[scorp 1]

Does a volume churner has to look as bad always?

[amtak]

Originally Posted by scorp 1

Does a volume churner has to look as bad always?

Either you get a beautiful wife or a smart wife; for a mix of both, you need to spend more.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by amtak

Either you get a beautiful wife or a smart wife; for a mix of both, you need to spend more.

Cheeky comment indeed.

Beauty is in the eyes of beholder, you can make smart wife look beautifull. alloys , painting the B pillar black are few easy options.

[scorp 1]

Originally Posted by amtak

Either you get a beautiful wife or a smart wife; for a mix of both, you need to spend more.

Let me rephrase :
MUL has not invested enough in design labs, neither they want to.
In turn they have cannibalized their own sales by launching similar products that fit the same price bracket, share the same platform, have similar features, design, and appearance. And what they have lost are the customers who would want to buy a reliable low cost vehicle, only if it was segmented well.
Design can still be contemporary, and does not need have an ambitious spend. Linkage between pricing and design does not hold true unless it's the feature-set or adaptive technologies the company has invested in.

[revved_up]

I was at Maruti Gurgaon plant today and i saw what looked like a production entry level model. It was white and had black bumpers.
From the rear it looks like a star(a wee bit smaller though), front has a striking reemblence to i10(bumper) and figo(headlights). Overall structure looks like a-Star.

It was standing in the QC area, where usually all cars go for final checkup before despatch.

Does this mean, the launch is pretty soon?

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by revved_up

I was at Maruti Gurgaon plant today and i saw what looked like a production entry level model. It was white and had black bumpers.
From the rear it looks like a star(a wee bit smaller though), front has a striking reemblence to i10(bumper) and figo(headlights). Overall structure looks like a-Star.

Did it look like the car shown in post #147?

[revved_up]

Originally Posted by Mpower

Did it look like the car shown in post #147?

Yes, but it was with black bumpers and silver colored steel rims.

I also saw a testing car with colored bumpers and small camaflouge strickers all over, standing nearby. I think that was the test car they used ealier.

[sarthakgupta]

There is another discussion going on about alto/M800 replacement on the following thread.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian...-800-alto.html

Will it be one car which will replace both alto and M800 or there will be two replacements: one for M800 and another for Alto 800?

[revved_up]

Guys,

I saw two more cars today. Both of them were fresh out of the assembly line and had body colored bumpers and door handles.

From the look of it, Maruti is targetting a Diwali launch?

[amitayu]

I am still a bit confused about the dimensions, or rather, how it measures up to other hatchbacks. Previously i had a feeling that this was going to be bit bigger than the A star, but the new picture seems to suggest it is but an Alto with A star rear, which really means not much of a difference!!

[revved_up]

It is smaller than A-Star. You are right, it is of alto's dimensions(maybe roomier inside due to increased hieght).

[sarthakgupta]

@revved_up

Has Maruti stopped production of M800 and Alto F8D? Or is the new car being manufactured along with the older models that it intends to replace?

[HorsPwr]

Originally Posted by sarthakgupta

Has Maruti stopped production of M800

It has been a number of months now since Maruti phased out the 800. Though the Alto is still manufactured (and doing well too) the K10 version did not match up to the expectations and many "Alto'ians" still prefer the pre-K10 version of the Alto.

[sarthakgupta]

Originally Posted by HorsPwr

It has been a number of months now since Maruti phased out the 800. Though the Alto is still manufactured (and doing well too) the K10 version did not match up to the expectations and many "Alto'ians" still prefer the pre-K10 version of the Alto.

But the monthly Indian car sales and analysis report always lists some sales of M800. AFAIK they are company to dealer shipments, that means it should still be in production. Or is it the case that company has a huge stockpile of M800s with it?

[revved_up]

800 is still being produced, only for the export market though, in LHD version and badged "Suzuki".
Also i regularly see the export version of Alto, and the quality of interiors(read seats with headrests etc.) is way better than what is being sold in India.

While returning i saw 4 of these new 800, all were completely built, looked just out of assembly line. There were about 50 odd msil employees gathered around the car.

Looked as if the car was being introduced to the employees or something.