Every time I squeeze myself inside this tiny thing, I’m reminded this isn’t just another car—it’s my daily dose of smile therapy.
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Chapter 3
Inside Out Understated Elegance
What I set out to achieve was a plush Alto interior that felt loved while being understated.
Stepping inside, the goal was a uniform, sophisticated cabin that feels as good as it looks. All plastic panels—from the door cards to the A, B and C pillar covers—were stripped, primed, and sprayed in a charcoal-grey matte finish. The flat grey really hides dust and keeps the interior feeling cool, both literally and visually.
For the seats, roof liner, and door inserts, I went with durable black Art Leather, stitched in a single row of bright yellow thread. It’s a subtle callback to the exterior without overpowering the cabin. The original factory carpet stayed in place for authenticity, but I added new model-specific mats with a reinforced heel pad to keep things tidy underfoot.
The steering was swapped for a Baleno one, it is three spoke, a bit bigger, has SUZUKI instead of a logo, the gear knob got the theme too, new stalks that came from a later model from the Maruti family with chunkier stalks, roof was wrapped in art leather as well for that uniform look and so were the sunvisors.
And the details? I hand-painted a tiny yellow “SUZUKI” on the steering wheel, swapped in aluminum pedals with yellow accents, even stitched a hint of yellow on the gearknob. It’s like wearing a tailored suit—everyone notices the fit before the color. The interior theme is a combination of Charcoal Gray, Black and Yellow. Gray formed the base, so every plastic bit that once was some shade of light gray was transformed to a uniform dark gray. The touchpoints or area that is usually touched was wrapped in art leather and where possible a hint of yellow.
The seats were a game changer, it was first decided I will work with a simple seat cover, but while executing it the better suggestion was to tear away the fabric, re-bolster and re-upholster it. So what you see are seats, not seat covers.
Each time I settle in behind the wheel, those touches remind me that this isn’t just a car—it’s a rolling canvas that reflects my personality.
Exterior Transformation: Canary Yellow Brilliance
When it came to breathing new life into my Alto, the vision was clear: a standout Canary Yellow finish that turns heads without screaming for attention.
I am going to let the pictures do the talking here. Soak in the pure thrill of this project!
Subtle Contrasts & Signature Touches
Details matter just as much as the big picture. I chose Superior White for the 13-inch alloys—a nod to classic rally livery that pops against the yellow. The front grille and window frames were refinished in gloss black, adding a modern, stealthy edge. To keep things cohesive, the spoiler, side skirts, door handles, and bumpers were all sprayed in body color, creating a seamless wraparound effect.
Up front, I painted the brake callipers in yellow for a flash of color behind the spokes, while the rear drums wear a subtle matte-black coat to balance it out. Satin-grayish silver Alto badges were painted, giving them that understated elegant look.
Every time I walk around the car, I find myself smiling at how these little flourishes tie the whole exterior together.
The joy of seeing something different, something in your own image is satisfaction guaranteed. When I look at the pictures, the humble beginnings this car has had it just makes me wonder, it looks easy at first glance, but when you spend countless hours, looking at one part at a time and imagining the outcome, then piecing the puzzle together. This is what you get! A passion project that reflects passion, joy and love for cars!
Wrapping Up
Every time I squeeze myself inside this tiny thing, I’m reminded this isn’t just another car—it’s my daily dose of smile therapy. Hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed building it.
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