Archive for Suzuki

OCT 2008 UPDATE: Suzuki Grand Vitara facelift launched in Malaysia

The Suzuki Grand Vitara is now available fully imported from Japan by Suzuki Malaysia at an amazing price of RM109,900, on the road without insurance. Colours available are Bluish Black Pearl, Graphite Grey, Pearl White, Silky Silver, and Azure Grey.

Features include a 2.0 liter DOHC J20A engine that produces 138 horsepower at 5,900rpm and 183Nm of torque at 4,300rpm, mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox. Brakes are ventilated discs at the front and drums at the rear with anti-lock capabilities.

The Grand Vitara is constructed using a monocoque construction but includes what Suzuki calls a “built in ladder frame” to improve rigidity. This so-called ladder frame is actually additional reinforcement for the body structure comprising of two longitudinal elements running the length of the body, with six cross members and two parallel longitudinal elements running in the outer sills. The suspension system uses the common MacPherson strut setup at the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear.

Other than ABS, Brake Assist and EBD, other safety features include head-impact protection built into all pillars and upper interior surfaces as well as dual SRS airbags for the driver and front passenger. This model uses a 2WD drivetrain.

There are two optional accessories packages that you can add if you like: one is a RM5,000 package that includes leather seats (standard seats are cloth) and V-Kool tinting, and the other is a carnavi Car Navigation System for RM6,888.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki Grand Vitara for RM109,900

[ UPDATE: The Suzuki SX4 1.6 automatic has been launched in Malaysia! Click here for more details, specifications, photos and most importantly PRICES! ]

Reader Akmal spotted this little hatchback at the JPJ Putrajaya building. Although the photo is blur - probably as a result of a phone with no autofocus - from the rear you can make out that this is a Suzuki SX4 hatchback, which probably means we will be getting a fourth Suzuki model in Malaysia soon. The SX4 will be joining the existing ranks of the Swift, Grand Vitara and the APV.

Suzuki Malaysia is lacking a sedan model so yet another hatchback seems redundant, but they could be planning to introduce both sedan and hatchback models of the Suzuki SX4 like what Tan Chong has done with the Nissan Latio. The Suzuki SX4 has also been rebadged by Fiat as the Fiat Sedici.

The Suzuki SX4 is a little B-segment hatchback and can be equipped with offroader styling, much like the Volkswagen CrossPolo. It can be equipped with all-wheel-drive. Read more on the SX4 in the related links below:

Related Posts:
2007 Suzuki SX4
Suzuki SX4 Sedan
Suzuki SX4-based sedan to be unveiled at Geneva
Suzuki SX4 WRC Concept
Suzuki SX4 sedan photos unveiled ahead of Geneva
Suzuki SX4 sedan unveiled
2006 Fiat Sedici

Click to enlarge

Suzuki has released a teaser sketch image of the Suzuki Kizashi mid-sized sedan concept, and I must say I cannot make out head or tail of what it’s supposed to be. Let’s just hope this is just some over-exaggeration of the car’s lines and the actual concept car will look much more sane than this.

The Suzuki Kizashi mid-sized sedan is due to make it’s public debut at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Related Posts:
Suzuki Kizashi C-Segment Sedan at Frankfurt 2007
Suzuki to unveil new D-Segment car at Frankfurt 2007

Suzuki is set to unveil a new mid-sized sedan at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show in September. The new big brother to the Suzuki SX4 Sedan will be Suzuki’s first self-developed mid-sized sedan in a long time. It’s current self-developed models mostly include small sedan and compact SUVs.

Suzuki calls the new sedan the Suzuki Kizashi, and if the production version of this new sedan proves to be popular, we can expect the Suzuki brand to move further upmarket in the segment sizes.

Related Posts:
Suzuki to unveil new D-Segment car at Frankfurt 2007

Back in 2004, a team of 10 Suzuki designers lived in Germany for 6 months to analyse European trends in cars, fashion, lifestyle and design. Suzuki wanted this data for the styling of a new European A-segment mini-MPV, which targetted phase 2 of Suzuki’s new World-Strategy revival plan. Phase 1 spawned new icons like the new Suzuki Swift and Swift Sport, and this new mini-MPV would be the fourth car that Suzuki would have launched in the last 3 years.

Basically, the team headed by Akira Kamio produced three concepts and conducted model clinics, and finally Suzuki’s Project Splash was shown to the world in Q3 last year at the Paris motor show. Project Splash evolved into the Suzuki Splash, also rebadged by Vauxhall and Opel as the Vauxhall/Opel Agila.

The Suzuki Splash will make it’s debut at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September, and will go on sale in 2008. Three engine choices are available - gasoline choices consist of a Suzuki 1.0 liter 65 PS 3-cylinder engine and a Suzuki 1.2 liter 86 PS 4-cylinder engine also found in the new Swift 1.2 liter, while oil burner fans can have their Suzuki Splash powered by a Fiat-sourced 1.3 liter 75 PS unit. All engines come with 5-speed manusl except for the 1.2 liter petrol which has an optional 4-speed auto.

Click here to read the rest of 2008 Suzuki Splash

[ UPDATE: Click here to read a test drive report of the new locally assembled Suzuki Swift! ]

The locally assembled Suzuki Swift was launched in 1 Utama today and goes for RM71,943.50 for the normal version and RM78,099.50 for the Swift Premier which includes additional equipment such as leather seats, a sporty bodykit, and VKool tint.

This is a drop from the previous price of RM89,783.50 and RM94,387.50 for the Swift and Swift Premier respectively. The bigger difference in prices between the Swift and Swift Premier is due to the fact that previously the sporty bodykit was a standard feature on both the Swift and Swift Premier, but now only the Swift Premier has it.

The Suzuki Swift Sport is also available in CBU form for RM99k to RM104k, but prices have not been finalised.

The first locally assembled 1.5 liter Suzuki Swift rolled off DRB-HICOM’s fully robotic welding assembly line in Pekan last Saturday. The robotic welding line costs RM20 million and is the first non-national local assembly plant for small volume production to adopt robotic welding machines. I assume this allows for better assembly quality.

Suzuki Malaysia Sdn Bhd aims to produce 300 CKD assembled Suzuki Swift cars a month initially, and if demand is sufficient, this may be increased. The first new Swift to roll off the assembly line marks a new milestone since the agreement for Suzuki Malaysia to assemble the Swift here was signed with Suzuki Motor Corporation back in March 2006, more than a year ago.

We still don’t know how much the CKD Swift will cost though, but NST reports that the price is expected to be roughly 30% cheaper. At current prices of between RM87,000 to RM92,000 depending on equipment level, expect the CKD Swift to be sold in the RM60,000 to RM65,000 range.

UPDATE: Sorry, there is an amendment. I misread NST’s article and had the impression Suzuki’s CEO mentioned the estimated price, when it is in fact the reporter’s speculation based on some of his sources.

Source

Suzuki will be revealing a new D-segment car for the North American and European market at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show in September this year. D-segment cars are basically mid-sized cars like the BMW 5-Series, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Three bodies are planned - a sedan, hatchback and a stationwagon. This new D-segment car will replace the Suzuki Verona, which was a rebadged Daewoo Magnus. The Daewoo Magnus has since been replaced by the Daewoo Tosca, also known as the Chevrolet Epica. Interestingly, when Hicomobil chose a D-segment car to sell in Malaysia under the Chevrolet brand, it picked a true blue Chevy - the Chevrolet Lumina instead of the rebadged Daewoo Chevy Epica.

It’s not likely that the new Suzuki will be a rebadged Daewoo Tosca/Chevy Epica, as new Suzuki models have moved away from GM rebadging - these are models like the Suzuki Swift, SX4, and Grand Vitara.

Considering Suzuki’s recent collaborations with Nissan, don’t be surprised if the new car turns out to be a restyled Cefiro!

Suzuki has given it’s Suzuki Swift a mid-life facelift, and has added a new variant called the Suzuki Swift Style, giving it some minor changes such as a new grille with dual chrome bars across, as well as a slightly different foglamp insert design. One major technical difference is the base model gets a new 1.2 liter K12B engine option that’s mated to a CVT transmission. The new 1.2 liter K12B makes 90PS at 6,000rpm and 118Nm of torque a 4,400rpm, pretty respectable for a tiny 1.2 liter engine.

Other than that, everything else about the Swift seems pretty much the same. Since the design is pretty pleasant to look at in the first place, perhaps Suzuki is adopting the “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” methodology here.

The updated Suzuki Swift Sport gets an altered gear ratio, a new electronic stability control feature, plus it’s redline is increased from 6,800rpm to 7,200rpm.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of 2007 Suzuki Swift Facelift

Progress Europe was commissioned by Suzuki’s Dutch arm to build this Suzuki Grand Vitara Bandit Concept, a pimped out Grand Vitara that looks like it’s ready to do some serious offroading. it will be displayed at the AutoRai Car Show at Amsterdam tomorrow.

The Suzuki Grand Vitara Bandit features an aggressive offroad-style bodykit, as well as a wider (by 30cm!) body. The whole SUV is done up in white, including the interior which features white trim and white leather seats.

More photos after the jump.

Click here to read the rest of Suzuki Grand Vitara Bandit Concept