Maruti Suzuki has been the unrivaled leader in almost every segment in the hatchback department. It offers its customers such a wide range of cars that one finds it hard to look elsewhere. However, all its cars have not turned out to be the sellers the company would have expected to and the Maruti Suzuki A-Star is one of them. Its due for a replacement and the Maruti Suzuki Celerio will be taking charge from the B-segment hatchback. The same is due for an Auto Expo launch in February 2014 but it has been caught on candid camera during the official photo shoot or filming of its TVC. The ‘Celerio’ badge is not new for Suzuki as in it has used the same for the A-Star in other markets around the world. The badge will be used to give the A-Star a refreshed image in India, though the car could be called the Alto or the A-Star in other markets.
[box type=”info” width=”720″ ]The Maruti Suzuki Celerio automatic variant will get a clutchless transmission[/box]
The Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the production version of the Suzuki A:Wind concept and will also serve as a replacement for the Zen Estilo as well whose sales are dismal to say the least. Coming to what will be under the hood, the car will come with the same 1.0-litre K series motor that powers the A-star and a slew of other entry level hatchbacks from Maruti Suzuki. This engine is good enough for 67 BHP of maximum power and a peak torque of 90 NM @ 3,500RPM.
[box type=”info” width=”720″ ]Check out the Suzuki A-Wind Concept Here[/box]
This engine is quite the fuel efficient unit and has already proven its worth to the masses. It might be tuned differently by the company so as to enhance the fuel efficiency as it is one of the key selling points in the entry level segment. The Maruti Suzuki Celerio is also expected to get a diesel motor couple of years later as the company is believed to be working on sub 1-litre diesel motor for entry level hatchbacks.
The Celerio might be positioned under the Wagon R and above the Alto K10 and we believe that would be pretty much the perfect positioning for the car. Expect its prices to start in the range of Rs 3.5 – 3.75 lakhs which may go up to about Rs 4.5 lakhs for the top end model. We expect the regular LXi, VXi and ZXi trims to be made available for the Celerio. The 2014 Auto Expo is just a month away and we can surely expect many details of the car to be leaked by then.
What do you think of the car? What do you expect Maruti to do to make it better hit than the A-Star or the Estilo? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image Source: Motoroids.com
