The launch of the Suzuki Alto 800 in 1982, and its arrival in India in December 1983 as the Maruti 800, marked a decisive moment in the history of small cars. Beyond its engineering, the car’s design reshaped the idea of what an affordable family vehicle could look like and set a template that would be followed for decades. A New Shape for Mobility The second-generation Alto, built on the SS80 platform, adopted a compact, boxy silhouette with straight lines, large windows and