Suzuki Malaysia Automobile has officially announced the arrival of CKD versions of its Swift hatchback. Now locally assembled in Pekan, Pahang, the CKD Suzuki Swift 1.4 A/T is available in two variants – GL for RM65,888 and GLX at RM73,788 (OTR prices without insurance). On the options list are a bodykit package – the same one offered on the top-spec CBU GLX-S model – for RM5,300 and metallic paint for RM500.

The move from CBU to CKD has brought in some savings (Swift GL costs nearly RM10,000 less than the imported model), though the cheaper variant is more sparsely equipped compared to the GLX-only CBU models. Identical to the imported units in specs, the CKD GLX is just a shade under RM2,000 cheaper than before.

There’s quite a gap between the two variants’ equipment lists. The GL loses out on the GLX’s passenger side airbag, steering audio controls, retractable wing mirrors with indicators, keyless go and push start button, automatic climate control and 16-inch alloy wheels. In place are a single airbag, four instead of six speakers, manual air con and 15-inch steel wheels with covers.

An unannounced but notable change is the updated colour options. The bodykit is now limited to Superior White, and not Snow White Pearl as listed before – a sign that a different colour palette is used. Suzuki has yet to update its Malaysian website to reflect these changes so the full colour chart is not available to us.

The 95 PS, 130 Nm 1.4 litre VVT engine and four-speed automatic combination remains unchanged. With a significantly lower starting price, the third-gen Suzuki Swift looks likely to be the choice of many. Will you be one of them?

The post CKD Suzuki Swift 1.4 is here – GL RM66k, GLX RM74k appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki is currently revamping it’s product line-up in face of changing markets. With Japanese youth shying away from cars in general and it recently pulling out all of its automobile products from North America, it turns to the market that everyone’s looking at right now – China.

The Suzuki Authentics Concept makes its world debut at Auto Shanghai 2013, and it is a preview of an upcoming C-segment sedan, targeted squarely at the category of cars that’s one of the most lucrative in China. It will have to go head to head against the likes of the Ford Escort, Citroen C4L, and Volkswagen Lavida when it comes out by the end of 2014.

The production version of the Suzuki Authentics will be built and distributed in China by Suzuki’s JV company Chongqing Changan Suzuki Automobile Co. It does look good in concept form, however from experience we all know how much of a concept Suzuki goes into a production car – just look at the trio of Suzuki Kizashi Concepts that were showcased before the production car was unveiled – there’s a really massive difference!

The post Shanghai 2013 Live: Suzuki Authentics Concept previews upcoming C-segment sedan appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Here’s a bizarre one from our friend Theophilus Chin. The Photoshop master took a break from his computer and went fishing at the Sri Permaisuri lake. That’s when he saw this pick-up truck style Suzuki “Swift Outback” being driven round the lake. Only the one shot as proof.

We can’t say that we know a lot about a Swift pick-up ala Proton Arena that’s coming soon, but perhaps the car was sent here for humidity and extreme weather tests – notice how it has been very hot lately with heavy evening showers?

Unique bits not found on the Swift hatchback include SUV style black body cladding around the car, skid plates and a “4X4″ emblem on the sides. Jimny hardware in a Swift?

Do you think there’s a market in Malaysia for a small car based pick-up? The Proton Arena was quite popular with small traders and businesses back in the day.

The third-gen Suzuki Swift was launched in Malaysia in January, but since then, we’ve seen spyshots of the Suzuki Swift Sport being tested by JPJ and ads for the locally-assembled regular Swift (launch batch was CBU).

The post SPIED: Suzuki Swift Outback pick-up testing in Msia appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The automotive industry is buzzing with activity! Just as we’re about to be done with the madness of having three international motorshows in one week, teasers have started to roll in for the next one.

This one’s the Suzuki Authentics concept, a teaser for a new Suzuki C-segment sedan, essentially the booted counterpart to the recently unveiled C-segment Suzuki SX4 Crossover.

Suzuki has clearly departed from it’s previous strategy in offering an SX4 Sedan that’s basically just a SX4 Crossover with a boot.

The Suzuki Athletics Concept looks pretty good and by the looks of it, it seems to have it’s own independent styling and may in the end only share an engine and platform with the SX4 Crossover.

The post Suzuki Authentics Concept to debut at Auto Shanghai appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

It looks like the CKD programme for the third-generation Suzuki Swift has begun, and the first locally-assembled units have already made their way into the showrooms. That’s certainly what an ad for the car – as seen on oto.my – suggests.

The five-door hatch was launched in Malaysia back in January, with a run of 900 Rayong-assembled CBU units being deployed for the model’s introduction, with the CKD version taking over in a couple of months, which means the timeframe is about right.

Of more interest is the price of the CKD car, which is substantially cheaper than that of the CBU model. The Thai-built Suzuki Swift went for RM77,888, on the road with insurance. Meanwhile, the oto.my ad for the CKD version prices it at RM68,000, nearly RM10k less. There’s no mention of kit or specifications in the ad, so one wonders if there are any significant changes with the locally-asssembled model.

The Swift comes in a single variant form, the GLX 1.4 VVT, with a K14B 1.4 litre variable valve timing unit offering 95 PS at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm at the heart of things.

The post Suzuki Swift: 3rd-gen CKD run begins, price lowered? appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

It looks like the new Suzuki Swift Sport will be making its local debut soon enough – the ZC32S has been spotted at JPJ Putrajaya in both manual and automatic forms, and thanks to erstwhile reader Anol Alias (who also gave us the VW Golf Mk7 TSI spyshots last month), we have photos of the cars to share with you.

The introduction of the Suzuki Swift Sport follows close on the heels of the third-gen Suzuki Swift, which was launched in January. The SSS wears the familiar 1.6 litre M16A normally-aspirated engine, which has been massaged to offer more output – 136 PS and 160 Nm to the previous 125 PS and 148 Nm.

A six-speed manual was the transmission of choice when the car made its debut in Frankfurt in 2011, but it has since been joined by a high-performance CVT with seven-step manual mode, complete with paddle shifters. The red car in the photos is the manual, and the yellow is the CVT-equipped unit, as ascertained by the shots that glimpse into the interior.

The kit list includes HID headlamps with black surrounds, the usual sports bodykit, seven airbags (including driver’s knee) and ESP; the alloys on the Malaysian-spec Suzuki Swift Sport are widely-spaced five twin-spoke units, not the five triple-spoke as seen on the Frankfurt launch vehicle.

The post SPYSHOTS: Suzuki Swift Sport seen in JPJ Putrajaya appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The Suzuki S-Cross concept-based production car that was set for a Geneva debut has turned out to be the new Suzuki SX4 after all. The second-gen compact crossover will be built in Hungary and go on sale sometime this year.

Buyers could have a 1.6 litre M16A petrol mated to five-speed manual or seven-virtual ratio CVT. Alternatively they could have a 1.6 litre turbodiesel with a six-speed manual. 2WD and 4WD versions are offered; the latter with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP, featuring four selectable driving modes.

It’s grown up, physically as well as aesthetically. Length, width, height and wheelbase are respectively 4.3 metres, 1.77 metres, 1.58 metres and 2.6 metres (outgoing car 4.14/1.76/1.57/2.5). Wheels measuring 16 or 17 inches can be specified, and the boot can hold 430 litres of luggage – a whole 160 litres more than before.

The new Suzuki SX4 also offers as an option a panoramic sunroof with double-sliding glass panels; the company says it has one of the biggest opening areas in its class.

The post Suzuki SX4 – second-gen debuts in Geneva appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Remember the Suzuki S-Cross concept from last year’s Paris show? Well, a yet-to-be-named production model based on the C-segment crossover is set to debut next month in Geneva.

From the little we can see in the darkened images, the car has bigger wing mirrors, a more conventionally-styled grille and headlamps, and a different set of wheels compared to the Paris concept. Suzuki doesn’t divulge much apart from that AWD will be offered, and that the car will have one of the largest luggage areas in the crossover segment.

As reported previously with the S-Cross concept, this will neither replace the SX4 nor Grand Vitara; it will sit between the two and compete for European sales with rivals like the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

Autocar UK reports that the new model sits on a new platform and will be manufactured at Suzuki’s plant in Hungary. There will be a choice of petrol and diesel powerplants, with the latter expected to come from Fiat through its partnership with Suzuki.

The post Suzuki S-Cross: production model for Geneva debut appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

When Suzuki unveiled the facelifted SX4 hatchback (or sport crossover if you must) some time back, we knew something was up as they hardly changed anything on it. With this China Car Times picture showing a more thoroughly-facelifted version of the car, it is now apparent that Suzuki has had bigger plans for the SX4 in mind.

The entire front half of the car looks new with redesigned lights, grille and bumper. More angular and aggressive than before, the headlamps and grille meet in intersecting lines that are angled outwards, flanked by protruding swages on the sculptured front air dam. Also new are the alloy wheels, squared off rear bumpers and what look like LED rear lamp clusters.

The new design elements at the front are reminiscent of the recently facelifted SsangYong Actyon Sports pickup, though of course we’ll leave our final judgement until the official pictures are revealed by Suzuki. To these eyes at least, the current flashy curvy front end fits the rest of the car better.

There aren’t any changes beneath the sheet metal, so you can assume that it will soldier on with the existing 1.6 litre engine and four-speed automatic gearbox. More powerful engines and a CVT transmission are available in other markets though, so nothing is cast in stone just yet.

The post Suzuki SX4 hatchback to receive a major facelift soon appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki has introduced the Swift SZ-L special edition for the UK. Based on the 1.2 litre SZ3, the car gets a rear spoiler, rear privacy glass, unique 16-inch alloys and free metallic paint in a choice of four colours to add on to the seven airbags, ESP, air-con, USB and Bluetooth already offered as standard on the SZ3 model.

The interior gets treated to red accent stitching on the steering wheel and gearshift surround (like on the Swift Sport). There’s also cruise control.

Suzuki says the 94 PS 1.2 Dual VVT engine can return a fuel consumption figure of 5.0 litres per 100 km on the combined cycle, while emitting a low 116 g of CO2 per km. The Swift SZ-L is available on the recently extended VAT-free promotion at £10,599 (RM51,600) for the three-door and £11,016 (RM53,600) for the five-door.

The third-gen Suzuki Swift received its Malaysian launch only four weeks back. We get the five-door GLX 1.4 VVT at a starting price of RM77,888, OTR with insurance.

The post Suzuki Swift SZ-L – special edition on sale in the UK appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

To get meaningful volume in Indonesia, one must have an affordable seven-seat MPV to sell, a car like the Toyota Avanza. If you don’t have it, rebadge it, and that’s what Mazda has done with this upcoming Mazda VX-1, which is based on the Suzuki Ertiga MPV.

Taken from Indonesian website detikOto, there’s not much info accompanying these pics, other than the fact that this “MPV kelas bawah” (their words, not ours) is new ground for Mazda (other MPVs in the stable include the Biante and Mazda 8) and that it will be offered with manual transmission. It remains to be seen if the VX-1 will use Suzuki’s 1.4 litre K-series engine or Mazda’s own powerplant.

First launched in India early last year, the Ertiga sits on a Suzuki SX4 platform stretched to have a long 2,740 mm wheelbase. It’s available with the abovementioned 1.4 petrol or a 1.3 litre Fiat turbodiesel with 88 hp/200 Nm. Click here for a full gallery of the Suzuki Ertiga.

The post Mazda VX-1 – Indonesian rebadge of the Suzuki Ertiga appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile has officially launched the third-generation Swift in the country. The five-door hatch arrives in CBU form, but CKD production is expected to begin in a couple of months once the initial run of 900 imported units from Thailand is accounted for.

A single version is available, this being the GLX 1.4 VVT, with the GLX-S being the same car but dressed up with a bodykit. At the heart of it all is a K14B 1.4 litre mill, with variable valve timing, offering 95 PS at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm. In comparison, the M15A 1.5 litre in the previous-gen had 101 PS and 133 Nm at an identical rpm range.

The unit is paired to a four-speed auto transmission, which features a new straight-shift pattern. The company says that the Aisin-derived gearbox isn’t a carry-over from the old car, but a redesigned unit.

While the shape doesn’t veer very much away from the tried and trusted look of the old car, the new Swift is a larger vehicle in every sense. Overall length is up from 3,755 mm on the old car to 3,850 mm, while the wheelbase is 50 mm longer, at 2,430 mm.

Width has been increased by five mm to 1,695 mm, while height is the only thing unchanged, at 1,510 mm. Both front and rear track have also been increased, by 10 mm and 15 mm respectively, to 1,480 mm and 1,485 mm.

Mechanical improvements include a newly-developed steering system offering improved response to input and a more linear feel as well as revisions to the front MacPherson/rear torsion beam suspension system, resulting in greater rigidity. The braking system now features solid rear disc brakes.

Inside, the cabin in the new car features a new black and silver colour scheme, with black key tones accented by silver details. On the equipment list are a leather-covered steering wheel, a two-DIN CD player with MP3 and USB functionality, an automatic climate control system and a keyless entry/push-start system.

Safety kit consists of dual airbags, ABS and EBD with brake assist, and the 1,000 kg vehicle rides on 16-inch multi-spoke alloys, wrapped with 185/55 series rubbers.

Five exterior colours abound, these being Snow White pearl, Mineral Grey Metallic, Super Black Pearl, Ablaze Red Pearl 2 and Boost Blue Pearl Metallic, the last two being new shades. Oh, as for the corresponding Swift Sport, that one is due in at some point, but no date has been bandied as of yet.

As previously reported, the Swift GLX 1.4 VVT is priced at RM77,888, on the road with insurance. Opting for the Suzuki dress-up pack, made up of front and rear lower lip, side skirts, rear spoiler, door sill guards, black-coloured front bumper sticker and silver-coloured grille garnish, adds RM5,300. No, Neelofa doesn’t come with the car.

The post Suzuki Swift – third-gen launched, RM78k-RM83k appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

UPDATE: Price list out, and additional details now incorporated into the story.

The Malaysian launch of the new Suzuki Swift isn’t far away now, and this sighting of a transporter full of them heralds the subcompact’s arrival on our shores. Much thanks go to reader Nelson for this shot, taken in Alam Megah.

Now in its third-generation form, the Swift is slightly longer and more rounded than before. Engines available globally include a 1.2, 1.4 and 1.6 litre petrol, as well as a 1.3 litre diesel, but the release of the official price list (thanks go to reader Fandy) confirms that we’ll be getting the 1.4 litre K14B, which offers 94 hp at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

Features for the Malaysian model include dual airbags, ABS and EBD, automatic climate control, 16-inch alloys and a keyless go/push-button start system, according to that mentioned in the price list. At point of entry, two automatic variants are available, the 1.4 GLX and higher-spec GLX-S, priced at RM77,888 and RM83,318 respectively, on-the-road with insurance.

The post SPIED: Third-gen Suzuki Swift ahead of local launch appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki’s next to join the Tokyo Auto Salon party – it’ll be displaying two Wagon R design studies at the aftermarket exhibition, both based on the recently-launched fifth generation kei car.

The Wagon R Stingray Customize you see above is based on the more upmarket Stingray version, and features big brushed alloys, unique brown paintwork, headlamps adorned with teal-coloured accents, LED strips and a road-hugging bodykit. Some suspension tweaks, too.

The one in white is based on the regular Wagon R. Called the Wagon R RR Concept, it comes with sports suspension, smoked headlamps, decals, black wheels, a bodykit and twin central tailpipes.

The Suzuki Wagon R has been the best-selling kei car in Japan since 2003.

The post Suzuki Wagon R: two concepts for Tokyo Auto Salon appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) plans to shift the production base for its small cars to India, leaving its facility in Hamamatsu, Japan to solely serve the home market, reports The Financial Express.

Its subsidiary Maruti Suzuki India’s future Gujarat factory is set to be the new export hub for the Japanese company’s entire small car range. When completed, the facility is expected to be capable of producing 1.5 million cars a year at full capacity.

“Small and large car exports from Japan have already become uncompetitive because of the appreciating yen so Suzuki is instead shifting small car production to India,” Maruti Suzuki India chairman RC Bhargava told the publication, adding that the company does not seek a reduction in import duties in any revised trade agreement with Japan.

Other reasons for the move include a highly developed component vendor base and supply chain for small cars in India, lower labour costs and the coastal location of Gujarat which makes it suitable for exports.

“We have already bought two tracts of land – 640 and 470 acres – for about Rs 450 crore and they are about 18-20 km apart. The final clearance on the first phase of Rs 4,000 crore investment is expected from the board in January, after which construction will start,” a company official told The Financial Express. Maruti plans to invest about Rs 8,000 crore in the 1,110 acre Gujarat facility.

Frost & Sullivan managing director for South Asia VG Ramakrishnan told the publication that this move would allow Suzuki to sell more products in India, such as the 600 cc kei cars it sells in Japan.

“It’s a fairly smart move for Suzuki and significant for profitability. They just have to make sure that local labour issues don’t disturb global operations later. Car companies have to make India a hub to make India work as a market – because to keep prices low at home, they have to have high volumes.”

Ramakrishnan also said the Japanese company has a huge first-mover advantage in India because of Maruti’s dependent and loyal suppliers who will invest more for the company.

The post Suzuki planning to make India its small car hub appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) unveiled the refreshed Suzuki Grand Vitara this afternoon at Empire Subang. Introduced in Japan in July this year, this is actually the third version of the third-generation Suzuki Vitara. The Grand Vitara has been around in its present form since 2005, getting a mild facelift in 2008.

This latest refresh sports a more obvious facelift than the 2008 model, with a new front bumper and grille being the main clues. Looks more premium to these eyes, especially with the new Gaia Bronze Pearl Metallic colour and new design 17-inch wheels.

No changes to the rear, which continues to have the prominent spare wheel housing that’s almost extinct these days. Another unique Vitara feature is of course the sideways-opening rear hatch.

The Vitara’s front bumper under garnish is now made of SSPP (Suzuki Super Polypropylene), which the company claims is lighter and remains unpainted to make scratches less noticable.

Inside, the Grand Vitara’s tidily arranged cabin gets new seat fabric and door inserts.

No mechanical changes other than the inclusion of what Suzuki calls “brake override system”, which was also added to the facelifted SX4. It basically gives priority to the brake pedal when both it and the accelerator pedal are depressed at the same time. So, the car will stop in a “sticky gas pedal” situation.

Otherwise, the built-in ladder frame Grand Vitara is powered by the familiar J20A 2.0 litre engine with 138 horses (not 104 PS as stated in the brochure) and 183 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, paired to a four-speed automatic gearbox.

The Grand Vitara 2WD is rather unique in having a rear-wheel drive layout, as opposed to the usual FWD. Note that the engine is mounted longitudinally as well.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara, which is imported CBU from Japan, is priced at RM121,100 on-the-road with insurance. Live gallery from the event is after the jump.

The post Suzuki Grand Vitara facelift introduced – RM121,100 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki is getting out of the car business in the USA. The company says it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation and focus on selling motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and outboard engines for boats, the Associated Press says. AP adds that the US filing is unrelated to Japan’s Suzuki.

It was reasoned that in recent years, Suzuki tried to blend the design cues of its motorcycles in its cars, like the smart looking Kizashi midsize sedan. But its marketing lacked the muscle of bigger, stronger rivals, pushing it to the margins.

Suzuki sold 21,188 cars in America so far this year, down 4.7% from a year ago, according to Autodata. The big seller was the SX4 crossover, accounting for about two-thirds of sales.

The post Suzuki exits US car business, focus on bikes, ATVs appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile Sdn Bhd recently launched its Sungai Petani showroom along with its dealer, JM Motor Trading Sdn Bhd. The facility has a meeting room, discussion room and a customer lounge, and can display up to six cars.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile managing director Keiichi Suzuki said the company’s goal in Malaysia is to upgrade and expand the sales and service network, particularly in the northern region, which is flourishing rapidly in all areas, including the automotive industry.

“We are confident that JM Motor Trading will strive to give all its customers the highest quality that is expected of Suzuki. This showroom carries a complete range of models to cater to the needs and wants of Suzuki customers in Sungai Petani and the surrounding areas,” he added.

The post Suzuki opens new showroom in Sungai Petani appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Maruti Suzuki has introduced its revised Alto 800 in India – the new car replaces the current model in the lineup, and is available in both petrol and CNG versions.

Powered by an F8D 800 cc three-cylinder mill offering 48 PS at 6,000 rpm and 69 Nm at 3,500 rpm, the company says that the new Alto 800 – which enters the lineup alongside the K10 1.0 litre version – is 15% more fuel efficient than its predecessor.

There are four variants on call, these being Standard, LX, LXi and LXi with Airbag, with prices starting from 244,000 rupees (RM14,100), which is for the baseline model.

Exterior changes include a new petal-shaped headlamps, grille and bumper, as well as a revised tailgate and rear combination lamps, all part of what the company tags a Wavefront design.

Inside, items include new utility spaces on the dash, with a new centre console offering more space for items. The Alto 800 runs on 145/80 series rubbers and 12-inch wheels.

The post Suzuki Alto 800 – upgraded model debuts in India appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

You’ve seen teaser pictures Suzuki released of its S-Cross concept, and here it is now in its detailed entirety. Uncovered at the Paris motor show, it hints at a future C-segment crossover from the company, which will be the first in a series of European model launches beginning next year.

Contrary to speculation however, this is not the new SX4 – rather, it will bridge the gap between that and the Grand Vitara and compete with the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage on the Continent.

The S-Cross measures 4.31 metres long, 1.84 metres wide and 1.6 metres tall, so it’s about the same height as the SX4 but a bit longer and wider. A 2.6 metre wheelbase is also longer than the SX4′s by 100 mm. Two- and four-wheel drive versions will be available.

The new car is for the urbanites – Suzuki says it will offer “gentle, fuel-saving driving” and “maximise the enjoyment of day-to-day tasks such as commuting or carrying children” – a clear school run contender, then. It also aims to emit the lowest CO2 and the largest luggage capacity in its segment.

All lamps are LEDs (including fog lamps) and the roof rails sit flush with the tapered roofline when not in use. A front skid plate, flared wing arches and 20-inch chrome wheels serve to toughen its overall appearance.

We do hope the production car’s going to get bigger wing mirrors than that!

The post Suzuki S-Cross crossover concept detailed in Paris appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Finally, we get to a Suzuki Ertiga trio of show vehicles that explore different possibilities with the MPV. The Japanese automaker has begun selling the seven-seater in Indonesia following its market debut in India earlier this year.

In the Indonesian market, the Ertiga is available in three trim levels, all working around a K14B 1.4 litre offering 95 PS at 6,000 rpm and 130 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

No mechanical changes for the three concepts, which are called the Luxury, Sporty and Crossover, so it’s all down to exterior bits to offer a different take on things. Each version features a distinct grille, as well as different front and rear bumper work.

Different wheel designs help the alteration further, and both the Crossover and Sport feature daytime running lights, though the array is more subdued on the Sport. No word on whether these will eventually become variants down the line, but it does showcase the dress-up potential.

The post Suzuki Ertiga – a trio of concepts showcased at IIMS appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Another teaser image of Suzuki’s S-Cross concept has come about, this time of its tail. The vehicle, which supposedly heralds a future C-segment crossover model from the brand, will be making its world debut at the Paris Motor Show at the end of this month.

Still no accompanying details on the vehicle, which is rumoured to be the next-gen SX4, and that rear teaser isn’t divulging too much either. The company promises an offering with design elements suggesting stability and solidity as well as a cutting-edge crossover look. Just a couple of weeks more and we’ll know just how cutting-edge it all is.

The post Suzuki S-Cross teased again ahead of Paris debut appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

The Suzuki Alto, also known as the Maruti A-Star in India, has been given a facelift, as this sighting by Autohome in China confirms. The mini car made its debut in India back in December 2008, so it’s about time for a refresh.

The Alto, which was introduced here by SMA in August 2010, was born with a unique face. Big, round headlamps and an open mouth gave the little Suzy a cute and/or comical appearance, which is not to all tastes. The new front end, which can be partially seen here, is much more conventionally styled, with long headlamps that stretch far into the front wing and a two-part grille.

The side profile pic shows that there’s no change in the Alto’s shape, and most likely size (3,500 mm long, 2,360 mm wheelbase), although the rubbing strips and Peugeot 508 inspired hoop-style wheels aren’t on our market’s Alto.

At the back, the refreshed Alto sports new tail lamp clusters and a new bumper, the latter featuring a diffuser-style element flanked by “vents” at the edges. This is a serious attempt at ditching the old Alto’s cute and cuddly image – like what you see?

The post Spyshots of facelifted Suzuki Alto surface in China appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Its debut confirmed for this year’s Paris Motor Show, the S-Cross concept will preview a C-segment crossover in the not-too-distant future from Suzuki.

Reports surmise that this might become the next-gen SX4, although remember, this is a concept and it may not end up looking like this after practicalities intervene.

We hope it does, though. The S-Cross embodies what the company calls an “Emotion x Quality x Aerodynamics design theme” which you can see in the dynamic waistline that starts from the front bumper, going across the length of the car to the back. The sketch divulges a rather menacing, muscular figure altogether – certainly more so than our current SX4.

Will details like the kink in the C-pillar and what looks like an Audi-esque gaping front grille make it through the production gates? Only time, and Suzuki, will tell.

The post Suzuki’s S-Cross crossover concept: the new SX4? appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile introduced the refreshed Suzuki SX4 this evening. The “Sport Crossover” gets a minor facelift that incorporates a new front grille with chrome effect, new front bumper and new 16-inch alloy wheels in a five double spoke design.

Inside, the SUV styled hatchback comes with “dark chrome” finish on the centre console and new fabric for the seats and door cards. There’s also a new “brake override” safety feature. In the case of a stuck gas pedal (both accelerator and brake pedals pressed at the same time), priority is given to the brake pedal and the car will stop. It’s rather unusual to highlight such a function, though.

No mechanical changes, so the 1,205 kg SX4 continues with the M16A engine with 110 PS and 150 Nm of torque at 3,800 rpm. The 1.6L VVT unit is paired to a four-speed automatic gearbox. In the safety department, dual airbags, ABS, EBD and Brake Assist are standard.

In terms of kit, you’ll get a factory CD/MP3 player with steering buttons and AUX-in, eight speakers, auto retractable side mirrors with indicators, 60:40 split folding rear seats, roof rails, fog lamps and a leather wrapped steering.

Available in five colours – Sunlight Copper (featured), Snow White, Star Silver, Super Black and Mineral Gray – the CBU import from Japan is priced at RM91,888 on-the-road with insurance, a slight increase from the previous RM90,001.50. There’s also a leather plus tinting Premier package for an additional RM5,000.

The post Suzuki SX4 gets a new face – CBU Japan, RM91,888 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki has just given the Suzuki Grand Vitara a cosmetic update in Japan, where it is known as the Suzuki Escudo. Changes are on the surface, but enough to give the Grand Vitara a different look. There’s a new grille, a new bumper design, small changes to the headlamp design, and new alloy wheels. The rear tyre holder has also gone missing. There is also a new colour called Brown Pearl Metallic – yet another car manufacturer has embraced brown as a vehicle colour.

I wonder if this update will eventually reach our shores – the Grand Vitara is sold here for RM120k OTR with insurance. Frankly, I think I prefer the current one sold here, as the new grille and the lack of a spare tyre mounted on the tailgate has softened the look of the SUV.

The post Suzuki Grand Vitara given small facelift in Japan appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

But it’s a bigger car than the Toyota MPV. The Ertiga measures 4,265 mm long, and has a 2,740 mm wheelbase. Both figures shade the Avanza’s 4,150 mm and 2,655 mm. The second row of seats can slide back and forth, and there are 135 litres of cargo room with all seats in place, rising to 735 litres with two rows of seats folded down.

The Ertiga also debuts a new K-Series, 1,373 cc VVT engine. This K14B unit makes 95 PS and 130 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. Indians also get a diesel option, the proven 1,248cc MultiJet engine with 90 PS and 200 Nm of torque at 1,750 rpm. Both are mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. The oil burner is claimed to be good for 20.77 km/l, over 4 km/l better than the petrol unit.

There are six trim levels in India, from the 5.89 lakh LXi (RM34,726) to 8.54 lakhs (RM50,353) for the range topping ZDi. India’s auto market leader has collected 10,000 bookings for the Ertiga in five days following the launch, so it’s a big hit. The majority of those orders were for the diesel engine, despite it being more expensive variant.

Exports to Indonesia will start next month. Is Malaysia in the plans somewhere down the line? Click here for a live gallery of the Ertiga from the Delhi Auto Expo.

The post Maruti Suzuki Ertiga launched in India – it’s a Swift MPV appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) has finally given the Suzuki Kizashi an official launch – the D-segment sedan was unveiled at the roof of Lot 10 this morning. Only one drivetrain is available here – a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with 176 hp (131 kW) and 230 Nm at 4,000 rpm.

This J24B unit is paired to a CVT gearbox with six ratios, controlled by paddle shifters. 0-100 km/h is done in 8.8 seconds and top speed is 205 km/h. We’re pleasantly surprised to see performance figures on the brochure, something not very common these days. Fitting, since the Kizashi is positioned as a sports entrant, and looks the part.

Fully imported from Japan, the Kizashi is new ground for Suzuki, both in price and type of car. Known as a small car expert, the Kizashi (translates roughly to “something great is coming” in Japanese) sees Suzuki trying its luck in a segment dominated by Japanese heavyweights and a new breed of Euro sedans coming in from VW, Peugeot and Ford. Let’s not forget that the Koreans are very much in the game, too.

However, the Kizashi is rather unique, because it’s smaller bodied compared to a Camry or Accord. The car’s length and width of 4,650 mm and 1,820 mm is only 110 mm and 65 mm more than that of a Honda Civic, and the Suzuki’s 2,700 mm wheelbase is identical to the C-segment Honda’s. So it’s clearly not for those who want the most space for money, but the proportions lend the Kizashi a compact and muscular appearance, like a proper sports sedan.

Two trim levels are sold by SMA, the SDLX and Sport. The well equipped SDLX is priced at RM147,888 and it comes with six airbags, traction control, ESP, leather seats (from Japan, not locally fitted), electric seats (10-way for driver with three memory settings), auto cruise, keyless entry and push start, ABS, EBD, BA and Hill Assist.

There’s more. Stereo with steering controls and USB, front/rear parking sensors, auto folding side mirrors, auto dimming rear view mirror, auto leveling HID headlamps with washer and 17-inch alloys are all standard on the cheaper Kizashi. Quite a list.

The Sport, which looks more menacing, is priced at RM158,188 OTR with insurance. As seen on the white car here, it adds on 18-inch rims in a sportier design, sports suspension that lowers ride height by 10 mm, a different front bumper and chrome highlights around the car. Inside, Sport trim gives you a sport leather gear knob and silver stitching on the seats and gearshift/handbrake boot.

Here’s an interesting fact. The headlights of the Kizashi are from Malaysia! A supplier from Penang supplies the headlights to Suzuki Japan, which fits it on every Kizashi it makes.

Actually, SMA worked hard to get prices down to the current level, which is very decent for a fully-loaded 2.4L CBU import from Japan. On a different note, SMA bosses let slip that the new Swift will be assembled at DRB-Hicom’s Pekan plant, but it won’t start so soon, perhaps a year from now.

The post Suzuki Kizashi is finally here – two trims, from RM147,888 appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Now, who says that reading doesn’t pay? Lee Hor San will tell you it does, and in a big way. Lee emerged as the grand prize winner in the MPH Read & Reap Contest, and walked away with a Suzuki Grand Vitara.

The contest, organised by MPH Bookstores in conjunction with its 105th anniversary, kicked off in March last year, and customers who bought a minimum of RM50 worth of books – either at MPH Bookstores outlets or through its web store – became eligible to enter it. Participants were asked to count the number of books in a given image, come out with a creative book title and a short synopsis.

Each month, one main prize winner was selected to enter the final by a panel of judges from MPH Bookstores, Suzuki Malaysia, Samsung Malaysia and an editor from a local daily. The entries of all ten finalists were eventually posted on mphonline.com and open to public voting, with points from the panel of judges determining the eventual winner.

Lee’s winning entry was titled The Lord of the Fly – An Autobiography, which was about a zipper tycoon revealing his private life and stories of living in the fastener lane. Aside from the Grand Vitara, which came courtesy of Suzuki Malaysia, Lee also took home a Samsung Wave S8500 and an i-River Cover Story. Not a bad haul in his books, eh?

The post Buying books bags avid reader a Suzuki Grand Vitara appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.

Suzuki says it plans to introduce the Ertiga compact MPV in Indonesia in the near future, with the aim of taking its annual sales volume to 100,000 units. Last year, the Japanese automaker sold 91,000 vehicles in the country.

The Ertiga, which debuted at the Delhi Auto Expo in January in its Maruti Suzuki form, will thus be sold in both Indian and Indonesian markets, with vehicles for the latter market being produced in Indonesia, quite likely from CKD kits prepared in India.

The 4.2 metre-long seven-seater will be offered in two engine variant guises, a 1.4 litre gasoline and a 1.3 litre diesel, with pricing to be announced at a later point, presumably at launch. Suzuki is aiming to make its large seating capacity, coupled with its compact size and frugally-sized engine, the main selling points for the vehicle.

The post Suzuki Ertiga MPV to be introduced in Indonesia appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.