[auto] Maruti's new A-Star launched!

Maruti's new A-Star launched! The A-Star, Maruti's new B-segment competitor, was launched in Mumbai on November 19.

The A-Star is here. Maruti’s new baby will go up against the likes of Hyundai’s i10 and the Chevrolet Spark in this crowded segment of the Indian car market.The A-Star will come in three variants – LXi, VXi and ZXi – the usual nomenclature Maruti uses for its models, and will be priced at Rs 3.61 lakh for the base version, going up to Rs 4.28 lakh for the ZXi, both prices ex-showroom, Mumbai. At this price, Maruti is charging a premium for the car as compared to the other players in the market. Powered by a three-cylinder petrol engine, Maruti claims the A-Star will return over 19kpl. While this figure might seem optimistic for real-world driving, fuel efficiency will be one of the A-Star’s strong points. The A-Star will surely be the star of Maruti’s range, and since India forms the global production hub for this car, the company claims it will export 100,000 units to 150 countries by 2010. Exports begin next year.