Suzuki unveils new Alto concept

The Alto will be one of the main attractions on Suzuki's Tokyo Motor Show stand, which will also feature new concept and production cars, Suzuki's range of motorcycles, as well as power-assisted bicycles, and electric wheelchairs.

The Alto may be officially billed as a concept, but it clearly points to the new 8th generation version of Suzuki's compact supermini. The Alto promises good fuel economy, low emissions, improved performance and usability. Among the features that help achieve those are a big and clear speedometer, simple switches, efficient storage spaces and a sizable floor-mounted gear lever.

The current 7th generation Alto has been on sale since December 2008, and is powered by a 1.0 litre engine that produces 68bhp and 87Nm, and complies with the latest Euro 5 emissions standards. The Alto is not a performance model, as the 0-100km/h time of 16 seconds will attest, and it measures at a compact 3500mm long and weighs just 895kg.