With outstanding performance in terms of fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions, the latest addition to the Suzuki range meets the lifestyle needs of today's motorists and the pressing global need for a reduced impact on the environment. Furthermore, it is one of the most fun-to-drive city cars available, a great new example of Suzuki's "Way of Life!" philosophy.
As the second model in the second phase of Suzuki's world strategy (a phase that's focused on user-friendliness and delivering expanded possibilities for family members), and the fifth to date, the car offers enhanced levels of comfort and convenience with a design that combines sporty, European-inspired looks with great aerodynamics.
The five-door Alto is available in three levels of specification; SZ2, SZ3, and SZ4. The SZ3 is equipped with air conditioning as standard, whilst the top of the range SZ4 model adds ESP®, curtain airbags, 14-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and body-coloured door handles as standard.
The car is manufactured at Maruti Suzuki’s assembly facility near Delhi, India, and is the first Suzuki to be exported to Europe from there since the last generation Alto. Suzuki aims to achieve annual sales of 60,000 units in Europe of which around 7,200 will be for the UK market.
Maruti Suzuki India, in which the Suzuki Motor Corporation has a 54.2 per cent stake, is India's largest carmaker with a domestic market share of 54.8 per cent, and celebrated its 25 year anniversary in December 2008. Since 1994, 280,000 cars have been exported to Europe, and 7.5 million cars have been produced and sold since the launch of the Maruti 800, India’s first affordable world-class car, in 1983.
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION
The new Alto shares the highly efficient normally-aspirated 1.0-litre 3-cylinder K10B petrol unit with the European built entry-level Splash GLS model that went on sale in the UK in January of this year.
The Euro 5 compliant 12-valve engine is light and compact with low friction characteristics. Maximum power output is 50kW/68PS at 6,000rpm with a maximum torque of 90Nm/66lbft at 3,400rpm. An impressive combined fuel consumption of 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of only 103g/km (with manual transmission), makes the Alto one of the lowest emitting petrol-powered family cars on sale in the UK.
The Alto is offered with both a five-speed manual gearbox, and a four-speed automatic transmission, a proposition not often seen in the A-segment.
STYLING
Design work for the new Alto was conducted by a team based at Suzuki's headquarters in Japan but involved extensive studies in Europe.
The design programme began in February 2005 at styling clinics in Paris and Milan. By showing European customers four minivehicle models that it was marketing in Japan, Suzuki learned that there were great differences in styling preferences between the Japanese minivehicle, and the European compact-car markets. To identify European styling tastes more clearly, Suzuki designers then stayed in Paris and Milan, observing the latest design techniques and making numerous sketches with a view to creating a Suzuki compact car that would look fresh and distinctive on European city streets. This work created the basis for all subsequent aspects of the design for the new Alto.
Amid growing international efforts to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Suzuki sees the new Alto, the smallest of its world strategic models, as its flagship low-carbon vehicle. Consequently, the product concept for the new Alto gave top priority to fuel economy, and to a design that was both lightweight, and compact. The design team also faced the challenge of creating a concept which incorporated appealing, user-friendly packaging and styling.
An effective means of improving a car's fuel economy is to reduce the car's drag coefficient (Cd) through the optimisation of aerodynamic performance. Suzuki saw aerodynamic efficiency as an important design consideration, and as a result, the Japanese manufacturer adopted a development technique (the first of its kind for Suzuki) whereby the design team's creative work took place in parallel with an aerodynamic analysis programme conducted by engineers.
Aerodynamic analysis requires three-dimensional data, and therefore the design team rapidly produced one-third-scale physical models based on its ideas. Moving away from Suzuki's normal in-house approval process, the design team's presentations to management included not only sketches but also one-third-scale models and their Cd figures.
After producing a huge number of design sketches, the team selected its seven best proposals and conducted design clinics with them in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, and Italy. In addition to asking the opinions of European Suzuki distributors, the team presented a series of sketches. As a result, they were able to concentrate on a single design proposal that had earned particularly high praise for its unique styling, and subsequently create a full-size clay model.
EXTERIOR STYLING
By refining the shape of the body, the design team achieved Suzuki's performance targets in terms of aerodynamics and other attributes whilst achieving the required styling for the new Alto.
A smooth flowing profile from the windscreen to the roof line combines with wedge-shaped side windows to provide a sporty look. The door mirrors further promote aerodynamic efficiency by means of a shape that encompasses a compact, but high visibility design.
Positioning of the wheels at the four corners of the chassis coupled with eye-catching wheel arches and a trapezoid-shaped body, create a strong presence on the road. Rigid contours on the bonnet and doors convey refinement by generating emotionally appealing contrasts of light and dark.
At the front end a "face", based on a single-frame grille, communicates a bold, sporty personality. The pronounced headlamps reflect exclusivity and a sporty image.
INTERIOR STYLING
Key steps were taken by the design team to give the new Alto a fresh, casual-looking interior. The team also looked to create an appealing design which encompassed ease of use and storage.
The upper part of the instrument panel has a slim, taut-looking, wing-like shape, which gives the front of the cabin a sporty image characterised by light weight and rigidity. In addition, the newly designed audio unit sits within silver-coloured panels, and the centre of the instrument panel features an illuminated storage compartment suitable for an iPod or mobile telephone, enhancing convenience.
On the passenger side of the cabin, the bottom of the instrument panel incorporates a pocket with sufficient capacity for six 500ml drink bottles, handbags, magazines, and similarly sized items.
The contours of the centre console merge with those of the passenger-side pocket in a way that creates a stylish look and an impression of width. Furthermore, the door trim is shaped to complement the instrument panel with a dynamic wraparound look.
SUSPENSION & TYRES
The front suspension is of MacPherson strut type and the large, high-rigidity suspension frame is complemented by further strengthening in the strut mounting areas for superior handling. Also, the stabiliser bar is directly attached to the struts for maximum effectiveness, further contributing to a good combination of handling and ride comfort. High rigidity throughout the front suspension also suppresses vibration and noise in the cabin.
The rear suspension has Suzuki’s proprietary 3-link rigid axle design, and incorporates numerous refinements for the new car. Ample rigidity in the lateral rod’s mounting points is complemented by an increased lateral-rod length for high suspension rigidity. The trailing arms’ mounting points are reinforced for improved high-speed stability and responsiveness. An optimal toe angle further promotes high-speed stability.
The coil springs and dampers were tuned for optimum handling stability through extensive testing on roads in Europe. Suzuki targeted handling that makes driving enjoyable on urban roads, so drivers enjoy linear response, light steering feel and good absorption of shock and vibration.
Newly developed 14-inch tyres combine the low-energy-loss characteristics of hard compound rubber with the high-grip characteristics of soft rubber, so they offer significant fuel savings together with optimum handling and braking performance. A relatively high tyre pressure enables the new Alto’s CO2 emissions to be 1.7% lower than they would be with a typical tyre pressure.
ENHANCED ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
The Alto's body shape reflects Suzuki's Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept in the form of crushable structures that absorb impact energy, frame members that disperse impact energy away from occupants, and a strong cabin design. Use of high-tensile steel for major body components means that the resulting high level of occupant safety does not add excessive weight.
SRS front, side, and curtain airbags (on the SZ4 variant), are fitted to reduce the severity of impacts suffered by occupants in the event of a collision. Energy-absorbing trim materials provide further head protection.
ESP® is included as standard on the high specification SZ4. ESP® uses selective wheel braking and controls engine output as necessary to stabilise the vehicle if it detects understeer or oversteer situations which could possibly result in total loss of control. ESP® also incorporates a traction control feature to prevent wheelspin during standard starts or a loss of grip during sharp acceleration.
[Source: Suzuki]
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