Passenger vehicle market leader Maruti Suzuki India has opened bookings for the new Alto K10, ahead of the hatchback’s launch on August 18. Bookings for the budget car can be had for Rs 11,000 either online or at Maruti Suzuki Arena dealerships across the country.

CV Raman, Chief Technical Officer (Engineering), Maruti Suzuki India said, “The new Alto K10 has been designed and developed with the core philosophy of redefining the hatchback segment in the country. Built on Suzuki’s signature Heartect platform, the new Alto K10 will ensure a safe, comfortable and enjoyable driving experience while offering an excellent NVH performance. We have laid special focus on offering a modern design, a spacious cabin and a technology driven, user-friendly interior interface to cater to our ever-evolving customers.”

The new Alto K10 will be powered by Maruti’s 67hp, 1-litre K10C petrol engine which also powers the S-Presso. The current 48hp, 0.8-litre engine will continue to power the existing Alto 800. At launch, the new Alto K10 will rival the Renault Kwid in India.

The new Alto K10 gets an upright dashboard design, with the touchscreen infotainment system being the key highlight. It also gets window switches on the dashboard and may miss out on steering-mounted controls. Expected features and safety equipment include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, ABS, dual front airbags, and ESP.