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The Maruti 800 based on the European Alto IV (SS80 in export markets) was launched in December 1983 in a four-door, two-box saloon (the tailgate opened only from the externally hinged rear window that was the access to the boot area) with a total length of 329.5cm. The car was powered by a 796cc, three-cylinder, SOHC, 6-valve, carburetted engine and had front-wheel drive. Power was 39 bhp, which though not much, still made for a respectable power-to-weight ratio because the car weighed slightly above 600kgs. The launch price was INR 47,500 making it the cheapest car at that time in India. The rivals tried to play it down on the power front, citing three cylinders to be insufficient for taking on a five-passenger load.

However, the Maruti 800 proved everyone wrong by a long margin. It was a time of licenses in India and manufacturers needed to get a license from the government on what to make and what numbers to make. This used to create a huge gap between demand and supply resulting in long waiting lists. Often waiting lists for cars would take up to three years to clear. A Maruti 800 booked in 1984-85 would be cleared only by 1987-88. The 800 soon notched up a huge waiting lists as sales boomed.

 
Maruti 800 Present

The Maruti 800, in 1983, marked the introduction of the modern automobile into the Indian passenger car market. People were awed by Japanese reliability, ease of operation, refinement and fuel efficiency - attributes that the small Indian passenger car industry, in 1983, was unable to provide.

Reasons for the success of the Maruti 800
Within a few months of its launch, the Maruti 800 became the largest selling car in India, a title it has held for every month since then, till the month of May 2004, when its stable-mate Alto led it by a few hundred units.

Like all success stories, it is difficult to point out one single factor that has been responsible for the car's success, but several factors stand out, including:

The Maruti 800 is the cheapest car in the Indian market. With India being a largely price-driven market, the 800 has become an entry point for first time car buyers. Price difference between Maruti 800 and its nearest rival used to be about INR 50,000-100,000, which is 25-50% of the 800's price.
The Maruti 800 makes an excellent entry-level car. It is good value for money and yet comes with basic amenities like air conditioning, coil-sprung rear suspension and bucket seats in the front. Indian legislation has also ensured that there are three-point seat belts all around.
Over the last twenty years the 800 has established a reputation for being trustworthy and reliable.
The Maruti 800 is simple and basic and yet sophisticated enough to meet the requirements of safety and comfort.
Maruti has the largest network of dealers in India, which means that the 800 has the widest reach.
 
Maruti 800 1997

Apart from these, the 800, being a Maruti model, enjoyed a number of benefits from the government. There were other sops too specifically for Maruti, which helped the company keep prices down for the 800. The Indian government is alleged to have curbed competition in order to promote state-owned Maruti. Consequently, several new car projects like Premier Automobiles planned tie-up with Nissan to manufacture the Sunny in the mid-80s did not receive government approval. Thus the Maruti 800 (actually up to the late 90s) did not have any real competition in the Indian market. A long period of more than 15 years without any real competition ensured that the 800's volumes stayed high, enough to amortise costs of the plants and dies used for manufacturing. This has ensured that the Maruti 800 has managed to retain its low pricing in a market where the nearest competitor, till a few months back, was priced about 50% higher.

Maruti 800: the timeline
Maruti launched the first 800 (Alto IV generation), the SS80, in the Indian market in December 1983. The car was known just as the Maruti 800 and was essentially a four-door saloon with a rear window that opened for access to the boot area. The model received a heavy facelift in 1986 with the introduction of the SB 308 body style. This new shape made the 800 into a five-door hatchback though the mechanicals remained the same including the 796cc, three-cylinder engine and the leaf-spring rear suspension. This body style continued unaltered, barring a few changes to the grille, for the next 11 years till 1997. The present Maruti 800 shape was launched in 1997. Maruti replaced the carburetion system in the 796cc engine in early 2000 with an MPFI unit to meet the Euro II emission norms. Power went up from 39bhp to 46bhp though there were no other major changes. Platform remained the same though the rear leaf spring suspension was changed to coil springs for the deluxe model. The company also offered a five-speed gearbox in the deluxe model. The 800 in this form has continued till date though the company has now withdrawn the five-speed gearbox from the range in order to push the new Alto.