Maruti 800

{{Refimprove|date=March 2009}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Maruti Suzuki 800 | image = MHV Maruti Suzuki 800 01.jpg | caption = Maruti Suzuki 800, the model after the 2003 upgrade | manufacturer = Maruti Suzuki | aka = Suzuki Alto Suzuki Mehran (Pakistan) Suzuki Maruti (Export) Suzuki Alto Spirit (Europe) | production = 1983–2014 | assembly = India: Haryana, Gurgaon | class = City car | body_style = 5-door hatchback | layout = Front-engine, front-wheel-drive | engine = {{Unbulleted list | '''Gasoline:''' | 796 cc ''F8B'' I3 (1983-2014) | 796 cc ''F8D'' I3 (2000-2003) }} | wheelbase = {{convert|2175|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} | length = {{convert|3335|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} | width = {{convert|1440|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} | transmission = 4-Speed Manual 3-Speed Automatic 5-Speed Manual | successor = Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 | weight = {{convert|620-655|kg|0|abbr=on}} | related = Suzuki Fronte | height = {{convert|1405|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} }}

The '''Maruti Suzuki 800''' is a city car that was manufactured by Maruti Suzuki in India from 1983 to 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.livemint.com/Companies/bUcUvv3llyvnwSi4ZUX5BK/Maruti-Suzuki-stops-production-of-Maruti-800.html|title=Maruti Suzuki stops production of iconic 800|publisher=livemint.com |date=7 February 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231223053401/https://www.livemint.com/Companies/bUcUvv3llyvnwSi4ZUX5BK/Maruti-Suzuki-stops-production-of-Maruti-800.html | archive-date = 2023-12-23 | first = Yogendra | last = Kalavalapalli }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-14 |title=This Day in History! Birth of Iconic Maruti 800: Rs 47,000 ‘people’s car’ scripted India’s ace carmaker’s success |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/car-news/this-day-in-history-birth-of-iconic-maruti-800-rs-47000-peoples-car-scripted-indias-ace-carmakers-success-esteem-alto-vitara-brezza-gypsy-journey-indira-gandhi/2149691/ |access-date=2025-06-17 |website=Financialexpress |language=en}}</ref> The first generation (SS80) was based on the 1979 Suzuki Alto and had an 800 cc F8B engine, hence the moniker. Widely regarded as the most influential automobile in India, about 2.87 million 800s were produced during its course of which 2.66 million were sold in India itself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/autos/htauto-topstories/maruti-bids-quite-farewell-to-the-maruti-800/article1-1181827.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208094341/http://www.hindustantimes.com/autos/htauto-topstories/maruti-bids-quite-farewell-to-the-maruti-800/article1-1181827.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 February 2014 |title=End of the road for India's beloved Maruti 800 |publisher=HT|date=8 February 2012 |access-date=9 February 2012}}</ref>

Produced for 31 years, the Maruti Suzuki 800 remains the second longest production car in India, second only to the Hindustan Ambassador.

==Origins==

Sanjay Gandhi tried his hand at the car business unsuccessfully before his tragic death in 1980. His mother Indira Gandhi wanted to fulfill Sanjay's dream of an indigenous people's car and formed Maruti Udyog Ltd a year later. A joint venture agreement was signed with Suzuki on 2 October 1982.<ref>{{cite web| title=The car that sparked India's automobile revolution|publisher=Hindustan Times|author=Hormazd Sorabjee|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/the-car-that-sparked-india-s-automobile-revolution-101702907918333-.html|date=18 December 2023|access-date=14 October 2024}}</ref>

==History== thumb|left|First generation Maruti Suzuki 800 DX In the 1980s and early 1990s, the name "Maruti" was synonymous with the Maruti Suzuki 800. It remained the best-selling car in India until 2004, when the Maruti Suzuki Alto<ref>{{cite web| title=Maruti 800 price, Maruti 800 Reviews |publisher=CarGallery.in |url=http://www.cargallery.in/newcars/maruti-800-review-and-maruti-800-price/ |access-date=20 November 2009}}</ref> took the title. It was also exported to a number of countries in South Asia including Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and was also available in Morocco and selected European markets, often sold as the Suzuki Maruti. In an elaborate ceremony held in New Delhi on 14 December 1983, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi handed over the keys of the very first car to Mr. Harpal Singh (S/O Haridas Singh), who won the ownership rights through a lucky draw. The original 800 was based on the Suzuki Fronte SS80, but a modernized aerodynamic version using the body of the second-generation Alto (SB308) was presented in late 1986. The introduction of this car revolutionized the automotive industry in India. From its inception, it was considered as the first affordable people's car, the first modern era front wheel drive and high speed small contemporary vehicle, and the only reasonably modern car available in India, the incumbent mainstay Hindustan Ambassador and Premier Padmini being based on long-obsolete 1950s designs. The delivery was against bookings done directly with Maruti Udyog Limited (A Govt. of India undertaking). The prospective owner would then have to wait for almost three years after booking till delivery. Such extended waiting times gave rise to some people indulging into black marketing and earning premiums as much as 40%. Cars produced during the early years were essentially Suzuki OEM components imported from Japan and merely assembled by Maruti Udyog Limited at the Gurgaon plant.

right|thumb|A left hand drive second gen Maruti Suzuki 800 with the 1995-1997 grille.

Exports to neighboring countries commenced in 1987, and were followed by a shipment of 500 cars to Hungary, with the first car arriving on 24 October 1987.<ref name=Mstory113>{{cite book | title = The Maruti Story | publisher = Collins Business | location = Noida, India | first1 = R. C. | last1 = Bhargava | author2 = Seetha | isbn = 9788172237806 | date = 2010 | page = 111 | ref = MStory }}</ref> Soon, exports to Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia followed, two other markets with less restrictive homologation requirements than Western Europe. After successes there, and in spite of Suzuki's objections, Maruti Suzuki tackled more competitive markets and entered France in 1989, the Netherlands in 1990, followed by England, Malta, and Italy.<ref name=Mstory115>Bhargava, pp. 115–116</ref> In markets where Japanese cars had a quota, the 800 was sold as a Maruti, with all mention of Suzuki carefully removed – even the user manuals were revised, so as not to fall afoul of the quota requirements.<ref name=Mstory115/> The 800 continued to be sold in Italy and other Western European markets until 2004, when it no longer met emissions and safety requirements.<ref name=Mstory116>Bhargava, pp. 116–117</ref> The Maruti Suzuki had never been equipped with seat belts until exports began, meaning that such parts originally had to be imported from Japan to be fitted to export market cars, as with everything relating to building left-hand-drive cars.<ref name=Mstory113/> The Maruti also got its first catalytic converter to meet European requirements. The cleaner {{convert|35|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}} version first arrived in August 1992 and was originally reserved for Europe.<ref name=TAM94>{{Cite book | title = Quattroruote: Tutte le Auto del Mondo 1994 | publisher = Editoriale Domus S.p.A | date = 1994 | ref = TAM94 | language = it | page = 265 | location = Milano }}</ref>

Suzuki in Japan wanted to end production of the 800 and replace it with the Maruti Suzuki Zen. In 1993 Suzuki royalties for the 800 would end, meaning Maruti Suzuki had no incentive to keep making the car. In the end, a compromise was reached where Suzuki would continue to get a small royalty and they agreed to make small improvements to keep the 800 relevant in the market. The first major update was in 1997 with new headlamps, front and rear bumpers, a new dashboard and the steering wheel from the Zen. In 2000, the engine got fuel injection with 4 valves per cylinder. This gave more power (46HP/35kW) and also meant it met new Euro II emissions standards.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUzMzXzyxs | title=Maruti 800 - Peoples Car of India | Gone but Not Forgotten - Episode 4 | 2021 | evo India | website=YouTube | date=12 August 2021 }}</ref>

== Phase-out== Maruti Suzuki had begun a phase-out of the 800 beginning in April 2010, as they did not have plans to upgrade it to Euro IV or BS IV emission norms, instead choosing to replace it with the second generation Alto 800 in India. Starting in April 2010, Maruti halted sales of the car in 13 major cities: the four metros of Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and 9 other cities including Kanpur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Agra and Surat, where the law made it mandatory for the vehicles sold to be Euro IV compliant.

Another reason cited was the relatively outdated model's declining sales. Maruti Suzuki 800 sales were down by 3.7% in April 2010, when compared with April 2009. Total sales of Maruti Suzuki 800 was 33028 for the period April 2009 to March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maruti suzuki to sales in April 2010 |url=http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-Suzuki-sales-in-April-2010.aspx |access-date=10 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511192849/http://www.marutisuzuki.com/Maruti-Suzuki-sales-in-April-2010.aspx |archive-date=11 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Indian Automobile industry is the seventh largest in the world, with an annual production of over 4 million vehicles and exports of about 600,000.<ref>{{cite web |title = SIAM statistics |publisher = SIAM |url = http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/industrystatistics.aspxl |access-date = 10 August 2014 |archive-date = 21 August 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190821094249/http://www.siamindia.com/scripts/industrystatistics.aspxl |url-status = dead }}</ref> In 2009, India emerged as Asia's fourth largest exporter of automobiles, behind Japan, South Korea and Thailand.<ref name="bloomberg1">{{cite web|last=Nair |first=Vipin V. |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aO9LxvSmKTzE |title=Suzuki, Hyundai's Indian Car Exports Beat China's |publisher=Bloomberg.com |date=7 September 2009 |access-date=1 September 2010}}</ref>

thumb|Rear view of an export spec Maruti Suzuki 800 in Italy with a rear wiper and rear foglamp. The last Maruti Suzuki 800 rolled off the production line on 18 January 2014.

==Changes== thumb|First Facelift (second gen) – A Feb 1987 model of Maruti Suzuki 800 (bottle green) in India thumb|First facelift (second gen) - A 1994 Maruti 800 in Meadow Green, the final year for the horizontal slat grille. thumb|Side/rear view of Maruti Suzuki 800 SB308 (second gen) in India|left thumb|A 2000 Maruti 800 5 Speed in Metallic Exotique Green thumb|5 Speed 12 Valve MPI Decal|left thumb|Milky White Type 1 vs California Gold Type 2

After a full model change in 1986, the 800 underwent some minor facelifts but overall it still remained similar as it was on introduction. The car produces approximately {{convert|37|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=}} and runs on 12-inch wheels. Kerb weight is {{convert|650|kg|lb|0|abbr=}} and it can seat five passengers including the driver. Maruti Suzuki had earlier launched a version with a twelve-valve version of the engine producing {{convert|45|bhp|kW PS|0|abbr=on}} and coupled with a five-speed manual transmission (currently found in the Suzuki Alto), but discontinued it after a couple of years. The second generation Maruti Suzuki 800 that was produced from 1986 to 1997 underwent some changes in its appearance. The original grille that was introduced in 1986 was a horizontal slat grille with 'Maruti 800' monogram at the right hand corner. This grille was replaced by a mesh grille with the Maruti Logo on the centre in October 1994. Also, the bonnet opener that was placed on the bonnet was replaced by an ejection button inside of the car. The hubcaps were also changed from the shiny silver ones to plastic ones. Several new colours were also introduced, such as Maruti Green, St Germaine Red, Pearl White, and Neptune Blue.

thumb|Maruti Suzuki 800 in Europe. Rear view of facelifted 800, with a reshaped trunk lid and taillights, and license plate moved down into the bumper A Euro III emission-compliant version of the car was released in 2005 to meet Indian emissions regulations. An LPG version of the vehicle was also released in 2008. As of September 2009, the company has yet to reach a decision regarding the manufacture of a Euro IV-compliant version of the vehicle because it would increase the retail price. However even stricter emissions regulations which came into effect by April 2010, would mandate Euro IV compliance in major Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore and 2015–2016 for the remainder of the country. By 2005, Maruti Suzuki had planned to phase out the 800 around 2010, but it was still on sale in October 2011.<ref name="hindu_bl">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/26/stories/2005012602240200.htm|title=New-look Maruti 800 to cost more; Euro III version being rolled out|publisher=Hindu Business Line|access-date=2 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116171944/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/01/26/stories/2005012602240200.htm|archive-date=16 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="financialexpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/maruti-mulls-smarter-greener-800/518914/|title=Maruti mulls smarter, greener 800|access-date=24 October 2009|work=financialexpress.com|date=19 September 2009 }}</ref> Its main competitor is the less expensive Tata Nano (123,000 compared to 184,641 rupees) which has an 8 percent smaller exterior size and a noisier engine with less torque. In 2011, Maruti Suzuki declared it would relaunch the 800 with a new version compliant with Euro IV emission norms to tap into the small car market and compete with the Tata Nano. However, Maruti Suzuki later decided to phase out the model instead as it was not deemed feasible.<ref>{{cite web |author=Sirish |title=Tata Nano First Drive at Overdrive |date=23 March 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr19m8tRZ4g |publisher=Overdrive |access-date=24 March 2009}}</ref>

==Technical specifications==

===Dimensions and weights=== *Front track width: 1215 mm (47.835 in) *Rear track width: 1200 mm (47.244 in) *Ground clearance: {{Convert|160|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} *Gross vehicle weight: {{Convert|1000|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

===Capacities=== *Seating capacity: 5 passengers *Fuel tank capacity: {{Convert|28|L|usgal|abbr=on}} *Engine oil: ~1.5L including oil filter *Transmission oil: ~2.1L *Coolant: 2L *Windscreen Washer Fluid: 1.75L

===Engine===

The 800 is equipped with a {{convert|796|cc|cuin|0|abbr=on}} Inline 3-cylinder 4-stroke petrol engine from the Suzuki F family. It features 2 valves per cylinder with a single overhead cam, and 8.7:1 compression ratio. The original engine option was the carbureted F8B engine, which later was offered in MPFI form. The updated 4 valve per cylinder F8D MPFI was introduced concurrently with the Alto in 2000 to comply with BSES and was able to achieve up to the BSIII standard. An LPG version of the F8B was later offered as it complied with BSIII standards.

{| class="wikitable" |- ! !! Power !! Torque !! Valves !! Year of production ! |- | F8B Carb || {{convert|39.5|hp|kW}} @5500rpm ||{{convert|58|Nm|lbft|abbr=on}} — || rowspan="3" | 6 | 1983-2003 |- | F8B MPFI || {{convert|37|hp|kW}} @5500rpm || {{convert|59|Nm|lbft|abbr=on}} @2500rpm | 2000-2014 |- | F8B MPFI LPG || {{convert|35.5|hp|kW}} @5000rpm || {{convert|57|Nm|lbft|abbr=on}} @2500rpm | 2008-2014 |- | F8D MPFI || {{convert|47|hp|kW}} @6200rpm || {{convert|62|Nm|lbft|abbr=on}} @3000rpm|| 12 || 2000-2003 | |}

==== Transmission ==== The original F8B engine was offered with a 4-speed manual, and later an optional 3-speed automatic. The updated F8D engine was offered exclusively with a 5-speed manual transmission borrowed from the Maruti 1000/Esteem. All models are front wheel drive.

==== Performance ==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Engine !! Transmission !! Top Speed !! 0-100 km/h |- | F8B Carb/MPFI|| 4-Speed Manual || {{convert|144|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=preunit|+}} || 12 sec |- | F8B Carb || 3-Speed Automatic || {{convert|137|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=preunit|+}} || 20 sec |- | F8D MPFI || 5-Speed Manual || {{convert|150|km/h|mph|abbr=on|disp=preunit|+}} || 14.5 sec |}

==== Fuel economy ==== *Mileage highway: {{convert|20|km/L|L/100 km mpgus|abbr=on}} *Mileage city: {{convert|16.2|km/L|L/100 km mpgus|abbr=on}} *Mileage overall: {{convert|20.9|km/L|L/100 km mpgus|abbr=on}}

===Suspension=== *Front suspension: MacPherson strut with coil spring *Rear suspension: Rigid Axle with Coil/Leaf spring and Gas-filled Shock Absorbers

===Steering=== *Steering type: Rack and pinion (Without Power Steering) *Minimum turning radius: {{Convert|4.42|m|ft|1|abbr=on}}

===Brakes=== * Front brakes: Solid Disc * Rear brakes: Leading Trailing Drum * Brake mechanism: Hydraulic, power brakes in 5 speed and mpfi 4 speed

===Wheels and tyres=== * Tyres (radial optional): 145/70(R) 12

==See also== * Maruti Suzuki Alto * Maruti Suzuki Zen

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Maruti 800}} *[http://www.marutisuzuki.com/alto800.aspx Maruti 800]

Category:Cars introduced in 1983 Category:Cars discontinued in 2014 Category:1990s cars Category:2000s cars Category:2010s cars 800 Category:City cars Category:First car made by manufacturer Category:OEM Suzuki vehicles Category:Vehicles introduced in 1983 Category:Subcompact cars Category:Cars of India Category:1980s cars Category:Front-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Economy of India