Latest Car News in India

Maruti Alto K10 CNG launch rumours doing the rounds

Rumours regarding MSI discontinuing Alto seem to remain rumours as yet another speculation has struck the auto segment. Maruti Suzuki India is believed to plan launch of CNG variant of 1.0 litre Maruti Alto K10. Alto with 800cc engine is already available in CNG variant, but now the company is thinking on the lines of proffering the 1.0 litre Alto K10 model with CNG kit. Other cars from Maruti like Maruti Estilo and Maruti Wagon R are also available with CNG kit. With the addition of CNG kit, boot space will be automatically reduced. Speculations are galore that Maruti Alto CNG variant could be launched in the Indian car market by the festive season as people tend to buy new cars during that time.

Auto pundits opine that Maruti 800’s replacement, Alto 800 could also be spawned with a CNG variant. Looking at the sky high demand for the diesel engine cars in India, Maruti is apparently developing an 800 cc diesel engine specifically for its mini hatchbacks; however it will take some time for the company to come up with the 800cc diesel engine.

Entry level hatchback segment of the Indian car market was once the most popular segment of the automotive market in India, however rising petrol prices turned things upside down. Car buyers are turning towards diesel options which are hardly offered in the A segment, therefore, B segment hatchbacks have been benefited the most leaving A segment lifeless. Sales of CNG and LPG variants have also gained momentum. Country’s largest car maker who had been riding high on the extravagant sales of its entry level hatchback, Alto also witnessed a huge drop in the sales of Alto. In July 2011, MSI sold more than 24,000 units of the hatchback in India while the number slumped to 17,500 units in the same period this year.

Alto, which was the highest selling model from the stables of MSI in India, was toppled by one of the company’s bestselling cars, Maruti Swift in the month of April. The plummeting sales are not confined only to Alto but have affected other car models too proffered in the same segment from other car makers in India. Constant hike in petrol price has resulted in this drastic change which no one had dreamt of. Diesel cars come with a hefty price tag and those not willing to splurge this much money on a diesel car, are opting for a CNG variant instead. In this manner customers are able to curb their fuel expenses which otherwise had gone for a toss due to increase in petrol prices.