Jiangnan Alto

The is a kei car produced by Suzuki since 1979. The model, currently in its ninth generation, was first introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide. The Alto originated as a commercial vehicle derivative of the Fronte, but over time the Alto nameplate gained in popularity and by 1988 it replaced the Fronte name completely. The Alto badge has often been used on different cars in Japan and in export markets, where it is considered a city car.

Nameplate history

In Japan, the Alto badge was originally meant to be for the commercial use version of the Fronte passenger car. The word "alto" is a musical term. When introduced, the Alto was only available as a three-door "light van" and with bare-bones equipment. However, Suzuki generally did not use the "Fronte" badge in export, usually calling all versions "Alto" abroad. Most early export Altos were thus technically speaking rebadged Suzuki Frontes. These were exported with changes such as enlarged engines, sometimes modified bodywork. Thus the Japanese SS40 Fronte became the SS80 Alto with a 660 cc engine abroad. The Alto badge gradually took over in Japan as well, as the distinction between kei commercial vehicles and passenger cars was diminished in early 1989. The Fronte line was retired in March 1989. The Alto plate has been used on export versions of various Indian-built derivatives since the early 1990s, as neither cars are restricted by the kei rules and Indian cars are also considerably cheaper than Japanese-built ones.

Thus, the European-market models were actually:
* 1981–1984: SS40 Fronte with a 796 cc three-cylinder engine (SS80F/G).
* 1984–1994: CA/CB91 Alto/Fronte (also referred to as SB308) with the same F8B engine as the SS80.
* March 1994–2002: Maruti Zen (a wider version of the Suzuki Cervo Mode), with a 993 cc engine.
* 2002–2009: Maruti Suzuki Alto (based on the HA12 Alto), with a 1061 cc four-cylinder engine. Sold until 2012 in other markets.
* 2009–2014: Maruti Suzuki A-Star, with a 998 cc engine.

In 2014, the Suzuki Celerio replaced the Alto in Europe and many other export markets. Outside of the Japanese domestic market, the Alto badge remains used on the second generation of Indian-built Maruti Altos which is generally sold as a Suzuki in export markets.

First generation (1979)

The first generation (SS30V/40V), introduced in May 1979, is a three-door cargo version of the Fronte passenger car, equipped with a folding rear seat. Front suspension comprised coils struts, with leaf springs at the back. The steering was of the recirculating ball type, and four-wheel drums were used. On introduction, the Alto received the T5B two-stroke (SS30) three-cylinder engine, producing at 5500 rpm. The Alto was a "micro sensation" when introduced, largely due to its rock bottom price of ¥470,000 (circa $1,900 in 1979, at a time when the cheapest Ford Pinto cost $4,999 in the US). This low price was made possible by a number of Japanese special concessions for commercial vehicles: most notably, the engine was subject to less stringent emissions rules and did not require expensive twin catalysts. Two fewer doors provided another saving, as did the exemption from commodity tax. Initially, Suzuki only offered a single model to avoid additional development costs and to avoid making buyers feel short-changed by not buying more expensive variants. In spite of the relentless cost cutting, Suzuki did increase the safety standards with standard equipment not typically found in kei cars at the time, such as three-point belts in front and individually fused headlamps (so that if a fuse were to blow, one headlamp would still work).

The Alto's success changed the kei-car market, and other producers such as Subaru (with the " Family Rex") quickly followed suit with cut-price "commercial" vehicles that were really intended for private use. Suzuki was unable to keep up with demand the first few years, particularly in the home market. The Alto helped Suzuki move into seventh place in Japanese production for cars and trucks. In the last full year of production for this generation, it was still by far the best selling Kei car, with the Alto outselling the passenger-oriented Fronte at a rate of about five to two.

In May 1980, a fully automatic two-speed option was added to the Alto SS30. In January 1981, the F5A four-stroke from the Fronte was also made available for the Alto; although it only had a single-barrel carburettor, it too put out but at 6,000 rpm. Torque was considerably lower, however, down from . 1981 was also when it became available in the United Kingdom, as Suzuki began selling cars there that year.

In export markets, the Alto name was used for the passenger car versions (chassis codes with trailing letter "S") as well as on commercials (ending in "V"), while the van was marketed as the "Suzuki Hatch" in Australia. The four-doors were not proper hatchbacks, only featuring an opening rear window. Export cars were also available with twelve-inch wheels, unlike the domestic versions which only used ten-inch units until the introduction of the 4WD version in October 1983. The 4WD "Snow Liner" thus gained an extra of ground clearance. Most export Altos were passenger car versions (which used the "Fronte" badge in the Japanese domestic markets), and usually received the F8B engine and the SS80 chassis code. The 800 had better performance, and due to the higher possible gearing it saw an improved fuel mileage as well - by about ten percent according to Suzuki. The SS80 was also built in New Zealand, by South Pacific Suzuki Assemblers at a rate of six per day. It was introduced in New Zealand in March 1980.

While Suzuki held on to the two-stroke engine concept for a half decade longer than any of its Japanese competitors, eventually market pressures and ever tightening emissions regulations spelled its end in the Alto by September 1981. The Jimny, however, did use the same engine (called LJ50 in the Jimny) as late as 1987.

Between 1983 and 1986, this generation Alto was built in India as the Maruti Suzuki 800. By 1984, the 800 cc Alto/Fronte (called "FX") were introduced in Pakistan and were locally manufactured by Pak Suzuki Motors