Suzuki Debuts Brand New MR Wagon in Japan

Suzuki has announced the arrival of its new home market MR Wagon kei car, which has been fully redesigned for the first time in five years featuring a fresh styling and a brand new 660cc three-cylinder petrol engine matched to a continuously variable transmission.

The Japanese firm"s kei car is built on a newly development platform and measures just 3,395 mm long, 1,475 wide and 1,625 tall. With a wheelbase 65mm longer than its predecessor at 2.425mm, the new MR Wagon promises to offers increased passenger space as well as a little more ride comfort and improved stability on the road.

In Japan, Suzuki offers the 0.7-liter three-cylinder engine in naturally aspirated and turbocharged flavors, which produce 54HP and 64HP respectively, while buyers can also opt between front- and all-wheel drive configurations.

Other highlights include a touch screen audio system on the upper part of the center console and the availability of an ESP system with Hill Hold Control.

The boxy shaped kei car is available for order in Japan with prices starting from 1,131,900 Yen (about US$13,700).

Hat tip to Leopaul D.!

Source: Suzuki via Carview

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Suzuki Launches 4x4 Variants of New Swift and Kizashi in Germany

Suzuki is broadening its European lineup with the launch of all-wheel drive variants of its newly introduced 2011 Swift supermini and Kizashi sedan. Starting with the Swift, the 4x4 model is offered exclusively with a 94-horsepower 1.2-liter gasoline engine linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The company said it returns a fuel economy of 6.7 lt/100km urban, 4.9 lt/100km highway and 5.5 lt/100km combined, with CO2 emissions of 129g/km.

The five-door Swift 4x4 is priced in Germany at ?14,490 [US$21,000] with standard features including air conditioning and an MP3-capable CD radio with steering wheel controls and a USB port.

The Kizashi 4x4 sedan features Suzuki"s so-called intelligent all-wheel drive system (i-AWD), which allows the driver to manually switch the car from front- to all-wheel drive with the push of a button, with power coming from a 178HP-strong 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission.

According to the Japanese automaker, the Kizashi 4x4 averages 11.3 lt/100km in the city, 6.6 lt/100km on highway and 8.3 lt/100km on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 191 g/km.

Prices in Germany start from ?29,900 [US$41,000]. The standard equipment package features a two-zone automatic climate control, Xenon headlights, ten-way power adjustable and heated driver"s seat with memory function, and more.

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Top 10: Cheapest new cars

With the increase in the rate of UK Value Added Tax from 17.5% to 20% on 4th January, the media has been trying to paint a picture of doom and gloom for the car industry.

But for anyone still looking to buy a brand new car without paying lots of extra tax, these are the ten cheapest model ranges currently available in the UK. Of course, for the same money, there will probably be plenty of better used cars available...

1. Chevrolet Spark £7,215 - £10,485

Modern with distinctive looks, the Spark benefits from the Chevrolet 5 Year Promise which includes warranty, servicing, roadside assistance, annual vehicle checks and MOT warranty for - no prizes for guessing - five years.

On the downside, the basic £7,215 Spark does without niceties such as central locking and air conditioning. There’s no radio either, and the windows have to be wound up and down manually.

2. Nissan Pixo £7,350 - £9,450

The Pixo is essentially a re-badged Suzuki Alto, and is built alongside it in India by Maruti Suzuki.

Those buyers looking for remote central locking, side airbags, electric front windows and split folding rear seats will have to go for the mid-range Acenta trim level, which costs £8,100. None of those items are included with the entry-level Visia specification.

3. Kia Picanto £7,370 - £9,100

In basic Picanto ‘1’ guise, there’s vinyl and cloth trim and no air conditioning, but at least electric front windows are standard.

As an incentive to buy, Kia has cut prices across the Picanto range until the end of January 2011. Consequently, the Picanto ‘1’ is currently reduced to £6,670, while the more generously equipped Picanto ‘2’ has dropped from £8,595 to £8,095. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that a second generation Picanto has just been announced, so expect the current model to be replaced later this year.

4. Volkswagen Fox £7,615 - £8,525

A new Volkswagen for under £8,000? Then it’ll have to be the Brazilian-built Fox, although in Europe it’s only available in three-door form.

The 54 bhp (40 kW / 55 PS) 1.2 litre petrol engine found in the £7,615 Fox has been phased out, because it’s not compliant with Euro 5 emissions standards. Cars in that spec might still be available from dealer stock, but any new factory orders will come with a reworked 1.2 motor that produces 59 bhp (44 kW / 60 PS). Unfortunately, the change pushes up the entry price slightly to £7,790 but, as a sweetener, until the end of March 2011 Volkswagen is offering three years’ fixed priced servicing for £299. 

5. Hyundai i10 £7,890 - £9,040

Even the basic i10, the Classic, comes with a generous list of equipment: air conditioning, electric front windows, radio / CD player with four speakers, 60/40 split rear seats, central locking and front side airbags are all standard. What’s more, there’s a five year warranty to complete the package.

Power comes from a 76 bhp (57 kW / 77 PS) 1.2 litre petrol engine with a five-speed gearbox. Performance is respectably brisk, with 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration taking 12.8 seconds and a top speed of 102 mph (164 km/h).

6. Fiat Panda £7,960 - £13,975

The top end of the Panda range is now rather decimated, because the more expensive variants - including the 100 HP, 4x4 and 4x4 Cross - aren’t Euro 5 compliant. Lesser models have been affected too, with the lead-in £7,960 Panda 1.1 Active Eco also only conforming to Euro 4. That means that Fiat has to get rid of any unsold stock fast, so it has reduced the price down to £6,295 until the end of March 2011.

Effectively replacing the 1.1 Active Eco is the 1.2 Active, which meets Euro 5 standards but costs £8,155. The slightly bigger engine does have its benefits, though. Power is up 25% from 53 bhp (40 kW / 54 PS) to 68 bhp (50 kW / 69 PS), allowing the Panda to top 100 mph (160 km/h), yet combined cycle fuel economy actually improves from 56.5 mpg (5.0 l/100km) to 57.6 mpg (4.9 l/100km).

7. Proton Savvy £7,995 - £8,695

There’s really just one Savvy model on offer, the only choice being between manual or automated manual transmissions, but it’s well equipped. Electric front windows, air conditioning and a four-speaker stereo are all included, as are 15” alloy wheels, remote central locking and reverse parking sensors. 

One drawback though is relatively high CO2 emissions from the 73 bhp (55 kW / 75 PS) 1.2 litre engine. 134 g/km means that UK owners will have to hand over £110 each year for road tax, whereas Pixo and Alto drivers, for example, would pay £20.

8. Perodua Myvi £7,999 - £9,399

With the disappearance of the Kenari from the Perodua price list, the Myvi becomes the only model in the manufacturer’s UK line-up. Based on the Daihatsu Sirion / Boon and Toyota Passo, the Myvi comes with a three year warranty, but service intervals are only 10,000 miles.

Perodua is currently knocking off £1,000 from the prices of all its cars until the end of March 2011, which brings the entry-level SXI down to £6,999.

9. Suzuki Alto £8,345 - £9,760

Prices for the Alto have increased dramatically in recent months but, to compensate, Suzuki is offering the Alto SZ3 and SZ4 derivatives ‘VAT free’ until the end of March 2011. That useful discount brings the cost of the cheaper SZ3 down to £6,953.

Like the Pixo, all versions are powered by a 67 bhp (50 kW / 68 PS) three-cylinder petrol engine that produces 103 g/km of CO2 - so near yet so far from the 100 g/km target that would have made both models exempt from the London Congestion Charge.

10. Toyota Aygo £8,485 - £11,115

One reason for choosing the Aygo over the basically identical Peugeot 107 and Citroën C1 is the Toyota’s lower entry price. £8,485 is enough for the basic three-door version, with another £355 needed for the five-door.

However, with that entry-level spec, there’s no air conditioning, central locking or electric windows although, like every Aygo, it does benefit from a five year warranty.

As a footnote, the Daihatsu Sirion might have made it onto the list. However, the company hasn’t updated its prices since last April and this notice on the Daihatsu website probably explains why:

“Due to the current weakness of the Pound against the Japanese Yen it has not been possible to order cars from our factory. As a result, some models are now in very short supply. We are sorry if you are unable to find the exact colour and specification of the car you want, however your dealer will be able to advise you on the availability of stock across the UK.”

New Car Of Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Suzuki Kizashi Sport


Suzuki Kizashi Sport


Suzuki Kizashi Sport


Suzuki Kizashi Sport


Suzuki Kizashi Sport


Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Suzuki V-Strom 650A XP

Suzuki’s range of 645 cc V-twin middleweights continues to expand. Following the re-launch of the SV650S back in May, there’s now another member of the V-Strom family.



The V-Strom 650A XP - to give the new arrival its full title - is based on the existing ABS-equipped model. What makes the XP unique is all the extras that Suzuki has thrown at it, in an attempt to appeal to serious touring / adventure riders. So, standard kit includes black aluminium panniers (with a total capacity of 82 litres), a centre stand and plenty of guards (for the engine, sump and rider’s hands).

Available from the end of August in a choice of Candy Max Orange or Metallic Oort Grey, the V-Strom 650A XP has a UK retail price of £7,300, which translates to £7,425 on the road.

An obvious competitor will be the BMW F 650 GS which, with the optional centre stand and ABS specified, costs £7,210 OTR. Of course, at that price it still lacks the various guards and panniers of the V-Strom, but the BMW still has two things in its favour that may appeal to certain riders.



The first is weight, because the F 650 GS weighs 199 kg ready to ride and fully fuelled. That’s considerably lighter than the Suzuki which, in standard V-Strom 650A guise, has a ‘kerb mass’ of 220 kg. Data for the XP version has yet to be released but, given its additional equipment, expect it to be even heavier.



The second is seat height. Although both bikes have standard seat heights of 820 mm, the BMW can be ordered with a 795 mm low seat at no extra charge. Alternatively, for £165 the F 650 GS can be built with tweaked suspension that lowers it down to 765 mm.

Confusing Suzuki SX4

Car manufacturers are generally very careful when choosing car names, in case something is lost in translation. That’s why, for example, the Mitsubishi Pajero is known as the Montero for the Spanish market, and the Buick LaCrosse was originally renamed Allure in Canada to better appeal to French speakers.



The easy solution is to just use letters and numbers, although that didn’t work out too well for Toyota when its MR2 went on sale in France. And that strategy can also lead to a long string of nonsense, which is where Suzuki comes in.



Its SX4 has been around for nearly four years now. Sporting mini-SUV looks and that name, casual observers might be lured into thinking it has four-wheel drive - which it probably doesn’t. The latest model names just add to the confusion.

The entry-level version is known as the SZ3 (no sign of an SZ1 or SZ2), which features niceties such as four electric windows, six airbags, eight speakers but no four-wheel drive. There’s only one engine choice, a 1.6 litre petrol that produces 118 bhp (88 kW / 120 PS).



45.6 mpg (6.2 l/100km) on the combined cycle is good, as is a CO2 emissions figure of 143 g/km. However, it looks like economy has been the priority, as 0-62 mph (100 km/h) acceleration takes a leisurely 10.7 seconds and the top speed is 115 mph (185 km/h). The UK on the road price for the SZ3 is £11,750.



Next up is the SX4 SZ4. Now you’d think that with all those 4s surely it must have four-wheel drive? But no… still front-wheel drive, and still just that 1.6 litre petrol on offer, although it can be had with a performance-sapping automatic gearbox. Additional spec over the SZ3 includes 16” alloys, keyless entry and start, side body protection and fully automatic air con. The SZ4 costs £12,395, with the optional automatic £1,025 extra.



Completing the revised line-up is the SZ5. This too is available with the petrol engine, although there’s also a 133 bhp (99 kW / 135 PS) 2.0 litre diesel on offer. The former comes with rear privacy glass, while the latter adds cruise control and a six-speed manual gearbox to the standard kit list.



The shocking news is that both have Suzuki’s i-AWD (intelligent - All Wheel Drive) system. This has three modes that the driver can switch between: 4WD-Auto, 4WD-Lock, and 2WD.



As expected, the SZ5 diesel is less thirsty than the petrol, achieving 51.4 mpg (5.5 l/100km) on the combined cycle. It’s marginally slower though, with a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 11.2 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h).



It’s quite a bit more expensive, too. Whereas the petrol SZ5 costs £14,235, the diesel version is £15,995.

GSX-R 25th anniversary

The first Suzuki to bear the GSX-R name was the 750F, launched back in 1985. Twenty-five years later, Suzuki has created special editions based on the current GSX-R range to celebrate the anniversary.



Earlier this year saw the arrival of the GSX-R600 and GSX-R750 Limited Editions. Both had blue and white paintwork inspired by earlier versions of the bikes, Yoshimura exhausts and commemorative plaques.



Now it’s the turn of the GSX-R1000 to get the Limited Edition treatment. Like its smaller siblings, it gets engraved Yoshimura exhaust end cans and a numbered plaque, but it also features laser etched wheel rim graphics and a unique colour scheme.

Perhaps confusing 25th and 50th anniversaries, Suzuki has gone for gold and white paint (surely silver would’ve been more appropriate?). Fair enough, except that the gold colour looks suspiciously like brown from the pictures.



That probably won’t put off buyers of the twenty-five examples that’ll be available in the UK, out of a total world-wide production of 1,000. And nor will the price: at £11,125 on the road, customers will be paying a £651 premium over the standard bike for what are - exhaust apart - purely cosmetic changes.



The order book for the GSX-R1000 Limited Edition opens on 1 June 2010 via the Suzuki website.

Suzuki SV650S returns

After a brief absence, the SV650S is returning to Suzuki GB’s line-up. Priced at £4,999 on the road, it seems rather a bargain - so much so that maybe Suzuki has shot itself in the foot.

That’s because spending an extra £725 on an SV650 Sport, which is the same bike except for its pillion seat cover and fairing lowers, just got much harder to justify. The S even manages to be cheaper than the similarly-engined naked Gladius, which costs £5,274 OTR.



Of course list price and actual price are two very different things. For example, there’s currently a Scottish dealer offering the Sport at £4,595, but that could be an indication that Suzuki dealers are very willing to haggle right now.



The all-rounder middleweight / ‘first big bike’ market is very crowded, with well-established models such as the Kawasaki ER-6f, Yamaha XJ6 and Honda CBF600, as well as less obvious choices such as the Ducati Monster 696 or Aprilia Shiver 750. Nevertheless, the SV650S should be able to poach sales from its competitors on price alone.



The one thing the SV650S doesn’t offer is a colour choice. It’s only available in white, with a blue racing stripe through the middle of the fairing that is carried across along the top of the tank.