Suzuki Straightline Archives

Volkswagen will go ahead and buy a 20-percent stake in Suzuki at a cost of $2.5 billion. VW is expected to increase its stake in the Japanese automaker. In Japan, a stake of 33 percent or more gives a shareholder effective management control over a company.

Suzuki will invest about half the proceeds from the purchase for a 2.5-percent voting stake in Volkswagen.

At a joint press conference in Tokyo, Volkswagen Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said, In partnership with Suzuki, the Volkswagen Group can take a big step forward in the compact-car segment, particularly in the emerging markets in Asia. In turn, Suzuki can benefit from our experience with efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles."

Meanwhile, Suzuki's CEO, Osamu Suzuki, responded to questions about whether Suzuki would get a German CEO sharply, "I don't want you to misunderstand: Suzuki is not becoming a 12th brand for Volkswagen. I don't want other folks telling me how to do things."

Also today, Suzuki announced it is ending its partnership with GM on the CAMI Automotive plant, which stopped building the Suzuki XL7 at the end of the 2009 model year. (The plant still builds the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain.)

IL News: Suzuki Splits With GM, Hooks Up With VW

Reuters

Categories: Auto Industry,Suzuki,Volkswagen

Auto Observer has picked up an article appearing the current print issue of CAR in which Georg Kacher makes a case that Suzuki could be in Volkswagen AG's hands by the end of the year. The draw for VW is thought to be Suzuki's production capacity in China, India, Indonesia and Thailand. India appears to be a likely candidate for Up! production.

If such a deal went through, it's thought that VW would fold up Suzuki's struggling U.S. operation post-haste. Volkswagen wouldn't want the likes of the Kizashi and SX4 competing (to whatever extent) with its own small-car offerings. Any U.S. Suzuki dealerships that happen to be in desirable areas might be transformed into Volkswagen stores.

Auto Observer

Categories: Auto Industry,Suzuki,Volkswagen

Although Suzuki has not yet made a decision on whether to bring the next-generation Suzuki Swift to the United States, we do know that this car is being engineered to meet U.S. crash standards.

It's also apparent from these spy photos taken in Europe that the new car will be significantly larger than the current Swift. Most likely, though, it's still smaller the SX4, which is based on a stretched version of the existing Swift platform architecture.

Second photo after the jump.

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Categories: Hatchbacks,Spy Photos,Suzuki

Curious whether the new 2010 Honda Accord has an optional neck massager? How about the tow rating on the Ford F-150? And what about those European cars, they're always adding some new totally nonessential technological "feature."

Now there's an easy way to find out. Our 2010 Buyer's Guide lists every model change from every manufacturer. From colors to options to full redesigns, it's all there.

2010 Buyer's Guide 

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Official pricing details on the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi were released by the company today. Base models will start at $19,734 including destination fees. The midgrade Kizashi SE model, which the company expects to sell in the highest volumes, will start at $22,234 with destination.

At the higher end of the lineup, the Kizashi GTS will go for $23,234 while the SLS will start at $25,149. Suzuki said it expects to have the Kizashi in showrooms next month.

Full Test: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  

Categories: Sedans,Suzuki

Unlike American automotive executives who travel with bodyguards, handlers and various other hangers-on, Japanese executives are considerably less pretentious, at least the Suzuki ones I saw this week.

During a tour of Suzuki's headquarters in Hamamatsu on Tuesday, we had a meeting with Takashi Nakayama, executive general manager for engineering and a member of the board of directors. Despite his high title, he was dressed in the same uniform as every other employee at the Hamamatsu plant (that's him on the left).

He entered the room unaccompanied and ate a box lunch along with everybody else. The room itself was unremarkable, as was the rest of the "executive floor" which was merely the third floor of a small building next to the factory.

Yesterday, Nakayama gave the presentation at Suzuki's press conference while the rest of the board stood at attention off to the side. Seems normal enough, but if it had been a GM or Chrysler press conference, the entire first row of seats would have been roped off for executives who would have been ushered in at the last moment after taking the time for various photo-ops.

Remember all this the next time you see an American auto executive whining about his government-adjusted compensation package. Trust me, they're doing better than most.

Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line

Categories: Auto Industry,Suzuki,Tokyo Motor Show

Although it's unassuming in appearance, the Suzuki Alto concept is actually the bigger deal of Suzuki's two world premieres at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. The Alto nameplate turns 30 this year, and in addition to its presence as four-seat kei car in Japan, Maruti builds a version of the car for the Indian market.

Suzuki calls the show car a concept, but says it's the basis for the next-generation Alto. And inside and out, this car looks ready for production. This four-passenger hatchback is 133.7 inches long and rides on a 94.4-inch wheelbase. Under the hood, there's a 658cc inline three-cylinder (a typical kei car-size engine) and it's paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This car is front-wheel-drive, but Suzuki plans to offer some form of four-wheel drive.

This latest Suzuki Alto will appear next to the original 1979 Suzuki Alto hatchback in Suzuki's booth at Tokyo.

More photos after the jump.

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Categories: Hatchbacks,Suzuki,Tokyo Motor Show

If there's a Suzuki to covet, it's the Suzuki Swift hatchback, which has earned a reputation as a poor man's Mini Cooper in Europe and Japan. Suzuki will show a plug-in hybrid version of the Swift at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show.

The most interesting thing we know about this concept car is the packaging of its lithium-ion batteries -- right down the middle of the car in the center console. This could potentially make it possible to have a pair of rear seats in the car, though that's not clear from the photos.

As the plug-in Swift is a series hybrid, there's a 658cc gasoline engine on-board to power the front-drive electric motor when the batteries run low on charge and you're not near a suitable electrical outlet. The engine apparently has a generating capacity of 40 kilowatts (54 hp). The front-drive electric motor has an output of 74 hp, according to Suzuki.

More photos after the jump.

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Categories: Concept Vehicles,Green Tech,Hatchbacks,Hybrids,Suzuki,Tokyo Motor Show

Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

We're doing something a little different this week. We've tested a 2010 Suzuki SX4 hatchback with Suzuki's new 150-hp 2.0-liter engine; it's the red car in the photo. This isn't a huge increase over the 2009 model's 143 hp, but the new engine makes a huge difference in how this car feels. Although it's hardly an apples-to-apples comparison, for some perspective, this 6-speed-manual, front-wheel-drive 2010 SX4 is over 3 seconds quicker to 60 mph and 2 seconds quicker through the quarter-mile than our 4-speed-automatic-equipped, all-wheel-drive long-term Suzuki SX4 (11.7 seconds, 18.3 seconds at 76.3 mph). Yes, both the 6-speed gearbox and the front-drive configuration for the SX4 hatchback are new for 2010 (SX4 sedans have always been front-drive).

But here's the different part. Although supplied to us by Suzuki, this 2010 SX4 has suspension, brake and tire modifications by Road Race Motorsports (RRM), plus a cold air intake and less restrictive exhaust that are likely good for a slim increase in horsepower. So this is a production car with light modifications that a typical owner could conceivably make. We've included a list with prices.

The blue SX4 in this photo is even more of a curiosity. It's called the Suzuki SX4 "Zuk," and it was originally developed as a show car for the 2008 SEMA show, borrowing aesthetic elements from Suzuki's Hayabusa and GSX-R. It has the turbo kit that RRM developed for the 2007-2009 SX4, so it's quicker than the 2010 hatch, but as you'll see from the handling numbers, the suspension mods aren't fully resolved on this car. It's also 200 pounds heavier than production SX4s, thanks largely to an elaborate rollcage fitted for aesthetic reasons (it's meant to mimic a motorcycle frame) -- yes, gotta love SEMA.

All the numbers are after the jump, along with video of the "Zuk."

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Categories: Hatchbacks,IL Track Tested,Suzuki,Tuners and Modifications

Last week a Japanese business paper reported that Suzuki was working on a hybrid version of its new Kizashi midsize sedan. According to a follow-up report in Automotive News, a Suzuki spokesman confirmed the hybrid plans but gave no timetable on its release.

The Suzuki Kizashi hybrid is expected to arrive sometime in 2011 and will most likely use GM's hybrid technology. Suzuki doesn't plan to offer a V6 version of the Kizashi.

IL News: Suzuki Hybrid in 2011

Categories: Future Vehicles,Hybrids,Sedans,Suzuki

After pictures of the 2010 Suzuki Kisashi leaked out early yesterday, the only thing left to discuss at today's official debut was the equipment under the skin.

Notable features on this new midsize sedan include standard all-wheel drive and a standard six-speed manual transmission to go along with the all-new four-cylinder engine. A continuously variable transmission will be optional and Suzuki also announced plans to release a hybrid version of the Kizashi.

In terms of size, the Kizashi is slightly smaller than a Hyundai Sonata. A wheelbase of 106.3 inches means the Kizashi is about 3 inches short of a Toyota Camry. The Suzuki is also slightly shorter in overall length, but nearly as wide as most of the sedans in the class.

Interior features will include a standard keyless ignition, Bluetooth connectivity and an optional 425 Rockford Fosgate audio system. Sales are expected to begin late this year.

Categories: Sedans,Suzuki

Well, the official unveil isn't until tomorrow, but pictures of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi are already up in the Car Lounge forum. After years of seeing one concept after another, it's great to see that Suzuki finally found a way to get this car into production. More details on it tomorrow, until then this is all we've got for you.

Car Lounge via Autoblog

Categories: Future Vehicles,Sedans,Spy Photos,Suzuki

Long-time Pikes Peak racer Nobuhiro Tajima will take the wheel of a heavily modified Suzuki SX4 Sport hatchback in the hill climb this Sunday. Tajima and his Monster Sport team have entered one Suzuki or another in the Race to the Clouds since 1989. This year he and his SX4 are competing the Unlimited class against the Ford Fiesta Rallycross cars driven by Marcus Gronholm and Andreas Eriksson.

Suzuki has released specs on the Monster Sport SX4 hatch, dubbed the SX4 Hillclimb Special, And at least on paper, this car is on equal footing with the Fiestas, which are said to be making over 800 horsepower. 

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Categories: Motorsports,Suzuki

Suzuki will expand its SX4 lineup with the addition of a Sportback model this fall. It's essentially a performance-oriented version of the current SX4 hatchback. It will feature a new 2.0-liter engine that bumps output to 150-hp and 140 pound-feet of torque.

Power will go to the front wheels through either a six-speed manual or Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The Sportback also gets a lower ride height, revised dampers, 17-inch wheels and revised front and rear fascias.

If you can't wait until the fall, Suzuki has also announced a new pre-paid gas promotion that runs through the rest of the summer. Custormers that buy a new Suzuki SX4 prior to Aug. 31st will get a debit card good for three months of free gas based on various national averages. 

Suzuki

Categories: Auto Industry,Crossovers,Hatchbacks,Suzuki

Sure, it's a camouflaged car running the 'Ring, but Suzuki released it to the media to remind everybody that plans for an all-new midsize "sport sedan" are still in the works. And nothing says sporty like the Nurburgring.  

You might remember talk of this sedan from a few months back. Shown in concept form as the Kizashi 3 at last year's New York Show, Suzuki cancelled plans to unveil the production version to conserve cash. Well, the car is still on track for production and Suzuki says it expects to have it on dealer lots by the end of this year. Expect to see an official debut within the next six months.

Categories: Future Vehicles,New York Auto Show,Sedans,Spy Photos,Suzuki