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New Suzuki Alto: performance and dimensions

Suzuki Alto
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Here are more details on the Suzuki Alto, which we sort of had a look at earlier in teaser form and also as a rebadged Nissan Pixo. The new compact A-segment hatchback is targeted to sell about 60,000 units a year in Europe following its Spring 2009 launch. It’s also set to be one of the few top sellers in India under the Maruti name.

The new Suzuki Alto measures 3,500mm long, 1,600mm wide and 1,470mm tall with a wheelbase of 2,360mm. This means it is shorter, wider but lower than the Viva which has dimensions of 3,575mm x 1,475mm x 1,530mm. As for boot size, the Alto can take 129 liters with the rear bench in place and utilised.

The Alto uses a MacPherson strut suspension design at the front and what Suzuki calls a proprietary 3-link torsion beam at the rear, whatever that means. Under the hood is the inline-3 1.0 liter K10B unit that made its debut with the Suzuki Splash. It produces 68 PS at 6,000rpm and 90Nm of torque at 4,800rpm.

With a kerb weight of 910kg for the high-spec automatic version, it has a power to weight ratio of 13.38kg per PS, compared to the Viva 1.0 Premium automatic’s 13.33kg per PS. This means its performance should be very similiar to the Viva 1.0 Premium, though the VIva’s peak torque of 90Nm kicks in earlier at 3,600rpm.

Look after the jump for 3 more shots of the Alto.

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Facelifted Suzuki Grand Vitara now with 2.4L engine

Suzuki Grand Vitara

Suzuki has unveiled a facelifted version of the Suzuki Grand Vitara flagship, now available with a new larger 2.4 liter engine.

The new 2.4 liter engine produces 166 PS in the three door body and 169 PS in the five door body. The engine features a balance shaft, a three-stage variable air intake and a tumble control valve for the intake to for the best possible fuel-air mixture.

Other changes include new ventilated discs for the rear brakes, extra shock-absorbing elements at the front to reduce pedestrian injury risk, and ESP is now fitted as standard. Apparently the interior and exterior styling has received minor updates as well but they are probably so minor that other than the new wheels, I can’t seem to detect any.

Look after the jump for a photo of the 3-door body and the new interior.

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Suzuki Wagon-R launched in Japan

Suzuki Wagon-R

Suzuki has just unveiled its all-new Suzuki Wagon-R in Japan. It’s essentially the same car and model line-up as the Mazda AZ-Wagon, offering two different styling options, two engines and three choices of gearbox.

The base model is the Suzuki Wagon-R while the more upmarket racy version is the Suzuki Wagon-R Stingray, mirroring Mazda’s AZ-Wagon and AZ-Wagon Custom Style cars. You have the choice of either a 54 PS normally aspirated 660cc engine or a turbocharged 660cc offering 64 PS.

Look after the jump for more photos of the new Suzuki.

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New Suzuki Alto images released, details to come

Suzuki Alto

Suzuki has unveiled a preview of the next generation Suzuki Alto, which will make its debut at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The new Alto was shown to us in concept form as the Suzuki A-Star Concept. The new Alto will replace the best-selling Maruti Alto currently sold in Japan, but the Maruti 800 based on an even older Alto will still soldier on, repositioned with less specs and a lower price to compete with the Tata Nano.

As India is the Alto’s biggest market, the world production center for the new Suzuki Alto will be situated in Maruti Suzuki’s Manesar plant. If Suzuki Malaysia deems the Alto suitable for Malaysian consumption (Hyundai seems to think so with the recently introduced Indian-sourced i10), the Alto we get will most likely come from India.

The recent news of a free trade agreement being discussed between ASEAN and India will be good news for the i10 and the Alto if it is introduced here as it would mean less taxes for Indian imports.

One more photo of the new Suzuki Alto available after the jump, with more details to be revealed as we approach the 2008 Paris show.

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Suzuki SX4 Sedan 1.6 Auto launched in Malaysia

Suzuki SX4

After teasing us with the Suzuki SX4 Sedan’s impending introduction with various units placed in shopping malls around the country as part of a contest, Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd has unveiled the Suzuki SX4 Sedan yesterday. The car is a CBU unit fully imported from Japan and two variants are available, both with a 1.6 liter engine and automatic transmission.

The Nissan Latio is no longer alone in its game as a 1.6 liter B-segment sedan. The Suzuki SX4 sedan is powered by the same 1.6 liter VVT engine as its hatchback sibling. It puts out a rather sedate 102 PS at 5,600rpm and 140Nm of torque at 4,000rpm through the front wheels via a 4-speed automatic.

It’s a rather tall sedan with higher than usual ground clearance. The front fascia is actually inspired by a Japanese Kabuki mask, which explains its aggressive look. The addition of a boot onto the hatchback’s body results in a very impressive 515 liter boot space, probably the largest in its class. Also first in class is the inclusion of ISOFIX mounting points for child seats on the rear passenger bench and automatic climate control.

The base model comes standard with a bodykit. It features a standard CD player with MP3 capabilities, mated to an 8-speaker audio system with steering wheel audio controls. In addition to the standard ISOFIX points, there are dual SRS airbags in the front.Wheels are 15 inchers with 195/65R15 tyres and brakes are discs at the front and drums at the rear.

The standard version costs RM88,888 OTR without insurance (RM91,437 with insurance). The premium version will cost you RM96,567.50 OTR inclusive of insurance and adds window tinting, a trunk lid spoiler (the rest of the aerokit is standard), door visors and leather seats. Three colours are available - Silky Silver, Azure Grey and Black Pearl.

Related Posts:
Suzuki SX4 1.6 Hatchback Launched In Malaysia

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Nice Ze-O is based on the Changhe Ideal II

Changhe Ideal II

Only one photo of the Nice Ze-O has been released by electric car manufacturer Nice (No Internal Combustion Engine) so far, but we are able to have a preview of how it will look like by looking at the car it is based on, the Changhe Ideal II, a joint venture development between China’s Jiang Xi Changhe Automobile and Suzuki, Changhe’s partner in China.

The Changhe Ideal was designed by design firm Bertone and launched in 2003, and it received its current looks when it got a minor facelift in 2006. It comes with a choice of a 45hp 1.0, a 64hp 1.1, a 78hp 1.3 or a 90hp 1.4 liter engine but naturally these will be missing in the Nice engineered version as the Ze-O will be powered by an electric motor. The Ideal is sold outside China under various badges like Suzuki and Effa.

More photos of the car found after the jump, including of the interior.

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Suzuki SX4-FCV approved for public testing

The Suzuki SX4-FCV is a fuel cell vehicle with a 80kW fuel cell powering a 68kW (91 horsepower) electric motor with a high voltage capacitor that supports brake energy regeneration. Hydrogen is stored on board a 70MPa high pressure hydrogen tank. The SX4-FCV can go up to an estimated range of 250km, and has a top speed of 150km/h.

It has just gotten approval from the Japanese government to test it on public roads, so this makes it Suzuki’s fourth fuel cell test vehicle, with the other three being the Suzuki MR Wagon-FCV, the Suzuki Wagon R-FCV and another updated Suzuki MR Wagon-FCV.

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Suzuki SX4 Sedan spotted in Malaysia!


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A Suzuki SX4 Sedan was spotted in The Curve, Mutiara Damansara displayed as a prize for some contest organised by Metrojaya and Citibank, if I’m not mistaken. Did not particularly pay much attention to the poster near the car as I was too busy snapping photos of the car itself.

The SX4 Sedan is another of those new-fangled small B-segment hatches turned into sedans. This particular execution looks either like a hit or miss depending on what angle you look at. At some angles you start to praise what a good job Suzuki has done tacking on a boot to a hatch, and a very tall one at that, but at some angles the rear starts to look too narrow and tall and that is made worse with the window profile that slopes upwards at a noticeably steep degree of angle.

Expect the Suzuki SX4 Sedan to be making a debut in our local market very very soon since it is already offered as a contest prize. Word is that it will be offered as a CKD.

Look after the jump for more photos with different angles of the Suzuki SX4 Sedan.

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Next generation Suzuki Alto(?) spotted in India

Suzuki A-Star

Remember that aggressive metallic dark silver concept car from Suzuki that we saw at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show this year? It was called the Suzuki A-Star Concept and word is that it previews the next generation Suzuki Alto, an important car for the Indian market.

A forumer at Team-BHP found these photos on the Orkut social network, which depicts a production version of the A-Star Concept on Indian roads.

While the overall shape including headlamp outline and etc stays true to the concept, it has lost much of its aggressiveness, instead taking on a much more cutesy look typical of A-segment cars. The rear end design is also much more realistic than the concept version, which only featured thin Nike logo-shaped slits on each side.

View more spyshots after the jump.

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Suzuki SX4 WRC Edition

Suzuki SX4 WRC Edition

Suzuki has unveiled a special 500-unit run of the Suzuki SX4 for the German market called the Suzuki SX4 WRC Edition, nevermind that there’s nothing WRC about the special edition other than the stickers on the outside.

The Suzuki SX4 WRC Edition features a bodykit, rally-ish decal stickers, rally-ish 16 inch wheels wrapped with 205/60R16 tyres, and a mesh grille. On the inside you get carbon-lookalike trim, a leather shift knob, and keyless entry and start.

A follow-up post with details on the rear SX4 rally car is coming up, but for the moment view more photos of the Suzuki SX4 WRC Edition after the jump.

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