Maruti's new kid

After a successful growth story of its Swift diesel version, country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is all set to launch its next generation compact car 'A-Star', to take on the popular Hyundai i10, by mid-November.The five-door hatch back car will have a newly developed Euro V-compliant 1.0 litre petrol engine."We plan to launch the car on November 19," a senior Maruti Suzuki official said.The car, which is the 4th global product after Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4 by Maruti, will sport a brand new 1 liter (998 cc) engine. A-Star not only resembles the i10 in looks but also in power and performance.Its K10B engine delivers 67 PS (power) at 6200 revolutions per minute (rpm) and 90 Nm (torque) at 3500 rpm.However, A-Star's USP will be its best-in-the-class economy put at 19.59 kilometer per liter. The car will come with a fuel economy certificate even though it will be mandatory for carmakers to give the certificate only from January.To be priced just over Wagon-R as another of Maruti Suzuki product 'Splash', which is likely to be launched early next year, could be placed just below Swift.