[madhokritesh]

At the end of the day pint to be noted is that the Astar has a 3 cylinder engine thats 1 cylinder short than any of the other cars in its segment its way underpowered i feel.

[Car-Agey]

Originally Posted by vineetmanghani

Spotted a couple of highly camouflaged Suzuki Splashes on the road from Qutub Minar to IIT Delhi today. All the lights etc were heavily taped, and the Maruti Suzuki logo was literally scratched off from the back (one could see the marks where the logo was apparently "wiped off"). Anyways, managed to click a few pics with my phone camera:

Did you notice the number plate, doesnt look like a regular temporary number plate. It looks like the regular number plate with older numbering system.

[ankit.jhamb]

Originally Posted by Car-Agey

Did you notice the number plate, doesnt look like a regular temporary number plate. It looks like the regular number plate with older numbering system.

HRU-->is the trading certificate for maruti.so it is a normal number AFAIK

[vineetmanghani]

Originally Posted by Car-Agey

Did you notice the number plate, doesnt look like a regular temporary number plate. It looks like the regular number plate with older numbering system.

I was also a bit confused about the number...but I guess Ankit has cleared it up.

There were actually two cars, one black and the other green, with the green following the black at all times. There were two people inside each of the cars, and a lot of what looked like some kind of testing equipment on the dashboard of each car. Plus, the interiors of the cars looked kind of stripped off.....as in no upholstery etc.....couldn't get a proper look or pics since there was a lot of traffic moving at quite a brisk pace.....

[pankaj_sachdeva]

Originally Posted by ankit.jhamb

HRU-->is the trading certificate for maruti.so it is a normal number AFAIK

yes sir, you are right. all the cars i have seen on auto shows have the same number scheme.

[MuzzledMoose]

look at the rear bumper. it looks alike in most cars now from maruti stable. dzire, sx4 and now the astar also

[cooldude1988765]

A star is supposedly going to be launched in a few weeks with a 1 litre k series engine. No mention of splash though.
LINK

[aaggoswami]

A star is supposedly going to be launched in a few weeks with a 1 litre k series engine. No mention of splash though.
LINK

The article from the link:

NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch its much-awaited next generation ‘K’ series engine that will be introduced in all its cars in India in the next three to five years. It will also be critical for the success of Japanese Suzuki Motor Corporation’s future strategic global models.
Being seen as a “generational change” in Suzuki’s engine technology, the ‘K’ series engine will be rolled out from Maruti Suzuki’s new engine plant at its Manesar (Gurgaon) complex next month. Apart from being Euro IV and Euro V-compliant, the new engine will be highly fuel-efficient that will be first introduced in soon-to-be-launched global car ‘A Star’.
Both Suzuki and its Indian subsidiary Maruti are banking heavily on its compact world car ‘A Star’ that will be equipped with new one-litre petrol engine. Japanese carmaker Suzuki hopes that the “green engine” would give it a strong foothold in the European markets. And for Maruti Suzuki, the new compact car would help further consolidate its position in the Indian car market and prove to be a timely answer to other newer products being launched by its competitor in the fast growing Indian automobile market. The new engine holds much significance for Suzuki whose Chairman O. Suzuki, is on a three-day trip to India from Monday. He will also be visiting the new engine facility, that is part of the Rs. 9,000-crore investment being made by Suzuki Motor Corporation in India, and discuss the company’s future strategy vis-a-vis the ‘K’ series engine with Maruti’s top management. Mr. Suzuki would also preview ‘A Star’ at the Manesar (Gurgaon) assembly plant that is undergoing capacity expansion to reach three-lakh units.
‘A Star’ will make its India debut within a few weeks and then enter the European market early next year. While its one-lakh units would be exported to Europe, 50,000 units will be sold in the domestic market.
Currently, Maruti Suzuki has five types of engines used in its different models. The F-series engines in the Maruti 800, Omni, Wagon R and Zen Estillo, the G-series (two variants) in the Swift, Dzire, Esteem and Versa, the M-series in the SX4, and the K-series in the ‘A Star’.

The article is not sure on providing information. First they say that K-series engine's manufacturing will start next month. Then the article says that A-star will be coming in a few weeks. But how without engine. This means A-star is still far away and it is not coming anytime soon as the production of engine has not yet started.

I read else where in this thread that production of A-star has started. But this article says something else. Its confusing, but one thing is sure, A-star will take its own time to hit the market.

[aaggoswami]

Splash coming next year and K-series engine to come in 1.3 diesel format also. A-star remain " soon-to-be-launched ".

News article:

Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, is on a three-day visit to India to attend the annual general meeting of Maruti Suzuki India being held on September 2. However, this time his major focus would be on the development of the K-Series engine that is expected to be rolled out next month from the company's power train plant coming up in Gurgaon.
"Maruti is betting big on the K-Series or the next generation engine which will be used in A-Star, company's strategic model for the European market. Since Europe is a key market for Suzuki's operations globally, the Suzuki chief is expected to closely monitor the progress in development of the new engine as well as evaluate and analyze the overall progress of the power train plant," says a source.
"The new engine, that will come up in 1.0 lite and 1.2 litre petrol version as well as 1.3 litre diesel engine, will also be used for the company's next upcoming global model Splash that will be launched next year," he says, adding that the Japanese auto giant is vying for a strong foothold in the European markets with its soon to be launched A-Star. The new engine plant, coming up at the Gurgaon plant of Maruti Suzuki, is a part of the company's Rs 9,000 crore investment in India. In next three years, K series engines will replace current engines in many other existing Maruti models.

.

Source:
Suzuki chief comes to India with K-Series engine in mind - The Financial Express

[ranc]

Was in Maruti factory yesterday, couldnt see either Spalsh or A Star on assembly lines and in the finished goods lot. Talked to couple of them and they confirmed that Astar production will start soon, Splash they had no idea as to when will the production start.

[mikem]

This article on NDTVPROFIT says that production has started.... Just wondering how come you didnt see any??


Maruti A-Star to be priced at Rs 3-4 lakh
NDTV Correspondent
Tuesday, September 02, 2008 (New Delhi)


Maruti Suzuki India on Tuesday announced that its new compact model A-Star would be priced in the range of Rs 3-4 lakh.
The country's largest carmaker has begun the production of A-Star hatch for building a pre-launch inventory.
A-Star has been planned for launch this year in October. The compact car would further help the company to consolidate its position in the Indian car market space.
Meanwhile, the parent of the Indian company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, has asked its subsidiary to boost its research and development (R&D) for small car engines, according to news reports.

[Jaskirat]

Hi Guys,

Yesterday while driving past Zirakhpur (near Chandigarh), I spotted 3 Suzuki Splash test cars. Though they were camouflaged to some extent, but these were definitely Suzuki Splash.

I personally did not like the looks of the car from the side and rear, but the front was quite nice.

I am attaching the photographs that I managed to click. These are not the best photographs, but will give you guys sufficiently fair idea what the car looks like.

Regards

Jaskirat Singh

[MontyKING]

Hey this is a scoop!!! This is definitely Splash. Excellent work Jaskirat. The front is fine but the rear styling is not good, its kind of awkward.

Cheers

MontyKING

[METISWHG]

nice pictures of splash. though doesnt seem really impressive in looks

[coolbareilly]

looks Maruti has started rolling out the cars with absurd designs. First they started with Zen Estilo, then Dzire and now Splash . These guys should hire a good automobile designers.