23 Facts About Suzuki Alto

Suzuki Alto is a kei car produced by Suzuki since 1979.

The Suzuki Alto originated as a commercial vehicle derivative of the Fronte, but over time the Suzuki Alto nameplate gained in popularity and by 1988 it replaced the Fronte name completely.

The Suzuki Alto badge has often been used on different cars in Japan and in export markets, where it is considered a city car.

In Japan, the Suzuki Alto badge was originally meant to be for the commercial use version of the Fronte passenger car.

When introduced, the Suzuki Alto was only available as a three-door "light van" and with bare-bones equipment.

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However, Suzuki generally did not use the "Fronte" badge in export, usually calling all versions "Alto" abroad.

The Suzuki Alto plate has been used on export versions of various Indian-built derivatives since the early 1990s, as neither cars are restricted by the kei rules and Indian cars are considerably cheaper than Japanese-built ones.

Since 2014, the Suzuki Celerio has replaced the Alto in Europe and other export markets.

The Suzuki Alto's success changed the kei-car market, and other producers such as Subaru quickly followed suit with cut-price "commercial" vehicles that were really intended for private use.

Suzuki Alto was unable to keep up with demand the first few years, particularly in the home market.

The Alto helped Suzuki move into seventh place in Japanese production for cars and trucks.

In export markets, the Alto name was used for the passenger car versions as well as on commercials, while the van was marketed as the "Suzuki Hatch" in Australia.

In December 1984, a four-wheel-drive version was added; until it arrived Suzuki had kept the four-wheel-drive version of the first generation Alto on offer.

Suzuki Alto was produced and sold in India as the Maruti 800 between 1983 and 2014.

The Suzuki Alto was realigned as a less costly car to accommodate new models such as the Cervo and Suzuki Alto Lapin.

In Japan, this version of the Suzuki Alto was not only rebadged as the Mazda Carol, but by Nissan as the Pino.

In 2011, Suzuki launched the Alto Eco variant, that features the R06A engine lifted from the Suzuki MR Wagon and an idling stop function.

In 2013, the Alto Eco was updated with the addition of Suzuki's ENE-CHARGE system, first applied on the fifth generation Wagon R With this technology, fuel economy has now improved to 33.

In February 2014, Maruti Suzuki Alto unveiled an all-new Celerio, which replaces the A-Star and Zen Estilo.

The Suzuki Alto was conceived as a response to high petrol prices and global warming.

Nissan Pixo is the "sister car" to the Suzuki Alto and is mechanically very similar, but featuring a few notable exterior differences, including the main grille and headlamps.

The new Alto was the first Suzuki's car designed on lightweight HEARTECT platform.

Local manufacturing of Suzuki Alto has made Pakistan one of the few countries in the world that locally manufactures kei cars.