The ninth-gen Suzuki Alto Kei car has recently been revealed for the Japanese market. This is not to be confused for the Maruti Suzuki Alto available in India, as the two cars don’t share anything with each other, apart from their name.
- Suzuki Alto features all-new exterior styling
- Comes with a 660cc, mild-hybrid petrol engine
- Offered with active driver’s assist
New Suzuki Alto: exterior design
Let’s start with the design, which has changed quite a bit over its predecessor’s. While the new Alto has retained the boxy design and proportions of the eighth-gen Alto Kei car (introduced back in 2014), it now looks softer and more rounded than before. Up front, the new Alto still sports trapezoidal headlights like the older model, though it now comes with new lighting elements. However, the bumper, grille and hood are all lacking the sharp edge of the older model, clearly distinguishing the new Alto. Viewed in profile, the new Alto has a more upright A-pillar and larger glass house than the older car, making it look boxier, though here too all the edges have been rounded-off. At the rear, there is a new tailgate, bumpers and even new upright tail-lights. Though on the whole, the ninth-gen Alto’s design comes across as a bit bland when compared to its predecessor’s retro styling. What does liven things up a bit is the dual-tone colour scheme.
New Suzuki Alto: interiors and features
On the inside, there is a redesigned dashboard that looks quite quirky, with its layered design and use of colour. The AC vents are the same as the outgoing model, both in terms of look and positioning. However, there is a new steering wheel, instrument cluster and a new, neatly integrated touchscreen infotainment system. Besides this, there are one-piece seats up front and a bench styled seat at the rear with adjustable headrests, just like the outgoing model.
A big new addition for the ninth-gen Alto will be active driver’s assists under Suzuki Safety Support, which includes lane departure warning, high-beam assist and autonomous emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection and forward collision avoidance.
New Suzuki Alto: engine
Powering the new Suzuki Alto, like other Kei cars, will be a 660cc, three-cylinder petrol engine. What’s new this time around is that the ninth-gen Alto will get mild-hybrid technology, with an integrated started generator (ISG) and a small lithium-ion battery pack to store energy. Suzuki, however, has not revealed the power figures just yet. Gearbox options have also yet to be announced, though expect the older model’s 5-speed manual and automatic units to make their way to the new Alto.
Next-gen Maruti Suzuki Alto for India
Maruti Suzuki has already begun working on the next-gen Alto hatchback for India. The third-gen Alto will finally make the move to the Heartect modular platform, just like the recently launched Celerio. Maruti will rework the exterior and interiors of the hatchback, though from the spy photos of the new Alto, it seems the design will be an evolution of the current model. Under the hood, the new Alto is expected to carry forward the same 796cc, three-cylinder petrol engine from the current model. It remains to be seen whether the company will upgrade this engine with mild-hybrid tech in the future. The new Maruti Suzuki Alto is only expected to be launched in India towards the latter-half of next year.
Let us know what you think of the latest, ninth-gen Suzuki Alto Kei car in the comments section down below.
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