Maruti Suzuki India has plans to introduce a new model of its small car Alto, the largest selling model in India, with a bigger engine.
The industry sources say, the company intends to introduce the new Alto with a one-litre petrol engine from its newest series of engine, the K-Series.
Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava said, “Alto needs a face-lift. It has been there for quite a while.”
But he refused to say when a new Alto would be introduced and what type of engine would be used in the new model.
Last month, MSI had launched BS IV compliant Alto using the current 800cc F Series engine.
Sources said the company wants to fit the Alto with a 1000 cc K series engine.
They said, “With a bigger K-series engine, the new Alto will obviously be costlier than the existing Alto”.
The current Alto costs between Rs 2.29 lakh (Rs 229,000) and Rs 2.8 lakh (Rs 280,000), ex-showroom Delhi.
The plan to introduce Alto with a new engine is part of MSI’s tactic to fit its models with the newest K series engine.
Maruti Suzuki selld two variants of the K series engines — 998cc three-cylinder, K10B equipped in A-star, Estilo, and the new WagonR and a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder K12M petrol engine fitted in Ritz, Swift and Swift Dzire.