Suzuki cars

2010 Suzuki Alto SZ-L

Suzuki UK unveiled today a new special edition for the UK market. The new Alto SZ-L will go on sale this week and will be limited to just 500 units. It comes standard with air conditioning; pollen filter and side airbags; front fog lamps and various exterior and interior upgrades. It will carry a price tag of £8,170.

The new edition is based on the SZ3 mid grade model and is distinguished by stylish new design wheel caps, black fog lamp surrounds and black ‘B’ pillar trims as well as SZ-L embossed tailgate trim and black side mouldings for extra protection when parked. SZ-L is available in either Superior White or Bright Red non metallic colors.

On the interior the new Alto SZ-L gets SZ-L carpet mats; silver colored trim for gearshift knob, side ventilation louvers, door openers, heater control, gear lever and door handle surrounds with SZ-L individual theme.

Press release after the jump.

VW planning new CUV; Possibly the Rocktan?

In a smart move by Volkswagen, the company is taking advantage of its partnership with Suzuki. They haven’t been together long, but the German automaker is looking to create a new crossover that will fall below the Tiguan. Late last year, VW purchased a 19.9 percent stake in Suzuki.

As we reported a week ago, VW is looking to be the largest automaker in the world by 2018. The company is currently working on a new crossover model that will fill the void below the hard to pronounce Tiguan.

Inside sources in Germany have reported that the company is using its partnership with Suzuki, using the SX4 platform on their new vehicle. Like the current SX4, the VW version should have all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive. Power should come from a 1.6-liter diesel with 105 horsepower or a 1.2-liter petrol motor.

We hope that VW ships their new crossover to the United States, but as for now, we are in the dark. If the vehicle does make it to our shores, it could prove to be very beneficial for both parties. The VW connection could help Suzuki sales and for VW, the new crossover would help them compete in the newly created, small crossover segment with Mini and Audi.

The new VW crossover could be here as early as 2013 and if we compare notes for a minute, we could see the similarities between this report and our previous report on the Rocktan SUV. This report spoke of a VW/Suzuki collaboration based on the SX4 and placed under the Tiguan. These similarities lead us to believe that this new CUV is indeed the Rocktan and should cost under 20,000 Euros upon its release.

Newly-released Suzuki Kizashi already being recalled over inopportune opening of glovebox

We’re guessing this isn’t the kind of start Suzuki was expecting with their new Kizashi sedan. Barely a year after the car was launched; it’s already facing its first recall issues. Not good. Not good, at all.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 5,701 Kizashi sedans – those that were manufactured from October 13, 2009 through May 31, 2010 - are poised to be recalled over issues with the center-lower glove box on the dashboard, which as it turns out, may open in the event of a crash possibly causing a potentially serious injury if it hits any of the front passengers.

The Kizashi recall is expected to begin sometime in the middle of July at which time Suzuki will be replacing the part in question at no cost to the car owners. In the event that you have a Kizashi sitting in your garage all nice and new, you might want to err on the side of caution and give Suzuki a call at 1-714-996-7040.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi SE CVT

A few weeks ago we took a trip to a local bar to watch our hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Indians. Normally we would just go to the game because the tickets are pretty cheap, but even $5 is a bit much to watch a team that really stinks.

Going into the game it was hard to get excited because we have won very few games and are in last place in the division, so needless to say, we weren’t expecting a whole lot. Amazingly though, the team did pretty well and even won the game.

It wasn’t easy for them, but it was determination that brought them a well deserved win. The same can be said for Suzuki. It’s been quite some time since they have been anything to write home about, but after years of hard work and staying under the radar, they finally have a winner on their hands.

The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi was one of those cars where you never quite knew what to expect. Sure, people have written that it was good and a step in the right direction for the company, but, like buying a generic brand cereal, you never want to believe the hype no matter what they tell you or how good it might be.

Hit the jump for the rest of the review.

First interior photos of the new Swift

The car that everybody simply loves is upon us. The new Suzuki Swift supermini will be ready soon and, for your enjoyment, we have a few new details and photos, including the first shots of the interior.

There aren’t many exterior design changes to speak of, but the interior gets some of the cues from the Kizashi, which we will be reviewing this month. There are new LCD displays, new switchgear, and metallic accents.

Suzuki has also confirmed to Autocar that there will be a Sport version of the Swift and it is highly probable that it will get the current 1.6-liter motor.

The Swift gains a few inches this year, as the wheelbase has grown by 50mm and the overall length increases by 90mm. Luckily, despite the size increase the weight is down. The body is lighter and stiffer than before and the front and rear tracks are 10mm and 5mm wider.

For the car’s launch there will be a 1.2-liter petrol engine that will produce 92 horsepower and 87 pound-feet of torque. This new motor will be replacing the old 1.3 and, despite the loss of .1 of a liter, this new engine is more powerful. A manual gearbox will be standard with an automatic as an option.

Fuel economy is around 56.5 miles per gallon, an improvement of 7.8 miles over the last motor. The Swift will emit about 116 grams of CO2 per kilometer. There will also be a 1.3 diesel that will be able to get 67.3 mpg. That will be ready by early 2011.

We think that the new Swift will cost around £11,000 but that is just a guess at this point.

We’ll keep you posted on any further details that become available.

Suzuki Grand Vitara and XL-7 SUVs set to have their own recalls over defective pulleys

In the first half of 2010, no one word has had a more profound effect on the auto industry as the word ’recall’. Just about every automaker on the planet has had an encounter with it one way or the other and, as it turns out, it’s Suzuki’s turn.

The Japanese automaker is in the process of recalling 46,549 units of its 2006 Grand Vitara and 2005-2006 models of the XL-7 SUVs because of a defective hydraulic power assist steering pump that could lead to serious trouble for owners of the aforementioned models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the warning after finding out that the plastic tension adjuster pulley found in these models could deteriorate over time leading to pieces of the pulley breaking off and dislodging the steering belt, which would then make it extremely difficult for the SUVs to steer.

So if you have any of these two models, you can have them fixed at your nearest Suzuki dealer where they will replace the steering pump drive belt tension adjuster pulley - that’s a long name for a car part - free of charge.

Press Release after the jump

2011 Suzuki Swift

Suzuki unveiled today the first official details on the third generation Swift that will go on sale this autumn. The new Swift comes with new styling, impact safety, driving performance, handling, improved fuel consumption, and significantly lower emissions. The vehicle will be built in the Magyar Suzuki Corporation production facility at Esztergom, in Hungary.

The new Swift will be powered by a new 1.2-liter petrol engine incorporating Dual VVT (Variable intake and exhaust valve timing) that delivers a total of 94 HP at 6,000rpm and 118Nm at 4,800rpm. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 56.5mpg. It also comes with a new bodyshell lighter and stiffer than before.

Suzuki will also be releasing a 1.3-liter diesel engine in the UK at the beginning of 2011. This engine emits 109g/km and has an impressive combined fuel consumption of 67.3mpg. These figures are much better than the 119g/km and 62.8mpg from the outgoing Swift DDiS.

The 2011 Suzuki Swift sees a longer bonnet line and larger head lamps and tail lamps to add to the already taller, longer, and wider body for this model. There is not much to say about the interior since pictures of it were not made available yet. Suzuki says that they will use black as its keynote color with accents of silver throughout the car.

More pictures and pricing will be available later on in the summer.

UPDATED 06/23/2010: Suzuki has released the first interior photos of the 2011 Suzuki Swift. Check them out after the jump!

Press release after the jump.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi Turbo

The Suzuki Kizashi is a fantastic car from a company known for motorcycles rather than automobiles. It proved that the alternative Japanese automaker could produce cars just as good as its rivals; Honda and Toyota. Now, Suzuki wants to take the momentum earned with the Kizashi and create a sports sedan to rival the Honda Civic Si and the TRD division of Toyota.

Called the Kizashi Turbo, this new variant, built on the base sedan, has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a new catback exhaust system, and an upgraded suspension producing 290 horsepower. It also provides enough room in the back for two and plenty of luggage space for a road trip. All in all, the new Kizashi is a big stepping-stone for Suzuki.

2010 Suzuki Concept Kizashi Turbo

After Suzuki unveiled the Sport version at the New York Auto Show, the company announced they will also prepare an even more powerful version. The production version of the Kizashi Turbo debuted on Speed Channel’s Test Drive program on April 30th, 2010. The Suzuki will deliver a total of 290 HP and will be connected to the track pavement via 19-inch Dunlops.

The boost in speed is achieved by a 16G turbocharger and Road Race’s high flow intercooler. Road Race continues its quest for cool by adding custom fuel management, Road Race’s Sleeper blow-off valve, a velocity air intake and an extreme spray injector.

The car will also feature sport springs working in combination with Kizashi’s ultra-rigid unibody and all-independent suspension. High-speed stability is enhanced with the addition of a rear-mounted spoiler supplied by Delta Tech Engineering. Whether you are Road Race founder Rob Tallini, Tommy Kendall, or the average Suzuki enthusiast, the Suzuki Concept Kizashi Turbo will quench the thirst for speed.

Press release after the jump.

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Suzuki unveiled the 2011 Kizashi Sport today at the 2010 New York Auto Show. The new version will go on sale in August and will be available exclusively in the GTS and SLS trim levels.

The Kizashi Sport is distinguished by a more muscular front fascia (with chrome accents) and lower grille, body side sill extensions, lower body side molding with chrome accents, a trunk mounted spoiler, custom light weight 18-inch alloy wheels, a 10mm lower ride height for a combination of better aerodynamics, and a lower center of gravity for enhanced grip and sharper handling.

The interior gets a distinctively designed sport steering wheel with perforated leather grip and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, shifter boot, and emergency brake boot.

Prices will be announced at a later date.

Press release after the jump.