10 AT and has more goodies). Servicing costs will be marginally higher than the manual version as confirmed by Maruti officials. Maruti sees the A Star AT as the ideal car for women and first time drivers. It sure is a great city car and it hopefully will open up a new segment for automatic cars in the coming future.

Whats Kool

• Nippy character and peppy engine
• Young looks
• Cheapest automatic car
• ABS as standard
• Maruti Service

Whats UnKool

• Rear legroom and headroom
• Airbags not even an option

Summing it up : -

How does it Drive:

How does it Look:

How does it Ride:

How does it Handle:

How does it Go:

2010 Maruti Suzuki A-Star Automatic Specifications : -

• Engine: 998cc, KB-Series, DOHC
• Power: 67PS @ 6200rpm
• Torque: 90Nm @ 3500rpm
• Transmission: 4 speed auto
  
• Top Speed: 150kmph
• 0-100kmph: 20 seconds (est)
  
• Fuel Consumption: 13-14 kmpl (City), 17-18 kmpl (highway)
• Fuel Type: Petrol
  
• Suspension: Mcpherson Struts, Isolated trailing link (Rear)
• Tires: 155/80/13 Tubeless Radials
• Brakes: 257mm Ventilated Disc (Front), 203mm Drums ( Rear), ABS, EBD
• Safety: ABS, EBD, iCats
• EURO NCAP Rating: (3 Star)

2010 Maruti Suzuki A-Star Automatic Dimensions : -

• Overall length x width x height: 3500mm X 1600mm X 1490mm
• Wheelbase: 2360mm
• Front/Rear Track: 1405/1400 mm
• Ground clearance: 170mm
• Turning Radius – 4.5m
  
• Boot Volume: 129 liters
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 35 litres
• Kerb Weight: 880kgs

Official Website – Maruti Suzuki A-Star

Maruti Suzuki has launched the A-Star Automatic priced at Rs. Rs. 4,52,335/- (ex-showroom, Mumbai). The A-Star Automatic is available in VXi trim with height adjustable drivers seat and ABS. The premium of the Auto over the manual is close to Rs. 50,000/-. According to ARAI, the A-Star AT delivers a mileage of 17kmpl, just 2kmpl less than the manual. More details to follow.

Maruti Suzuki is soon launching the A Star in an automatic variant and we had a chance to drive the all new Maruti A Star Automatic through a mix of city and highway traffic (Delhi – Agra – Delhi). The car effectively remains the same besides the introduction of a new 4 speed automatic gearbox. The A Star AT will be only available in the Vxi (ABS) variant and will get extra goodies such as integrated music system, seat height adjuster, 4 power windows and central locking.

Traffic situation is only getting worse by the day and an affordable automatic transmission car can be a real boon in today’s congested metros. The A star is already known for its nippy handling and a fuel efficient engine and the all new automatic gearbox is exactly what it needed. The gearbox uses a slot shift mechanism rather than the conventional (press button and shift) mechanism. There are 6 positions which include P, R, N, D and 3, 2 and L. This gearbox can be used to manually shift and drive in 3, 2 and L. L is more like first gear and is useful while doing sharp inclines, where one needs more of the low end grunt. D and 3 are locate in the same slot and can be shuffled by just flicking the gear lever left (D) and right (3).

The engine is responsive and acceleration is good. No rattles or vibrations. Lag period between the shift is well within the acceptable range. The automatic gearbox delivers a more comfortable driving experience and can hit 100 km/h within 18.5 seconds. The common misconception about automatic gearboxes is the adverse effects on the mileage but ARAI figures of 17 speak for themselves. Pricing is yet to be revealed and we expect it to be priced around the 4.5 lakh mark (ex showroom). The automatic avatar of the A Star makes it a very practical car for city use. Complete test drive review to follow soon. Keep watching.

As we write this, Motorbeam’s chief test driver is on his way to Agra from Delhi in the Maruti Suzuki A-Star Automatic. The A-Star Automatic will be launched this Sunday, giving the much needed independence to motorists from the clutch and gear lever. The automatic avatar of the A-Star will be available in VXi (ABS) variant only and will feature a 4 speed autobox. The A-Star AT has achieved a mileage of 17kmpl as per ARAI. It is expected to be priced very competitively as Maruti intends to take 50% car market share in India this year. Checkout the exclusive and very first pictures of the A-Star Automatic below.

Maruti Suzuki is set to roll out the automatic version of the A-Star by the end of this week. The A star is powered by a 1 liter K-Series engine and the automatic version will be a boon for those who want an effortless driving experience without shelling out too much booty. Maruti will be using a 4 speed automatic gearbox and the car will weigh around 915 kgs as compared to 880 kgs for the manual one. The A Star automatic was recently launched in Malaysia and is manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India and exported as a CBU. Naturally it will be priced more than the manual. Keep watching for more. Test Drive Review coming soon.

Suzuki is recalling close to 10,000 units of the Alto in Europe. The recall pertains to automatic transmission variants only (thus no recall for the A-Star in India) due to a faulty transmission system. The AT variant accounts for 10% of total of over one lakh units of Alto that Suzuki sold in Europe last year. The Alto is produced at Maruti’s Manesar plant and is exported to Europe since January last year. The company had recently undertaken a global recall of one lakh A-Stars to rectify faulty fuel pump gasket.