Suzuki SX4 rally compact for WRC

A fresh Japanese attack on the World Rally Championship will inspire a new Suzuki.

The baby brand plans to topple Citroen and Ford in the forests from 2008, then attack the Subaru WRX and Lancer Evo in showrooms.

Its weapon is the SX4, a compact all-wheel-drive wagon receiving the full treatment for the WRC and gaining a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine for the road.

The power target is at least 150kW. The car will have permanent AWD and a wild body kit that will be keyed to the SX4 WRC.

"We will develop a sporty version of the SX4. From 2008 we will challenge for the World Rally Championship," says Hirotaka Ono, Suzuki Motor Corporation board member in charge of strategic planning.

"We will use a 2.0-litre turbo for the sporty version."

The SX4 was previewed in Japan this week ahead of Australian sales from the first quarter of next year, with a likely starting price in the $22,000 range. It is a new car from Suzuki and was designed and developed as a compact crossover wagon.

The idea is similar to that of the new Dodge Caliber and a switch from the hatchbacks and sedans that dominate the small-car scene. The Suzuki is less aggressive and more likely to appeal to women.

Suzuki is moving into full-scale development of its WRC SX4 with its Suzuki Sport division and will soon be trialling cars on roads used for the world championship.

"We will start the program in the WRC sometime in 2007. From 2008 we will challenge for the championship," Ono says.

Suzuki has already won world rally titles with its front-wheel-drive Ignis and Swift.

INDIAN ENTRY

The first Indian-built cars for Australia will be sold in Suzuki showrooms.

India will be tapped within three years for a sub-Swift car that will be sold throughout the world.

It is likely to have a 1.0-litre engine and a hatchback body.

Suzuki will also move into the mid-sized prestige market by 2010 with a car to rival the Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series.