A-Star Is Born In India

Suzuki has turned to India to help create a low-emissions city car, most likely to be sold globally. Shown in Geneva as the Concept A-Star, it is due to go into production in India before the end of the year.

Billed as the "fifth world strategic model," Concept A-Star was created by designers from Suzuki's Japanese and Indian facilities working together. Fitted with a conventional petrol gas engine that meets the latest European emissions standards and emits less than 109 g/km CO2, it is explicitly described as a future production model.

It's the size of a city car and its styling is smart and very European in character, with a dynamic appearance, real presence, and nothing too brash. Touches like the leaf-shaped pink headlight accents are indicative of the Indian design influence.

From the side, more pink highlights are visible on the base of the A-pillar and in the curved-spoke allow wheels. Four tight-fitting doors are squeezed into the deeply sculpted sides, while the wheels are pushed to the far front and rear for minimal overhangs. Ultra-thin rear lights, a deep tailgate oversized exhaust outlets prominently embedded in the rear bumper are distinguishing features at the rear.

In the cabin, a wide pink band reaches round the dashboard, while an LCD screen in the center console handles climate, navigation and audio controls.

The Concept A-Star will go into production at the end of this year in India. Suzuki emphasizes that it's been investing in India for 25 years (it claims a 55 percent share of the Indian passenger car market) and believes that its factory there can produce cars to European quality standards.

We liked the look of this concept, but it's not necessarily representative of the quality of the finished article and consumers with previous experience of Indian-produced cars might be wary. However, if the environmental performance of this car is as promised, the looks are as good as this, and the price is sensible, it will certainly attract buyers.

Also on display was the Splash supermini hatchback, unveiled by Suzuki at the Frankfurt show last autumn, and now going on sale.

Senior Managing Executive Officer Toshihiro Suzuki, speaking at the press conference, also highlighted that Suzuki continues to work on a production D-segment car (to rival cars in the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Mondeo class) that will be inspired by the radical Kizashi and Kizashi 2 concepts.