Of all of the models confirmed this week for next year including; the new Focus RS, a new V12 Vantage, the new slimmer Megane, a Hummer, a Lambo, the funky BMW X6 and the 60th Anniversary Land Rover, we were totally taken aback by the new Suzuki A-Star which is set to fill the Alto’s shoes.

The new car will be unveiled at the Indian Motor Show in New Delhi sometime in January 2008.

Suzuki has had a busy time of it over the past 2-3 years, unveiling a massive list of new models and concepts including the SX4, Splash and the Kizashi Saloon.

The new A-Star will be a 5-door hatch with comfort and the environment in mind.

A petrol engine is all that is in the pipeline for the A-star.  This will be a 1.0 litre all aluminium engine that is one of the most economical engines the Suzuki has built.  Maruti Suzuki an Indian subsidiary of Suzuki will produce the engine.

Maruti also make the 1.3 diesel engine for Suzuki but this will not be utilised in the A-Star as it is not considered to meet the environmental credentials wanted by Suzuki for the A-Star.

When the A-Star reaches production it will be built in India and sold mainly to their domestic market and also to Europe.

Production will commence October and units will go on sale by next Christmas.