The Hindu : Business : Suzuki to unveil concept car

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 29, 2007
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Suzuki to unveil concept car

K. T. Jagannathan

To showcase the car in Delhi expo

Will be produced at the Manesar facility in Haryana
To make Maruti Suzuki R&D hub for automobiles in Asia

CHENNAI: Maruti Suzuki and its parent Suzuki Motor Corporation have decided to showcase their jointly developed concept car at the forthcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi. It will, perhaps, be the first time that an international car maker will be using the New Delhi Auto Expo for the global launch of its concept car, Concept A-Star.

After its exhibition in New Delhi, Concept A-Star will be displayed at other global motor shows during 2008.

Concept A-Star is a compact car. Compact cars are usually simple. They sport elegant design. Concept A-Star, while retaining elegance and simplicity, will demonstrate sportiness and emotion in a compact car. Its styling has been conceived in an Indian setting, say company sources. Within a predominantly European character, there are subtle cues from Indian tradition in the outlines of the Concept A-Star, they say.

Concept cars often do not become production models. They are more an expression of futuristic technologies and designs. Concept A-Star, however, will result in a production model, if these sources are to be believed.

Concept A-Star, in fact, is seen as a major step forward for Maruti Suzuki towards realising its dream of making a global compact car. Such a compact car will be manufactured by Maruti Suzuki at Manesar facility (Haryana) for export to Europe.

Concept A-Star will also give a clue or two to the R&D capabilities of Maruti Suzuki. The company’s R&D team first displayed capabilities in refurbishing existing models, five years ago. Their next big step was the Swift model, where a small group of Indian engineers supported counterparts in Suzuki Motor Corporation in developing that world car. “The Concept A-Star, developed in collaboration with Suzuki Motor Corporation, signifies that styling capabilities at Maruti Suzuki are now comparable to the best in the world,” says a ranking official of the company.

For Suzuki Motor Corporation, Concept A-Star symbolises the next level of its India commitment. Suzuki Motor Corporation invested in this country quarter century ago, much before India became a hot destination for foreign direct investment.

With a five-year capital investment of $2.2 billion in a new car plant, a diesel engine manufacturing unit, a new engine series and new models, Maruti Suzuki is emerging as a global manufacturing hub for Suzuki operations worldwide.

“The next level of commitment will be evident in R&D, with a vision to make Maruti Suzuki the R&D hub for automobiles in Asia. Concept A-Star is a decisive step forward in that direction,” say company sources.

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