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World premiere of Suzuki Concept A-Star

09-01-2008

NEW DELHI, India - Maruti Suzuki India Limited, India’s largest car maker, is showcasing three concept cars at the Auto Expo 2008 in New Delhi. These include Concept A-Star, Concept Splash and Concept Kizashi.

Production models, based on Concept A-Star and Concept Splash, will be launched in India in the near future, and will contribute to the company’s goal of achieving one million unit sales by 2010.

Concept A-Star
The Auto Expo in New Delhi marks the world premiere of the Concept A-Star, designed and developed jointly by Maruti Suzuki and Suzuki Motor Corporation.

This is a rare occasion when a global car company has chosen the Auto Expo in New Delhi for the global launch of a concept car.

The Concept A-Star is the first concept car in which designers from Maruti Suzuki’s R & D team have been involved from the start of styling development. As such, it is an excellent showcase of Maruti Suzuki India’s capabilities in this area.

The Concept A-Star demonstrates that environmental compatibility and safety can be delivered with no sacrifice in style and performance.

The dynamic looking body contours of the Concept A-Star communicate the Suzuki sports DNA while the boldly flared fenders and extra-large wheels hint at strong dynamic capabilities.

The design of the Concept A-Star has a predominantly European character while incorporating Indian accents that emphasise the car’s identity as Suzuki’s first Japanese-Indian concept vehicle.

The Concept A-Star comes with a chassis that enables lively handling, and a high efficiency 1.0 litre engine for outstanding fuel economy.

Maruti Suzuki to make the next World Strategic Model
Maruti Suzuki will manufacture and launch a production model based on the Concept A-Star. The production model, based on the design themes of the Concept A-Star, will be built at Maruti Suzuki India’s Manesar plant and sold mainly in Europe but also in India and other countries. Production is due to start in October 2008. Full-scale production for Europe is due to start in December 2008 and will be followed by expansion for other markets around the world.

Suzuki Motor Corporation is pursuing a world strategy designed for long term growth. The production model based on Concept A-Star will be the fifth World Strategic Model from Suzuki, following the launch of the Splash at the 2007 International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt.

The forthcoming production model will be an A2-segment five-door hatchback reflecting a focus on world-class environmental compatibility and comfort. It will have a newly developed Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre aluminium petrol engine with CO2 emissions lower than those of European competitors (target: lower than 109g/km).

The new 1.0-litre aluminium engine will be produced by Maruti Suzuki India, and a manual transmission for it will be manufactured by Suzuki Powertrain India, an SMC subsidiary that’s based beside Maruti Suzuki India’s Manesar plant.

Specifications
Vehicle type: Concept car
Powertrain layout: Front engine, front-wheel drive
Seating capacity: 4 persons
Tyres and wheels: 205/45R17 tyres; alloy wheels
Engine model: New K10B (3-cylinder, inline, 996cm3 petrol)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Overall length: 3,580mm
Overall width: 1,680mm
Overall height: 1,400mm
Wheelbase: 2,360mm
Body colour: Sleek Silver Metallic
Safety: SRS front dual airbags and SRS side airbags
Front and rear ventilated disc brakes
Antilock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution ESP®*
*ESP is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.

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