What if the Maruti 800 was Launched today? » MotorOctane

The Maruti 800 was an Indian icon. Along with the Padmini, it was the pioneer of Indian Automobiles. It was the car for the masses, but with the market opening up, it slowly faded into the shadows. Launched in 1986, it was discontinued in 2014. It makes you imagine “What if the 800 was launched today?”

A fellow enthusiast gave the 800 a modern touch, and here is what it looks like.

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Looks

The 800 retains the boxy stature, but with a modern touch. The flared wheel arches, aggressive cuts and creases give it a sporty look. It now very closely resembles the iconic rally car, the Lancia Delta Integrale. Other features include a rear spoiler and fog lights. The 800 also features elegant alloys that enhance the overall look. The last-gen 800 never got these luxuries, and it is refreshing to see the 800 with modern clothes.

The boxy headlights and taillights remain, but you get LED lighting instead of the dated halogens. The car looks beautiful and is a breath of fresh air in the SUV-focused crowd. It definitely looks better than the S-Presso, Celerio, WagonR, Alto and the Baleno. The clean, elegant look is something the Indian car market currently lacks. The 800 looks practical, and the render isn’t over-the-top. Thus, an identical model being called into production does not seem far-fetched.

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What If Maruti Release It?

Being the entry-level hatchback, it would get the same 1.0L 3-cylinder engine as the S-presso, WagonR, Celerio, and Alto. The power figures may look tragic at 66 horsepower and 91 Nm of torque. But the fuel efficiency is second to none. This also means that if launched, you could get the 800 with a 5-speed automatic. This car must sound like a dream to 800 purists.

In the original 800, air conditioning was considered a luxury. But if launched in 2025, it will be loaded with a touchscreen, phone connectivity, and 6 airbags. This will be quite a step up from the old one. However, Maruti will need to prioritise safety with the 800, as some of its other cars performed abysmally in the recent NCAP tests.

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Does It Make Sense?

Hatchbacks will always make sense since they combine practicality and affordability. The 800 is an iconic badge, even more so than the Sierra. This means that Maruti could use that as a selling point if they decide to relaunch it. Many people would buy it for nostalgia, while others would buy it for its looks.

But the issue remains that the Maruti hatchback lineup is already vast. It isn’t easy to find a spot for the 800 between the Celerio, Alto, WagonR, Swift and S-Presso. It doesn’t make sense to relaunch the 800. Moreover, Maruti is more focused on its in-house hybrid system at the moment and won’t be thinking of releasing this 800 anytime soon.

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