Suzuki Alto Export markets

Early Altos were exported with few changes apart from enlarged engines and bodywork and different nomenclature. So the SS40 became the SS80 with a 796-cc engine. (Some Fronte models were also called Alto in Europe.) However, as Suzuki made agreements with companies such as Maruti to build their models, it began to be possible to sell different models to different areas:

* The CA71 is made with the 796-cc engine in India as the Maruti 800, in Pakistan by Pak Suzuki as the Mehran 800, and in China by (among others) Chang'an, Jiangbei and Jiangnan. This model, rather than the CL11, was exported to Europe until 1994.
* The CL11 was made in Korea, Romania and Uzbekistan as the Daewoo Tico, and in China by Anchi.
* In 1994 the CA71 Alto was replaced for European consumption by the Maruti-built version of the Cervo Mode, which was sold as the Alto until 2002.
* The HA12 is made in India as the Maruti Alto (in a longer and wider form with 796- or 1061-cc engines, with 5 doors), and this was exported to Europe as the Suzuki Alto from 2002. It is also made by Pak Suzuki in Pakistan, and was formerly made by Chevrolet in Colombia.
* The current Alto is exported with a 996-cc engine producing 65 hp (48 kW).

Thus the European Suzuki Altos are really:

* 1979-84: SS40 Altos with 796-cc engine
* 1984-94: CA71 Altos (coded SB308) and CA91 (also coded SB308) with 796-cc 3-cylinder F8B engine developing approximately 34 hp (25 kW), with 4-speed manual or 2-speed automatic transmission.
* 1994-2002: Maruti Zens (based on the Cervo Mode), with 993-cc engine.
* 2002- ? : Maruti Altos (based on the HA12 Alto), with 1061-cc engine.
* 2009 to date Maruti Suzuki A-Star, with 996-cc engine.

The Suzuki Alto European market version of the Maruti Suzuki A-Star was unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. It was developed to be a global car and will be made at Maruti Suzuki's plant in Manesar, Haryana, India. It is stylistically based on the Suzuki A-Star Concept.[1] The Alto was conceived as a response to high petrol prices and global warming. The vehicle’s emissions will be only 103g of CO2/km. It will be an eco-friendly car priced from £6,795 OTR.[2] The Maruti Suzuki A-Star is also produced for the Nissan, its version is called Nissan Pixo.

The locally-made versions of the various Altos have had long production lives, and have sometimes won great popularity, as with the Maruti 800. In particular the CA71 generation has been produced in many countries, and can frequently be seen being offered as a cheap city car among several more newly-designed products.