Following a brochure leak a couple of weeks ago, Suzuki has published the first images of the ninth-generation Alto kei car for the Japanese market. Despite their common name, the JDM-spec Alto is a completely different model from the Suzuki Maruti Alto sold in India and other markets. The new Alto retains the signature two-box hatchback silhouette but the bodywork is fully redesigned. At the front, there is a sculpted bumper and more rounded headlights giving it a less aggressive stance compared to its predecessor which was unveiled back in 2014.
The shape of the new model is boxier
thanks to the more upright windshield and the flat roofline, while the profile
and the rear end adopt a more conventional city-car look without the
Ignis-inspired window line. In that context, the low-positioned taillights of
the previous Alto have been moved to an upright position on the sides of the
trunk.
Inside, the familiar layout shows that the
new generation is more like a major update of the existing car. However, there
are many new components like the redesigned dashboard, instrument cluster,
steering wheel, and additional storage compartments in the four-seater cabin.
The update will also bring more safety tech, including basic ADAS systems like
autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure
warning, and high-beam assist.
The Suzuki Alto will be available with a
mild-hybrid powertrain combining the existing 660cc three-cylinder petrol
engine with an integrated starter generator (ISG) and a lithium-ion battery
pack. The company didn’t give us the numbers yet but we expect it to be more
fuel-efficient than the outgoing ICE-only model which already was a quite
frugal car. What we don’t know is if Suzuki is planning on a sporty Turbo RS
variant for the ninth generation.
The JDM-spec Suzuki Alto is expected to
reach the Japanese market in 2022, while a new generation Alto for other
markets will likely follow soon.
