Suzuki cars

2013 Suzuki Authentics Concept

There’s not much going on with Suzuki cars these days. All that could change at the Shanghai Motor Show when the Japanese automaker that specializes more on small vehicles and motorcycles introduces the Authentics Concept.

The concept, which has been described as one embracing Suzuki’s new design philosophy of "Sporty x Elegant," sure does look like a concept that could bring Suzuki’s design language into the new millennia.

Not much was revealed apart from these two teasers, but the images do offer some distinctive qualities about the Authentics Concept, including what certainly looks to be a sedan concept with a low roof line, sweptback headlights, massive taillights, a dual-exhaust system and a pretty long wheelbase.

The Suzuki press release also says the car has a "strong character line, which gives a wind-cutting image along with a rich and fine curved surface." That’s a way of describing the Authentics Concept that’ll surely have a lot of people interested in seeing what the car looks like when it rolls out of the shadows at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month.

2013 Suzuki Swift Sport SZ-R

Suzuki UK just added a new model to its Swift lineup. Called the Swift Sport SZ-R, this new special edition has been specially designed for those customers who want to combine a very distinctive look with a fun-to-drive experience.

The new Swift Sport SZ-R is painted Cosmic Black combined with a contrasting Ablaze Red roof and door mirrors. When compared to a standard Sport model, the new SZ-R version also adds a new rear spoiler painted red. Each unit receives special SZ-R badges on the side, and on the inside it has uniquely numbered door-sill guards. Also for the interior, you will notice the same combination of black with contrasting red on the gear shift knob and carpet mats.

The SZ-R model uses a VVT engine that delivers a total of 136 horsepower and sprints the car from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 8.7 seconds and up to a top speed of 121 mph.

The new Suzuki Swift Sport SZ-R will be limited to only 100 units. It will be put on sale at a starting price of £14,249 (about $22,500 at the current exchange rates).

Suzuki’s All-New C-Segment Crossover will be Unveiled in Geneva

Do you remember the Suzuki S-Cross Concept that was unveiled at the 2012 Paris Motor Show? If you don’t, let us refresh your memory a little bit: it was a concept cat that previewed the company’s next-generation C-segment crossover model. This new crossover is slated as the replacement for the current SX4. The production version of the S-Cross will make its world debut on March 5th at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

Few details have been released, but Suzuki confirmed it will offer "clear crossover styling,” a "roomy interior and one of the largest luggage areas in the crossover segment," and "outstanding versatility."

There are no details offered on the engine lineup, but each version will be combined with the company’s advanced four-wheel-drive technology that ensures excellent handling and driving enjoyment.

Full details, including name, design and technical specifications will be unveiled during the car’s official debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

2012 Suzuki S-Cross

Suzuki has unveiled the new S-Cross Concept at the 2012 Paris Auto Show. This concept is a preview version of the company’s next-generation C-segment crossover model - the replacement for the current SX4 crossover - set to arrive on the market in 2013.

The production version of the S-Cross will be built with the company’s slogan - "Way of Life!" - in mind and will focus on delivering exceptionally low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. In fact, Suzuki has promised that it will be amongst the lowest CO2 emitting cars in the crossover C-segment.

The S-Cross concept features a specially created Crystal Green Metallic body color and not by accident. According to Suzuki, the image it evokes is one of "nature in the city and the city in nature" - yet another statement of the promised lowest CO2 emissions.

UPDATE 09/27/2012: This review has been updated with the official details and images of the 2012 Suzuki S-Cross Concept.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2012 Suzuki S-Cross Concept.

Spy Shots: Suzuki SX4 Unintentionally Reveals its Rear End

Back in July, we brought you the first spy shots of the second generation Suzuki SX4 set to arrive on the market in 2013. Those images revealed a heavily camouflaged prototype and these new spy shots wouldn’t have revealed that much more, except for the fact that the driver didn’t realize there were spy photographers around when he decided to peel away some of the cammo. At one point, most of the rear end was revealed, providing details that weren’t supposed to be uncovered just yet.

The second generation SX4 won’t be built as a joint venture with Fiat as is the current generation and will be offered in a five-door SportBack version which will add more sportiness to the car. Its exterior design will be inspired by recently launched Suzuki models - like the Kizashi - which will allow it to have harder edges in its more modern design (seen at the rear end in these spy shots). In fact, the exposed portion of the rear end is entirely more aggressive than the mommy-type styling of the current generation. The interior will also be revamped, getting a series of new technologies. Under the hood, Suzuki will offer a wide range of engines, with the top version being powered by a 2.0 liter four-cylinder with an output of about 150 HP.

2014 Suzuki SX4

Launched back in 2006, the Suzuki SX4 has only been offered as a hatchback or a sedan. However, the second generation - set to arrive in 2013 - will include a new five-door SportBack version which will add a bit more sportiness to the car.

The new Sportback SX4 has been caught testing for the first time, and it seems Suzuki has decided to heavily camouflage the prototype in order to keep us from learning anything new about the upcoming model. Still, it is pretty clear that the next SX4 will be heavily influenced by the look of the Kizashi sedan, while the interior will receive a series of new technologies.

As for the engine line-up, expect to see a choice of smaller engines, with the top version receiving a 2.0 liter four-cylinder with an output of about 150 HP. Suzuki will offer both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations, plus a choice of manual or CVT transmissions.

Updated 09/04/2012: The upcoming Suzuki SX4 has been caught testing one more time, and now it reveals some more details, especially at the back.

Suzuki and Volkswagen in Legal Battle to end Partnership

For the better part of the last decade, Volkswagen Automotive Group has been snagging up various automakers and auto groups in an attempt to build an empire that would likely make Darth Vader cower in fear. It looks like one of VW’s Stormtroopers is turning its back on the “Dark Side,” as Suzuki, a company that VW bought some $2.1 billion worth of shares in 2009, is taking VW to court in an attempt to force VW to return the 19.9 percent of Suzuki stock that it owns.

The issues that run between the two are your typical automotive wah-fest, as Suzuki is boo-hooing over the fact that VW did not share enough technical information with Suzuki, which was a stipulation of the stock sale. VW, on the other hand, is crying foul because Suzuki opted to source a small-displacement engine from Fiat instead of VW. Oddly enough, VW is fighting Suzuki to keep its shares, while Suzuki has filed suit against VW in a London court to force VW to sell its shares back.

Another odd turn of events is the fact that Suzuki is willing to pay market value to VW for said shares, giving Volkswagen a cool $300K to $400K in profit.

Overall, this is a very strange turn of events, as we are not quite sure exactly what in the world VW would want with the Suzuki brand under its umbrella. The brand has been really struggling in the last decade and looks to eventually go the Isuzu route and pull out of the American market altogether. Then again, VW has been apt for turning around struggling car companies, a la Audi.

We’ll keep you posted on any new happenings in this legal battle.

Video: Angry Customer Snaps and Drives his SUV into a Car Dealership

We have all had bad experiences at car dealerships and car repair shops. Heck, being a former service manager, I have had to attempt to repair these bad situations at times. Typically, when customer service turns sour, you simply express your anger, go home, call the corporate office, and eventually get a resolution. Well, apparently this is not the way the customer service flowchart goes in some countries.

In a Nissan and Suzuki dealership in what looks to be Russia, if I am seeing the sign correctly, a customer decides to take part in creating his own resolution for a customer service issue.

According to the story that we read, this customer took his Suzuki SUV, which he bought new, back to the dealership to have a faulty shock replaced. The dealership refused to replace the shock under warranty, which really isn’t that uncommon, and from there the customer bypassed calling customer service, and chose to take his frustrations out on the dealership, by way of ramming his Grand Vitara through the dealership’s window.

That’s not where it stops, this driver then smashes up a few brand new floor model vehicles, using his SUV as a battering ram, then eventually disappears from the screen – likely to do more damage on the other side of the dealership.

I used to have pretty nasty road rage, but mine mostly consisted of laying on my horn and flashing the occasional one-fingered salute. This guy really needs to get his anger issues under control. I hope his car insurance company is prepared to pay out to fix his now-smashed SUV, or their office may receive the same “redecorating.”

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face, sheesh. Check out the above video to see all of the craziness, pay close attention to the brave guy that goes knocking on this lunatic’s window at the 1:57 mark. What’s he gonna do, ask him for some Grey Poupon?

Suzuki Going High-Tech; Will include Pandora in 2013 Models

When considering motorcycles, Suzuki is likely a brand that comes to mind. Their cars, on the other hand, nearly go unnoticed unless you are looking for specifically cheap transportation. They typically only account for a fraction of a percent of U.S. auto sales, but that fraction is a tight and very loyal market. Well, it looks like they are trying to dig themselves out of obscurity by adding high-end features to their vehicles.

Starting in the 2013 model year, nearly every Suzuki car, truck, and SUV will include a Garmin stereo system that will also include Pandora radio. With the internet taking over everything nowadays, it’s only expected that internet radio would make its way into more cars – heck, some cars now have a hard drive bigger than my desktop PC, seriously…

Pandora works a lot like satellite radio, as it is not broadcasted from terrestrial towers, but rather streamed through the internet. You can personalize your own station too, so there is no need to swap the station every time something you can’t stand comes blasting through the speakers.

There is no receiver or anything like that for Pandora radio, so this is really not costing Suzuki much, meaning the cost to you would be minimal, if anything. The Garmin radio connects to an iPhone, per Pandora, and the iPhone in turn receives the Pandora signal, broadcasting it through the radio. It makes us curious because Pandora radio also has an Android app, which means nearly any phone on the market can receive its signal. However, Pandora specifically mentions just the iPhone in its press release.

We are starting to wonder if iPhone and Garmin are maybe up to something, or did the Pandora rep just misspeak. For the sake of all Suzuki buyers that choose to use this service, we hope the latter is the truth. From our research, it looks like Garmin and Suzuki have apps for both Android and iPhone, so it was likely a mistake to just say “iPhone.”

Regardless of its connectivity, this is a step in the right direction towards Suzuki reeling in its direct competitors, Hyundai and Kia.

Hit the jump to read Pandora’s official press release.

Video: Forza Motorsport 4 drops new December IGN Pack

Turn 10 Studios, the makers of the Forza Motorsport gaming franchise, have released an early holiday present for rabid Forza 4 gamers out there. The December IGN Pack for Forza 4 was made available last week and comes with a grocery list of some of the finest digital rides you can have in the game.

Among the highlight vehicles included in the December IGN Pack are the Suzuki Monster Sport SX4 Hill Climb Special, the very same car that Monster Tajima used to break the ten-minute barrier at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb earlier this year.

In addition to the specially-prepped Suzuki, the pack also includes a Ford F-150 SVT Raptor, a 1977 Escort RS1800, a 1988 Pontiac Fiero GT, and a 1981 Volkswagen Scirocco S, to name a few.

All in all, the December IGN Pack will include 10 new vehicles that you can enjoy over the holidays. The pack is available through XBox Live so if you want to get your hands on a new set of awesome rides to put in your Forza garage, Turn 10 Studios is your hook-up.