Suzuki | Car Advice

2010 Suzuki Swift prototype spied

July 3rd, 2009 2 Comments

This next generation prototype is already living up to its ‘Swift’ namesake with Suzuki’s latest little model spied during skidpan handling tests.

Due to make its official debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, as Suzuki’s best-selling model globally the new version is expected to be Swift by name and Swift by nature.

Suzuki CEO had no contact on VW stake

June 30th, 2009 9 Comments

The head of Suzuki said he has had no contact with Volkswagen regarding a 10 per cent stake in the company as was reported in German newspaper Manager Magazine last week.

The report claimed Volkswagen was exploring a deal to cooperate with Suzuki to boost its presence in ultra-small cars.

Volkswagen to consider Suzuki alliance

June 26th, 2009 23 Comments

A report this morning from Manager Magazine, in Germany, says Volkswagen is investigating the possibility of an alliance with Suzuki in ultra small car development and production.

It has been reported that the German manufacturer could initially take a 10 per cent stake in the Japanese car and motorcycle company.

Suzuki Alto achieves four-star ANCAP rating

June 15th, 2009 16 Comments

The sub-light Suzuki Alto has achieved an impressive four-star ANCAP rating ahead of its August 1 sales debut.

Alto offers six airbags as standard and also offers the availability of ESP on its higher specification model.

New small cars widen safety choice for buyers

May 27th, 2009 33 Comments

EuroNCAP, the organisation that assesses the safety of new cars, today releases the results for six new cars. Five out of the six cars received EuroNCAP’s maximum five star award.

EuroNCAP is pleased to note that a number of less expensive cars were among these high performers. In these economically challenging times, consumers who wish to downsize their cars can still place safety at the top of their wish list.

EuroNCAP’s top scorers with five star results are the Audi Q5, Honda Jazz, Hyundai i20, Kia Soul and Peugeot 3008. Of these, all but the Q5 are superminis or small cars. Another small car, the Suzuki Alto scored three stars, its rating limited by its performance in adult occupant protection, child protection and safety assistance technologies.

In response to EuroNCAP’s new rating scheme Suzuki has now made ESC at least optional on all Alto variants. In contrast the Audi Q5, the Kia Soul and the Peugeot 3008 have ESC as standard equipment throughout the model range.

“At the heart of the new Rating Scheme is the objective to offer consumers a full picture of a car’s overall safety performance. EuroNCAP is now able to emphasise the importance of new safety technologies that assist a vehicle’s behaviour before an accident regardless of its size,” says Michiel van Ratingen, Secretary General of EuroNCAP. “EuroNCAP is also considering a wider range of future important technologies and driver assistance systems. Many claim that the weight and size of a car is the only criteria for safety. We believe that there are other aspects of safety that are just as important. The smaller cars we tested whose results are released today show that size should not stand in the way of all-round safety.”

EuroNCAP commended the Honda Jazz and the Hyundai i20 for their impressive pedestrian scores that not only meet current requirements, but also meet EuroNCAP’s future requirements.

Seats from the Kia Soul achieved a good result in the programme’s whiplash testing, again revealing that it is not only larger or expensive cars that achieve impressive results in safety.

From 2009, EuroNCAP’s new overall rating covers Adult Occupant Protection, Child Occupant Protection, Pedestrian Protection and a new area of assessment: Safety Assist. Under the new testing regime, vehicles are awarded a single overall score from one to five stars.

The assessment incorporates all previous aspects and includes the recently introduced Rear Impact (whiplash) tests. In addition, the availability of ESC and speed limitation devices is considered.

The overall rating is based on the car’s performance in each of the four main areas and the scores are weighted with respect to each other.

Over the next three years, stricter requirements will be introduced increasing the emphasis on all-round safety performance and demanding higher levels of achievement in each area.

Source: EuroNCAP

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Suzuki Swift Limited Edition released

March 23rd, 2009 13 Comments

To celebrate Suzuki’s 100th birthday a limited edition Swift will be released in Australia.

The Swift LE is equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, keyless start, climate control air-conditioning, Alcantara interior trim, fog lamps, side mirror-mounted indicators, remote folding side mirrors, unique interior trim and 100th Anniversary badging.

Suzuki celebrates 100 years

March 12th, 2009 9 Comments

Suzuki today celebrates it’s 100th birthday, and I’ve gotta say, for 100 years of age Suzuki looks pretty good.

Having built itself on providing excellent value for money and exceptional reliability, the Suzuki brand has grown to incorporate cars, motorcycles, 4WDs and marine products while also boasting a string of motor racing successes, and is now one of the world’s top ten largest automotive brands.

Built on humble beginnings in 1909, Suzuki was founded by Michio Suzuki as a loom company on the small seacoast village of Hamamatsu, Japan, building weaving looms for the country’s silk industry. The company quickly diversified.

By 1939 Suzuki had completed several compact car prototypes which were powered by then-innovative liquid cooled, four stroke, sub-800cc four cylinder engines. These early engines featured a cast aluminium crankcase and generted around 10kW.

After the war Suzuki again made looms for a time until the country was faced with a need for affordable, reliable personal transportation. A number of Suzuki’s competitors were offering ‘clip-on’ petrol engines that could be attached to a bicycle, from this basic idea came Suzuki’s first two-wheel effort, a motorised bicycle called the Power Free.

Designed to be inexpensive and simple to build and maintain, the 1952 Power Free featured a 36cc two-stroke engine and an ingenious double sprocket gear system which was an unprecedented feature for its time.

The gear system enabled the rider to either pedal with the engine assisting, pedal without engine assist, or simply disconnect the pedals and run on engine power alone. From this invention the patent office of the new Japanese democratic government granted Suzuki a financial subsidy to continue research in motorcycle engineering and so the Suzuki Motor Corporation was born.

By 1954, Suzuki was producing 6,000 motorcycles per month and by 1955 Michio had created an even more successful automobile – the 1955 Suzulight. Advanced for its time, the Suzulight included front-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.

In 1957, Michio stepped down after nearly 50 years at the helm, handing over the reigns to son-in-law Shunzo who adopted his wife’s surname.

Over the next decade Suzuki continued to develop its motorcycle range began to export its wares overseas. Australia was one of the first countries to import Suzukis (motorcycles) in 1960.

The first compact 4×4, known as the LJ10, was introduced in 1968 and was to become a staple formula of the Suzuki model range right up to this very day. The original compact 4×4 was powered by a tiny 360cc two-stroke engine developing just 18kW.

In spite of the lack of mechanical power, the combination of a lightweight body, compact dimensions and full-time 4×4 gearing made the LJ10 an exceptional performer in tough, off-road conditions, and a natural choice for the Australian market.

By 1974 the LJ20 had made its official Australian debut at the 1974 Melbourne Motor Show. It quickly garnered a legion of fans, with its exceptional value for money and ability to leave bigger, more expensive 4WDs in its wake.

It was upgraded in 1978 by the LJ80, now boasting an 800cc four-cylinder engine, and a ute variant designated LJ81 (known as the Stockman). That same year Jitsujiro took over as chairman of the company, with Osamu Suzuki promoted to the president’s role.

Suzuki Australia was incorporated in 1980, as a motorcycle and marine product distributor, responsible for importing, marketing and selling the growing Suzuki range. In 1988 the Vitara was launched and quickly became a success here in Australia.

Built on a new platform and boasting more room and power than its Sierra sibling, the Vitara had a ladder frame chassis and dual range gearing.

Throughout the years the Suzuki range continued to grow, including cult favourites such as the Swift GTi and the Cappuccino, and perennial favourites such as the Grand Vitara and current Swift.

Since 2004, Suzuki has grown exponentially in Australia, to be the fastest growing brand in the country. Sales have increased 200 per cent, with the company on track to record its seventh successive record sales year in 2009.

The CarAdvice team wishes Suzuki many more happy returns.

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Kia wins UK Car Maker of the Year

March 6th, 2009 5 Comments

The UK’s leading motor trade magazine, AM, has named Korean carmaker Kia as its “Car Maker of the Year”.

Praising Kia for its increasingly strong relationship with its dealers and for its clear strategy, the awards were judged by a panel of industry experts and analysts headed by AM editor Stephen Briers.

2009 Suzuki Alto at MIMS

February 27th, 2009 5 Comments

Suzuki Australia today unveiled the all-new Alto at the Melbourne International Motor Show.

Set to join the Suzuki line-up later this year, the smallest member of the Suzuki family boasts fuel economy figures of 4.4-litres per 100km with CO2 emissions of just 103 grams per kilometre.

2009 Suzuki Alto on show at Geneva

February 12th, 2009 1 Comment

Suzuki will use this year’s Geneva International Motor Show to present the next steps in its eco strategy and its commitment to offer technologically advanced, yet affordable eco-friendly vehicles to customers.

Among the range, the all-new Alto (pictured above) will be introduced to European markets. This new city car has been developed with eco-friendly urban motoring in mind, delivering low CO2 emissions of 103g/km and high fuel economy of 4.4-litres per 100km combined.

Suzuki sets new production record

February 2nd, 2009 6 Comments

Suzuki set itself a new record for global car production last year with a total figure of 2,623,788 units.

With many manufacturers scoring record low figures last year Suzuki actually saw a two per cent increase in production over its 2007 figures with plants outside of Japan contributing to more than 50 per cent of total production for the brand.