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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!


Click to enlarge

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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Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire sedan unveiled in India

Maruti_Suzuki_Swift_Dzire_Sedan

The Maruti Suzuki Swift Dzire sedan has been unveiled in India, and comes with a choice of either a 1.3 liter SOHC petrol engine or a 1.3 liter Multijet DOHC common rail intercooled turbodiesel engine.

The petrol engine produces 87 bhp at 6,000rpm and 113Nm of torque at 4,500rpm, while the oil burner makes 75 horses and 190Nm of torque at 2,000rpm. Both petrol and diesel variants are available only with a 5-speed manual gearbox.

Dimension-wise the Swift Dzire sedan is longer than the Swift hatchback of course, but keeps the same wheelbase of 2390mm. The following table lists the differences between the two dimension-wise.

  Swift Swift Dzire
Length 3695mm 4160mm
Height 1510mm 1530mm
Width 1690mm 1690mm
Wheelbase 2390mm 2390mm

Boot space varies between 440 liters and 464 liters depending on trim level. The larger boot space value is available on the Lxi, Ldi, Vxi and Vdi trims, probably because of the slimmer tyre profile (165/80R14 versus 185/70R14) which means the spare tyre does not take as much space in the boot.

Safety features include ABS brakes, EBD, and dual front SRS airbags, which Maruti Suzuki claims are safety features that are not usually seen in this segment. Not all trim levels have them though. Spec level is relatively high, with some variants getting automatic climate control.

More photos after the jump.

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Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

Suzuki Kizashi Concept

This is the third Kizashi Concept to come out of Suzuki’s stables, and it was displayed at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. While the previous two Kizashi Concepts had estate bodies, this version is a sedan. Dimensions are 4650mm long, 1900mm wide, 1450mm tall and it has a wheelbase of 2800mm.

A production version is in the works, but there are no final specs yet, though Suzuki hints at a 3.6 liter DOHC V6 putting out about 300 horses or so. The engine will have plated cylinders which save weight and space, a technique that pays homage to Suzuki’s motorcycle business. The engine will be mounted at the front, and will send power to all four wheels.

See more photos and watch an animated video of the Kizashi 3 after the jump.

Related Posts:
More about the Suzuki Concept Kizashi

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Maruti Suzuki Swift DZiRE due end-March

DZiRE_Spyshot

The Maruti Suzuki Swift DZiRE is set to hit India’s shores on the 29th of this month, and a teaser site is already up online. The car is essentially a Suzuki Switch hatchback with a boot tacked on. The site has a few preview images depicting a Swift DZiRE shrouded by shadows, or just parts of the car, but look after the jump and you will find some low resolution spyshots captured from a video.

According to Maruti Suzuki, the Swift DZiRE will feature class-leading equipment that have never been offered in an entry-level sedan in India, like an integrated head unit with steering wheel audio, automatic climate control, dual SRS airbags and ABS brakes.

Related Posts:
Suzuki Swift Sedan snapped in India

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Suzuki takes up 40% stake in Suzuki Malaysia

Suzuki logoThe latest principal to enter the Malaysian market with stakeholding is Suzuki Motor, which has just acquired 40% of Suzuki Malaysia Automobile, previously a DRB-Hicom company. Suzuki will pay RM 14 million for the 40% stake, and another 20% stake will be taken up by Japanese trading form Itochu, which will pay RM 7 million. The remaining 40% is held by DRB-Hicom.

“The proposed joint venture displays Suzuki’s strong commitment to strengthen its relationship with DRB-Hicom in the marketing, distribution and assembly of Suzuki vehicles in Malaysia and to widen its product range and models in Malaysia,” said DRB-Hicom in a statement.

The new JV will be complete by end Q1 2008, and will involve subscription of new ordinary shares of RM1.00 each in SMA. SMA will issue and allot a total of 21 million new ordinary shares of RM1.00 each in SMA, through an increase in issued and paid-up capital from RM14 million to RM35 million. DRB-Hicom is expected to realise an estimated gain of RM5.2 million from the Proposed Joint Venture based on SMAs audited financial statement for the financial year ended 31 March 2007.

This could mean faster time to market for new Suzuki products in Malaysia as well as perhaps better allocation of stock to reduce waiting times.

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Suzuki Equator based on Nissan Frontier unveiled

New Suzuki Equator

The new Suzuki Equator was unveiled at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and as expected thanks to earlier leaked images and an already established relationship between Nissan and Suzuki, it is revealed that the Equator is essentially a badge-engineered Nissan Frontier, and is even built alongside the Frontier at Nissan’s Smyrna plant.

The Suzuki Equator is aimed at Suzuki bike and ATV lovers, who might want a truck with a matching badge for their vehicles. It will come in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles, and power will go to either the two rear wheels or all four wheels via a selectable 4WD system.

There are no diesel powertrain options, instead you have a 2.5 liter DOHC inline-4 putting out 152 horsepower and 232Nm of torque, or a larger 4.0 liter DOHC V6 engine with 261 horsepower and 381Nm of torque. These are both Nissan engines and they are mated to a 5-speed auto for both engines, or a 5-speed manual for the inline-4 and a 6-speed for the V6.

More shots after the jump.

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First image of Suzuki Equator pick-up truck released

Suzuki Equator
Click to enlarge

Suzuki has released an official front three quarter photo of the new Suzuki Equator pick-up truck, a badge reengineered version of the US market mid-sized second generation Nissan Frontier, built on the Nissan F-Alpha platform.

The F-Alpha ladder frame platform can be configured with either a fully independent suspension or with a rear solid axle, but as with the Frontier, the Suzuki Equator will go the solid axle way. Expect it to be powered by the same 265 horsepower 4.0 liter V6 in the Frontier.

Related Posts:
TOKYO Live: 2007 Suzuki X-HEAD Concept
Suzuki Equator: new Frontier-based pickup truck

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