Maruti A-star concept from 2008: What A Looker!

In India, Maruti Suzuki is considered one of the most trusted carmakers, with an illustrious history of producing reliable cars featuring humble yet purposeful styling. However, when it comes to showcasing concept designs at major events like Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki often takes the spotlight with its cool-looking, jaw-dropping concept cars. One such car from the history books is the A-Star concept, which Maruti Suzuki presented at the Auto Expo 2008.

A walkaround video of the A-Star concept presented by Maruti Suzuki shows how stunning the car really looked. In each edition of Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki has been unveiling concept cars that pave the path for production-spec models, albeit in toned-down versions. The Maruti Suzuki A-Star concept was one such imaginative creation by Suzuki’s designers.

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In the video, we can observe how bold the silver-colored A-Star concept from Suzuki was before Maruti Suzuki decided to introduce it as an entry-level, fun-to-drive car for the masses. The video showcases the A-Star concept car with the same curvaceous and aerodynamic silhouette, which was retained in the production model, though in a slightly toned-down form.

The other highlights of the Maruti Suzuki A-Star concept, including the teardrop-shaped headlamp, trapezoidal grille, and a slanted and compact rear windscreen, were also carried forward in the production-spec A-Star but in a more practical form. The boomerang-shaped tail lamps of the concept car, however, were replaced by relatively simpler-looking trapezoidal halogen tail lamps. Also, the large five-spoke alloy wheels of the concept car were replaced by 13-inch steel wheels in the production model to enhance ride quality and fuel efficiency.

Launched back in 2010

Previewed at the Auto Expo 2008, the A-Star concept was the center of attention at Maruti Suzuki’s exhibit. The concept was highly significant for Suzuki as it offered a glimpse of the global seventh-generation Alto. However, given the immense popularity of the fifth-generation Alto in India, Maruti Suzuki introduced the seventh-generation Alto in India as the A-Star, with minor changes to its exterior design.

Launched in 2010, the Maruti Suzuki A-Star introduced the carmaker’s 1.0-liter three-cylinder K10 petrol engine, which continues to be used with the new-generation Dualjet technology. The engine delivered 67 PS of maximum power and 91 Nm of maximum torque and was available with 5-speed manual and 3-speed automatic transmission options. In 2013, Maruti Suzuki replaced the A-Star with the Celerio.

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