There is a clear lag between the accelerator being pressed and the response from the car.

BHPian BikerKeeda recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Hi,

I recently installed a sequential CNG kit with a timing advancer in my 2013 Alto K10.

The odo was approx around 80k kms when I did the fitment. The engine is in top condition, as the car is single-hand used and maintained properly.

Issues after fitment:

When I press the gas pedal ( literally a gas pedal) at low rpms (800-1800), suddenly, the rpm goes down for a second and a half and then goes up again making the car stall. This happens whenever I want more power and want to drive with half clutch. If I press it hard, the rpm goes down and the engine stalls.

There is a clear lag between the accelerator being pressed and the response from the car.

I don't know how to put it in technical words. My apologies for the same.

The mechanic reduced the spark plug gap, but it worsened the problem. The car now shuts off at low speeds randomly. If anyone is well-versed with CNG components and their working, kindly help me find the fault. I don't want to keep revving my car hard.

Also, please suggest the spark plug gap for the Alto CNG. Will rectify it.

Thanks.

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Like a turbocharger, IMHO, a CNG fitment too is best done at the factory. 2nd choice, the authorised dealer with the manufacturer's support (as with some Hyundais). But I'm no fan of after-market CNG fitments. Whether in the short-term or long-term, have only heard of problems. Plus, the tuning is never as good.

To me, factory fit is factory fit. Just look at the new Tiago / Tigor CNG. What a perfectly-executed CNG installation. The quality is something aftermarket guys can only dream of.

Here's what BHPian svsantosh had to say on the matter:

Find a better equipped CNG retrofitter in Pune. Your current mechanic knows very little about his job.

After a critical job like fuel system mod (LPG/CNG), you need to drive with the retro fitter along side with his laptop and he should tune the CNG system (2nd ECU) to suit your needs. It appears that he has set the tune to too lean to give you more than normal fuel efficiency.

You would need to drive the car, and the tuner has to tune the system based on your driving style for over 30-50 kms, both in cold start and traffic conditions and mainly WOT.

Put back original and new MGE spark plugs and drive in petrol till you find a CNG shop who can read this post and say 'yes sir, I can help you out'.

Here's what BHPian asit.kulkarni93 had to say on the matter:

Check the igniter and spark plugs. Preferably replace both of them. Clean the throttle body. Check the car on petrol after doing the above things. If it works well then take it to the CNG installer and get him to tune the kit.

Here's what BHPian Shreyans_Jain had to say on the matter:

Your installer screwed up. The tuning of the kit is not right. That’s kind of surprising, because it is very rare that someone messes up the tune of a sequential kit on a Maruti car. It’s their bread and butter! Clearly, that person didn’t know what he was doing. Take the car to another shop and let them have a go at it. I am assuming your air filter is new, throttle body is clean and the spark plugs and ignition coils are in good shape. A simple coding job with a laptop should set things right.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Initially, I had booked an appointment with Go Mechanic but later decided to do it myself.

BHPian BikerKeeda recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

"Noorie" (My 2013 Alto K10 Type 1) was due for front shockers change and I was delaying it for quite a long time, for which I did damage the body.

Decided to go with "Go Mechanic". Booked appointment through app, quote was 4040 for 2 struts.

Went to the service center myself as I like to get all the work done in person.

To my surprise, they said 2550 each plus installation charges to which I refused and decided to replace it myself. Picked up Monroe struts on my way back home.

Price: 2350/- each

Tools used:

Spanner size: 17 & 12

Note: Process is the same for both side struts.

Step 1: Access top nuts

Open hood. Locate the top nuts of the strut and spray some antirust over them. It will help loosen them faster. I was changing front shockers after 79.4K on ODO, antirust spray helped me open the nuts easily.

Step 2: Access bottom nuts

Get the car on a jack and open the wheel to get access to the lower part of the strut.

For the safer side, keep the opened wheel under the car body, just in case the jack fails, the body will rest on the wheel rim.

Spray some anti-rust on the bottom nuts to loosen them.

Step 3: Replace old strut with new.

Remove top nuts and bottom nuts and bolts.

Remove the clip which holds the brake line with the help of a screwdriver.

Separate the line from the strut.

Once done just remove the strut.

Once removed, compare the new strut and old one for making sure the dimensions are correct.

Insert the strut in position and put back all the nuts and bolts in place. Tighten them well.

Put back the line in its position and put on the clip too.

If you don't have a helping hand to hold the spanner while loosening or tightening the nuts and bolds, try putting the spanner against something which will stop it from rotating.

Step 4: Make sure all the nuts and bolts are properly tightened. I personally touch each of them like a checklist.

Step 5: Put back the wheel

Step 6: Feel good

Time taken: 1.5 Hours

Satisfaction: Unlimited

Here's what BHPian Mr.Boss had to say about the matter:

Kudos for your effort in DIY and documenting the same.

Few more points to add:

• Check the service manual for torque instructions and single-use fasteners (some are self-locking nuts, which have to be replaced with new ones every time we open them)
• Recommended to use Jack stands
• Wheel alignment to be checked

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

Had shortlisted cars such as the Maruti Zen, Hyundai Santro Xing and even the Hyundai i10.

BHPian Phukan_Tridiv recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Prelude

My earliest memory of a car is of Ambassador Nova my father had owned in Oyster Blue. I was a kid aged 3-4 years back then, and memories of that car have almost faded by now. What I though remember is that I used to stand in the co-drivers seat every time we would go for a drive, with my mother holding me as a support. Being a kid, standing on the seat was the only option for me to peek out the window and relish the view outside. Then came a day when father decided to let go the Ambassador for a Carb Maruti 800 STD in Moonbeam Silver colour. It was 2004, and our 800 was from the last batch of carb 800s as MPFI models were introduced in the meantime. It was the 800 which made me an ardent car lover. Contemporarily, I got to watch Fast and the Furious for the very first time. The car desire kicked in! In the following years, I was given a desktop by my parents. My cousin set me up with the NFS Most Wanted. The craze developed even further! Meantime, an Alto joined the 800 in the stable. As time marched on, my heart started longing to get behind the steering wheel. Though I had to wait for the fulfilment of my fetish till I turned 18! I remember the next day of my birthday, my father gave me the keys to the 800 and said - "This is the time!".

My father was a brilliant instructor, and within some months, I got myself a DL. I was appointed as the driver for making errands. Gradually, my ventures were further permitted to National Highways. Having said that, while I was happy behind the steering wheels of our family cars, my friends were getting their own rides which were mostly two-wheelers. This is the time in your youth when you want a vehicle of your own. Because of my inability to ride motorbikes, I could not ask my parents for the same. Deep down, my heart longed for a car, any car, which I can call "mine."

Covid and Nationwide Lockdown

On 24 March 2020, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a nationwide lockdown for 21 days to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. At that time, I was in Guwahati attending my university. The sudden address of lockdown made me rush back to my native place, Sonari, which is about 450 km away from Guwahati. Back at home, our family would sit in front of the television and witness the calamity of the virus. As the virus had been highly contagious (it still is), our family decided to boycott any mode of public transportation for the year as much as possible. In my native place, which is a small urban area, the cases of Covid-19 were few. And then suddenly it came into my mind that I will have to move back to Guwahati again to attend my classes when the educational institutions re-open. Guwahati had been the hotspot of Covid-19 cases in Assam. Provided, we were afraid of a Second Wave of the pandemic anytime (which came to be true). These facts made me and my parents anxious. Staying away from the virus meant staying away from the crowd. Before the pandemic, I usually preferred City-buses to commute in Guwahati as the fare is dirt cheap in addition to occasional Uber and Ola rides. Now after the spread of the virus, I was in no way ready to hop into buses and cabs. So eventually it indicated that I would need a personal vehicle!

Any teenager of my age would usually ask for a motorbike or gearless scooter as a ride. I would have done that too but the only two-wheeler I can operate comfortably is a bicycle! I do like motorbikes, but essentially, I am a four-wheeler person. In my opinion, at the same cost of bikes which are targeted towards people of my age, one can easily get a used four-wheeler. It has a roof, more seating, is much safer and provides much more comfort. So, the equations left me with getting a car. The very next day, I decided to take the opinions of my parents. To my wonder, my mother approved my proposal in a jiffy. My father had been a bit unsure but eventually, he too made up his mind to get me a vehicle and asked me to look for a used car before my university reopens.

Which Car?

I preferably looked for a hatchback. It needed it to be cheap to run and to maintain. Also at the same time, I wanted the car to have a feel-good factor, the car should drive well. It is no wonder that my options were mostly limited to Maruti and Hyundai.

• Maruti Zen: Gosh I love the Zen! Zen is an iconic vehicle. The first mass-market Pocket Rocket in India. It is compact, frugal, cheap to maintain and a hell of a lot of fun to drive. Zen was my first preference no doubt.
• The Original Alto: The Alto is a workhorse. It is a cute looking proportional car that will never leave your side no matter what. Though the performance is no match to the Zen, it still is a zippy car to drive. Fill it and forget it, that is what the Alto is.
• Maruti 800 5S: We have a Maruti 800 carb in our garage. The 800 is extremely abuse friendly and I can vouch for it. While the 4 speed 800 had been just enough in the power figure department, the 5 speed was a totally different animal. Sadly, the 5 speed 800s were exceedingly rare to find.
• Hyundai Santro Xing: Santro is a great car without a doubt. It is practical, spacious, zippy and has an upmarket feel comparatively to the Marutis of the same segment. Though I am not an admirer of the looks of the Santro, I decided to keep on the bucket list.
• Hyundai i10 (Gen 1): The i10 is a neutral car. It ticks all the boxes a first-time car buyer would want. My parents liked the vehicle. There was no deal-breaker as such for the I10. It is a different thing that I could not find one specimen within my budget.

Here I would like to mention that I could have searched for Esteem, the old Baleno, the Gen 1 Figo etc also. But I wanted my first car to be simple and forgiving. Also, being a student, I lacked the money and time to keep making frequent visits to garages in case something goes wrong.

The Hunt

In Assam, the market for used cars is a mess. Sellers, be it individuals or dealers, often demand obnoxious amounts. Also, these cars are always not at the best of their condition. I started my hunt aiming at the Zen. For the first few days, I searched for a specimen locally. I could find 2-3 Zens but they were in a sad condition, making me consider OLX and other online marketplaces. In OLX, I managed to shortlist 3 cars. Till the time I could make my enquiry, two of them already were already sold. The remaining was a 2002 Zen LX. It looked pretty neat from the outside but when I reached out to the dealer, he sounded very arrogant and shady. I don't prefer making contacts with dusky characters, hence the car was dropped from the list.
In the meantime, I was also looking for the other cars which were on my wish list. I could actually find a Santro in clean condition, but the owner was asking an absurd amount for the car. Ultimately, this car was dismissed too. My close friends and my parents know that I am very picky. Thus, I was not pressurized by anyone to get done with this ordeal as soon as possible. Still and all almost two months went by just checking and dismissing vehicles! My university was also opening in a month, meaning that I had to get myself a vehicle as soon as possible! It was a now or never moment!

The Change in Plan!

As I had been unable to get a used car within my fiscal estimate, my parents decided to increase the threshold by another 50K. With the new budget, the first car which came to my mind was the Gen 1 Maruti Suzuki Alto K10. My cousin has a K10, and God oh God it is an absolute nippy hatch! Unlike Zen, used K10s were available easily. I contacted a few sellers through OLX. Mostly were dealers and they were quoting above 2 lakhs for the VXI variants. Though those cars were in neat condition, I had my mind made up not to spend a penny above 2 lakh.

As I was in a hurry, I decided to apply all possible efforts to have myself a deal. Along with local dealers, a decision was also made to check with Maruti True Value. The nearest True Value outlet from my place was situated 50 km away. One fine day, I reached the outlet with my mom. The staff had been welcoming and in no time, we were in their used car parking lot. At that time, they had two K10s for sale, both being the first-gen. The first one was the Lxi variant in white colour. The car had too many dents and scratches and seemed to be roughly used. Thus, we did not bother ourselves check out the car. The second example they had was the VXI variant in the Silky Silver shade.

The body panels were in near perfect shape except for some minor scratches here and there. Because of the previous lockdown, the car had been under the sun and spoiling hands of rain for six months. This resulted in 50 shades of silver on the car. Anyway, The interiors were in a better state. I took the keys from the SA and cranked up the engine. K10 roared to life without any hesitation! As if the car had been waiting for this moment for ages! The engine idled smooth and there were no funny noises or vibrations. The insurance of the car had lapsed, so the SA requested me to have a spin inside their establishment. After what possibly could be the shortest test drive of recent times, I found the car to be satisfactory enough. The SA quoted a price of 2.20 lakhs for the car. It was 20k over my budget. I tried negotiating with the SA and after a long event of hustling, he came down to 2.05lakhs, inclusive of a new battery and four new wheel caps. I told him that I will let him know about my decision within 24 hours. Reaching home, it was decided that I will be booking the car. So that’s what I did and scheduled the delivery after two days. The four-month-long search came to an end, a new member was about the join the garage!

The D-Day

I reached the dealer at 11 am, accompanied by my mom and my buddy Newton. The K10 was thoroughly washed and polished! It almost felt like getting a brand-new car! Though, the romance was short-lived as the car ran out of petrol in the washing area and my SA resorted to pushing the car around the parking lot. Nevertheless, Petrol was soon sourced, poured in and the K10 barked into life. The delivery went smooth and by the evening, the car was in our garage! While we were driving back home, I found the car to be performing better than my exceptions. Let me remind you, I actually bought a used car without having a proper road test because of time constraints. This could have gone wrong in so many ways! Now as the car was doing well, I was assured that it would run this way, and the money is not wasted.

The very next day, I took the car to a known mechanic for a check-up. He checked the car in detail and told me that I have made a good purchase. The car is mechanically fine apart from two worn bearings (Front Wheels) and a leaking shock absorber (Front left). I decided to change both front shock-absorbers as the other would require replacement anyway in some days. Along with these, I performed a quick service to the car which included-

• New Engine Oil- 5w30 (Shell Helix Semi Synthetic).
• Flushing and refilling the coolant (Ecstar).
• New Air Filter and Cabin AC Filter (MGP).
• New Front brake pads (TVS Girling).
• Cleaning the rear drum brake setup.

The final bill was around 6k which was very cheap and reasonable. The next thing the car needed was a set of new tyres. The car was on Bridgestone S322 155/65 R13 rubbers, which is the OEM size. The rear two tyres had some thread left so it was decided to change the front two only for the time. I wanted an upgrade in size as I felt the stock ones be a bit puny. The correct upsize would have been 165/60 R13 but I was unable to find tyres in that size. So I plonked in two 165/65 R13 Yokohama Earth 1 tyres. Compared to the earlier stock setup, these had a slightly bigger diameter. The mismatch in diameter did not result in any change in normal speeds. More on that later.

For a couple of weeks, I drove the car around my hometown for some 500 km. In these 500kms, I did not encounter any issue except noticing the front left headlamp bulb not glowing at its full potential. I simply thought the bulb to be faulty and bought a new headlight bulb from the MGP store and went to a technician for the replacement. While replacing the bulb, the technician and I were astonished to find that the faulty bulb in question was a 90/100w, that too without a relay! Now if you are not aware, the stock headlight bulbs of the K10 are of 60/55W and one must install a relay set up to put in higher wattage bulbs. Anyway, I took it as negligence of the previous owner and went on to install the new bulb. The bulb was installed and they were operating in their full glory. A happy me paid the technician and sat in the car to head home. And it was the moment when the hell broke loose! The car refused to start! The starter motor was engaging but the car was not firing up. I immediately checked the fuel gauge. The tank was half full. I tried to start her up once again but the same story repeated. On the third attempt, I came to realize that the fuel pump was not working. I jumped off the car, lifted the hood and checked the fuse box. Meanwhile, the technician also arrived at the spot. I located the fuse of the fuel pump, checked, and installed it again. This time the car started effortlessly. So I deduced the cause to be a loose fuse.

The aura of the next morning was disrupted by the same issue. I had to reinstall the fuse again for the pump to start working. As the event occurred twice in a time frame of 24 hours, I was very much sure that the fuse itself is faulty. Soon I bought a new fuse and replaced the earlier one. Now the car was starting fine but the left headlight bulb went dim. The bulb was only replaced a day before so the situation was kind of funny. A frustrated me reached the shop where I had replaced the bulb just a day ago. The technician was also puzzled. He tried installing another bulb of the same wattage, and the results were the same. It was concluded by both parties that something is either wrong with the bulb holder or the wiring itself. He checked the holder and found it to be okay. After maintaining a minute of silence, he dropped the atom bomb by declaring that my car has faulty wiring! He further said that I will have to drop my car off for a day in his shop as checking the complete wiring of the car will require a lot of time. Hearing his words, I started feeling tense as we all know wiring issues are chronic if not solved in a single go. The technician further added that it would be better if I take the car to MASS as he has his expertise on trucks, not on such small vehicles. Luckily, I have some known faces in our nearest MASS. Reaching them, I was confirmed that the issue is originating in the fuse box. After some minutes of further investigation, my technician declared the headlamp relay to be the culprit. He added that the fuse slot of the Fuel Pump had some debris inside which was causing the fuse to come out. And the issue of the dim headlight was reverted to the faulty relay. He asked me if anyone had installed higher wattage bulbs without an extra relay setup. We all know what my reply was. So finally, a new relay worth Rs 250 was installed and the fuse slots were cleaned. Till the date of writing this review, this issue has not been repeated again.

The New Set of Keys

When I bought the car, I was given both the keys. It was my short-sightedness that I did not test the spare key. Later, it was revealed that the spare key was made locally and it did not have an immobilizer setup, meaning this key was good for opening the locks only. I could have lived with it but having a non-functional key was itching my mind. Now I had two options, take the main key to MASS and request them to provide me with a new spare key, of course with the immobilizer ecosystem, or to order a completely new set of keys and locks for the car. I decided to go with the second option. As it was a pre-owned car, I was a bit afraid of the fact that someone somewhere may possess an extra pair of keys to the car without my knowledge. A totally new setup would establish peace in mind. The next day, I went to the nearest MASS and placed an order for the new key and lockset. I was called in for the installation after a week. The procedure took around two hours. After the immobilizer code was verified, I was handed over a set of brand new keys. It certainly felt as if I have bought a new car! Once again!

Continue reading BHPian Phukan_Tridiv's ownership experience for more insights and information.

I have had a trouble-free experience with the AMT, although being an early adopter.

BHPian Torino recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

7 years & 90,000 km and going strong!

The car was munching an average of 20,000 km a year from 2015 to 2019 after which I started using my Interceptor 650 for daily office commute. Between 2019 to present, the Alto managed to munch another 10,000 km. Over the last 6 years and 90,000 km of ownership the Alto K10 AMT has been our trusty and fun city runabout. The Alto has also seen a fair share of the highway as well with a couple of dozen Chennai-Bangalore-Chennai trips. Alto’s compact dimensions, great all-around visibility, AMT and easy controls enable me to prefer the Alto when I get to choose between car & bike without worrying about narrow lanes, tight parking spots and crowded places.

The good:

• Fun to drive: Surprisingly fast! Featherweight body and skinny tyres allow exploiting its limits even at low speed.
• Engine: Loves to be revved all the way to the redline and offers a spirited driving experience.
• Ease of AMT: Easy to get used to, has remained trouble-free so far.
• Small footprint and all-round visibility
• The consistent city fuel efficiency of over ''15.5 km/l with AC'' (tank full method).
• Reliability: Except for periodic service every 10,000kms the car didn’t do any unscheduled visits to the service centre.

The bad:

• Flimsy body panels
• Lack of cabin sound insulation
• Poor quality outside door handle (driver door handle broke three times already)
• Squeaks and rattles
• Dismal safety rating

The car is from the initial lot of India’s 2nd generation Alto K10 launched in November 2014 and the second AMT car in India after the 1st generation Celerio launched in Feb 2014. Despite the niggles and irks reported by early AMT adopters, I was lucky to have gotten away without any AMT woes. The car has been thoroughly reliable and dependable so far. The car still runs on factory fitted brake pads, suspension and clutch.

Right from the start, I’ve always enjoyed driving the Alto K10 solely due to the spirited performance it offered which I was able to exploit freely as I was the only person in the car 90% of the time. With its limits within reach, it never stops to put a smile on your face as you pull away from traffic lights in 1st gear all the way to 6000rpm redline, engine screaming and darting like a stabbed rat or as the tyres squeal during U-turns. In all, I’ve had loads of fun driving the Alto K10 over the last 90,000 km.

That’s said, I’m not a reckless driver and rather far away from it. I strongly believe in these sayings ‘’take care of your ride and it'll take care of you’’ & ‘’A clean car is a healthy car’’
Apart from regular servicing, below are some of the ‘take care’ things I follow with my humble Alto K10.

1. Park the car within my sight
2. Try and avoid valet parking and park it myself
3. Slow down to crawling speed while going over bad roads and potholes
4. Take the longer route to avoid bad roads.
5. Idle the engine for at least 30 seconds before driving off after a 5 hrs gap.
6. Never let the fuel level go below ¼ tank, to protect the fuel pump
7. Set the right tire pressure every 2 weeks. There is a noticeable difference in performance and comfort when there is a 4-5 psi drop by end of the second week.

There isn’t anything to write home about on comfort, handling, braking or space but the Alto does a great job in tackling city traffic. The car is built to a cost and it is clearly felt in its wafer-thin body panels and zero insulation. Standard features were front door power windows, a Nippon music system with two speakers and central locking. I wish the car came with rear wipers which used to be standard in VXi variants in older Marutis.

90,000 km periodic service:

The service was done at Vishnu cars near Selaiyur since it is located close to my place which allowed me to check on the car during its service procedure. Its been over two years and 10,000 km since the last service and was idle for a longer duration due to lockdown so I wanted to get a few other things done such as brakes cleaning, AC disinfectant and injector cleaning since there was a bit of vibration during idle and crawling speed. The guys at Vishnu cars always try to include add-ons to inflate the bill and they did include a few like tyre polish, car shampoo & wax kit despite educating them while opening the job card but then I let it pass instead of wasting my time.

Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.

In January 2020, we had reported that the Alto K10 would be discontinued. The car has now been removed from the Maruti Suzuki website.

The K10 did not get the upgraded BS6-compliant 1.0-litre engine which powers the S-Presso. It is said that dealers cleared the old BS4 stock in December 2019 itself.

The car was launched in 2010 and in 2014, it received a facelift. In 2019, Maruti added additional safety features to the hatchback.

The Alto K10 was powered by a 998cc K10B engine that produces 67 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 90 Nm @ 3,500 rpm. The engine was paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT. The car also came with a factory-fitted CNG kit.

According to a media report, Maruti Suzuki likely to discontinue the Alto K10.

The report states that the Alto K10 is not getting upgraded to meet BS6 emission norms. Dealerships have stopped taking bookings and have cleared old BS4 stock in December 2019 itself.

The Alto K10 is powered by a 998cc K10B engine that produces 67 BHP @ 6,000 rpm and 90 Nm @ 3,500 rpm. The engine is paired with either a 5-speed manual or 5-speed AMT. The car also comes with a factory-fitted CNG kit.

The Alto K10 was first introduced in 2010. In 2014, it received a major facelift and in 2019, Maruti introduced safety features like ABS with EBD, driver side airbag, rear parking sensors, seat belt reminder and high speed alert.

Source

According to Maruti Suzuki, the carmaker has sold 38 lakh units of the Alto in India since the model's launch. It is also said to be the highest selling model for the past 15 years.

The Maruti Alto was launched in the year 2000. The first sales milestone of 10 lakh units was achieved in 2008, which was followed by the launch of the Alto K10 in 2010.

In 2012, Alto sales hit the 20 lakh mark. In 2013, the Alto 800 Anniversary Edition was launched and the new K10 arrived a year later. 2016 saw the launch of the new Alto 800. In the same year, sales hit the 30 lakh mark.

In 2019, Maruti launched the BS6 version of the Alto.

Thanks to the Team-BHP fan (he prefers to remain anonymous) who sent this information in. Heartfelt gratitude for sharing it with other enthusiasts via this page! 

We have received information about Maruti's midterm plans and new product launches. Here's what we can expect from the brand in the months to come.

The current-generation Wagon R was supposed to go out of production this month. However, the company is likely to continue its production till November. Beyond that, only the commercial variant of the car will be produced. 

Rumours of the next generation Wagon R have been floating around for a while now. Production of the car is expected to commence in November 2018 and the car is likely to be launched at the beginning of 2019. 

The Alto K10 is expected to receive a facelift and the car is likely to be launched around March 2019. The next-generation Alto could be launched sometime during the next financial year. 

Maruti is also expected to introduce facelifted versions of the Swift and Baleno in the next financial year. The company is expected to launch the all-new Swift in 2020.

The recent floods in Kerala have affected car sales, especially during the festival of Onam. It is believed that Maruti has halted production for 3 days due to an excess inventory of 40,000 cars at its factories. Therefore, customers can expect discounts on select models as the carmaker clears its stock.

Maruti is planning to set up a new manufacturing plant in Sohna near Gurgaon to achieve its production target of 5 million cars/year by 2030.

Maruti Suzuki has launched 'MS Dhoni inspired' special editions of the Alto hatchback. Both - the Alto 800 and the Alto K10 have received the treatment. The Alto 800 MS Dhoni edition is available only in the LXi trim, while the K10 gets it in both - LXi and VXi trims. The special edition models get cosmetic and functional feature additions, and hence, come at a premium of Rs. 16,777 and Rs. 12,777 over the regular Alto 800 and the Alto K10 respectively.

Added features on the MS Dhoni Alto special edition include the cricketer's signature decal and new body graphics, reverse parking sensors with bar graph display, and new seat covers with the number '7' etched on them. 7 is considered to be Dhoni's lucky number, and is also his Jersey number. The special edition also gets a steering cover, carpet mat, roof-mounted rear spoiler, door sill guard, and ambient lighting. The Alto 800 LXi has additionally been given a 1-DIN MP3 system with USB and AUX connectivity.

The interiors of the special edition Altos can be opted for in two dual-tone colours - black & silver, and red & blue. Owners will also be given an MS Dhoni inspired merchandise kit with every car. No mechanical changes have been made to the Alto 800 as well as the Alto K10.

The special editions models are available in all Maruti Suzuki dealerships from the first week of October.

The Maruti Suzuki Alto has crossed the 30 lakh sales mark in the Indian market. Launched in September 2000, it has taken the car about 15 years and 6 months to achieve this milestone. It's the only Indian car to achieve this feat.

Maruti Suzuki has also exported over 3.8 lakh units of the Alto to more than 70 countries across the world with Sri Lanka, Algeria, Chile, UK and Netherlands being its top markets.

The Alto is Maruti's entry-level car and at present, comes in two variants - Alto 800 and Alto K10. The Alto 800 is powered by a 796cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that produces 47 BHP and 69 Nm of torque. The Alto K10 comes with a 998cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that develops 67 BHP and 90 Nm of torque. Both cars come with a 5-speed manual transmission. The K10 is available with an automated manual transmission as well. CNG versions of the Alto are also available.  

Cumulative sales milestones:

• September 2000 - National launch in Delhi
• October 2003 - 1 lakh units
• August 2006 - 5 lakh units
• November 2008 - 10 lakh units
• October 2010 - 15 lakh units
• April 2012 - 20 lakh units
• March 2014 - 25 lakh units
• February 2016 - 30 lakh units

The average monthly sales of the Alto over the past 10 years exceed 22,000 units.