Suzuki News

The leaked images are from a brochure for the Maruti Celerio, the replacement for the Maruti A-Star nameplate the Alto wears in the Indian market.The car is being unveiled tomorrow at the Indian Auto Expo in New Delhi, but the brochure has been leaked online by Autoportal, showing the exterior and also specification for the new car.The five-door hatchback gets fresher looks, and has grown in some directions: the 1600mm width is the same but the 3600mm length is up 100mm, the 1560mm height is up 90mm and the 2425 wheelbase is 65mm longer.The brochure describes the newcomer as a five-seater, but with the width not having increased, it's likely Australian cars will continue as four-seaters. However luggage capacity looks to have increased from the current 110 litres to 235 litres.But not much has changed under the skin. The new car is powered by the Alto's carryover a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine,  developing 50kW and 90Nm with the options of either a five-speed manual and an automatic transmission.This will be the fourth generation of the Alto to arrive in Australia, and while local cars often add more than the spec lists of the Indian versions, the brochure shows features include wing mirrors with turn indicators (not currently on our Alto).This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Suzuki has updated its Swift light hatch range for 2014, with drive away pricing for most models for a limited time.As previewed in European guise in June last year, all models aside from the Sport have received a subtle wave of the styling wand, with a revised front fascia and grille inserts, new wheel cover and alloy wheel designs, and LED daytime running lights added to the GLX model.The previous GA entry variant has been dropped, and the previous GL has been reduced by $1000 to match the previous $15,990 entry price. GL models come equipped with cruise control, leather steering wheel, manual air conditioning, CD/MP3/iPod/USB six-speaker audio with Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, and 15 inch steel wheels.A new $17,490 Navigator spec level now sits between GL and GLX, and adds satnav, a 6.1 inch touchscreen, multifunction steering wheel, and front fog lights to the GL’s spec list.The $21,990 Swift GLX has been repositioned $3,000 up the price scale and is now auto only, representing a $1000 increase over the previous GLX auto, and adds LED daytime running lights, climate control and proximity keys, telescopic steering adjustment, and 16 inch alloy wheels.The GL, Navigator and GLX models’ 70kW/130Nm 1.4-litre petrol engine is unchanged, with a choice of five speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions, and 5.5L/100km combined fuel consumption in manual or 6.2L/100km in auto.As before, the Suzuki Swift comes with a 5 star safety rating, with seven airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, and electronic stability control.All GL, Navigator and GLX models come with 210L of cargo space that can expand to up to 900L, with a spacesaver spare.The top-spec Swift Sport is unchanged from 2013-spec, with the 100kW/160Nm 1.6-litre hottie priced at $23,990 (before on-roads) in six-speed manual, and $25,990 (before on-roads) for the CVT auto.2014 Suzuki Swift PricingSuzuki Swift GL manual - $15,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift GL auto - $17,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Navigator manual - $17,490 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Navigator auto - $19,490 (drive away)Suzuki Swift GLX auto - $21,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Sport  manual - $23,990 (MSRP)Suzuki Swift Sport  auto - $25,990 (MSRP)

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000New cars for 2014 | over $100,000 LIGHT CARSAlfa-Romeo MiTo: The Mini Cooper-rivalling MiTo hatch is due for a refresh in January. Tweaked styling is expected, along with updated features and sharpened pricing in line with other recent Fiat Chrysler Australia pricetag shuffles. (Approximately 25,000-30,000)Honda City and Jazz: Honda’s slow-selling City compact sedan is due to be replaced by an all-new model in the second quarter of 2014, leading the also-new third-generation Jazz compact hatch which is expected in around June. The new Jazz will benefit from a new dual-clutch auto transmission, and a new hybrid variant is expected to dip well below the current petrol-electric model’s 4.5L/100km combined figure. (Approximately $16,000-23,000)Kia Rio: Also due for a refresh in the third quarter is the Kia Rio light hatch and sedan range, with the stylish model likely to score visual tweaks and value gains to keep up with more recent competition. (Approximately $15,000-22,000)Mini Cooper: Mini will bring the all-new third-generation ‘new Mini’ Cooper to our shores from May, with the entry models using a new 1.5-litre three cylinder turbo petrol or diesel engine, and the hot Cooper S to step up to a new 2.0-litre turbo petrol from the same family The three-door hatch will be the only bodystyle to lob in 2014, with convertible and a new five-door hatch (at least) to follow later. (Approximately $31,000-$46,000)Volkswagen Polo: Volkswagen’s Polo light hatch range is also due for a mid-cycle refresh in the second half of the year, with revised styling, plus efficiency and technology trickle-down from the Mk7 Golf likely. Approximately $17,000-29,000)SMALL CARSAlfa Romeo Giulietta: Following on from its pricing shuffle in 2013, the small Giulietta hatch range also due for a mid-cycle refresh later in 2014. Approximately 24,000-40,000)Hyundai Elantra: Hyundai will revise its Elantra sedan in January, with freshened styling and a new local suspension tune expected to be the main changes. (Approximately $20,990-$30,190)Kia Pro_cee'd GT: Kia will bring the Pro_cee’d GT down under in March, with the new hot hatch set to go head to head with its mechanical sibling the Hyundai Veloster SR Turbo. (Approximately $30,000)Kia Soul: Also expected in March is a heavily revised version of the trendy Soul small hatch, with rejigged styling, upgraded underpinnings and petrol and diesel drivetrains. (Approximately $21,000-$30,000)Mazda3: Mazda will renew its assault on the Australian sales charts in January, with the arrival of the new third-generation 3 sedan and hatch models. The new 3 will be available with 2.0-litre and 2.5-litre versions of Mazda’s SkyActiv petrol engine from launch, with diesel versions set to follow later. (Approximately $20,000-35,000)Nissan Pulsar SSS sedan: In the third quarter, Nissan will break with Pulsar SSS tradition by adding a sedan version of the hot turbocharged model, with Mazda’s SP25 sedan its only logical rival. (Approximately $31,000)Peugeot 308: Peugeot’s headline act for 2014 will be the new 308 small hatch, with the lighter and more efficient model arriving before the end of the year to target Volkswagen’s Golf head-on. (Approximately $25,000-$40,000)Proton Suprima S: Proton will launch the Preve sedan-based Suprima S small hatch in January, in $21,790 (drive away) GX and $26,590 (drive away) GXR spec levels. Available with a CVT auto initially, both versions will use a 103kW/250Nm 1.6 litre petrol turbo. Cheaper $19,790 (GX) and $24,590 (GXR) six –speed manual versions will arrive later in the year. (Approximately $19,790-$24,590)Proton Preve: In the second quarter, ther Malaysian brand will add a five-speed manual version of the Preve GXR sedan, which is expected to undercut the existing CVT auto version by $2000 with a $20,990 drive away pricetag. A more upmarket Preve LE is expected at around the same time, and likely to be priced around the $25,000 mark.Renault Megane: Also due around June is a mid-cycle refresh for the Megane coupe, cabriolet, and wagon models. (Approximately $20,000-$50,000)Skoda Rapid Spaceback: Skoda will introduce the much anticipated Rapid Spaceback in the second quarter, with the new hatch to sit beneath the recently launched Octavia Liftback and wagon. (Approximately from $20,000)Toyota Corolla sedan: Toyota’s grasp on the Australian market is set to be strengthened by the arrival of a sedan version of the new Corolla in February. Both European and US versions of the new sedan have been unveiled, and the Australian model will most closely resemble the European model. (Approximately $20,000-$32,000)Volkswagen Golf wagon: Volkswagen will add a wagon bodystyle to its Mk7 Golf lineup early in 2014, mirroring the hatch with its range of petrol and diesel engines. (Approximately $27,000-37,000)FAMILY CARSFord Falcon: The once-mighty Falcon range is set to undergo its final facelift in the fourth quarter of 2014, ahead of it’s now certain doom in 2016. Minor styling revisions are expected, but the addition of Ford’s SYNC multimedia system and the return of the XR8 V8 model (as FPV is wound up) are likely to be the biggest changes. (Approximately 37,000-56,000)Kia Optima: Kia’s Optima will score a mid-cycle update in January, with revised styling inside and out, along with added features. (Approximately $30,990-$40,490)PEOPLE MOVERSCitroen C4 Grand Picasso: Citroen will replace the long-serving C4 Grand Picasso with an all-new version in the second quarter of 2014. The new model promises to continue as a stylish alternative to other seven-seat people movers with a choice of petrol or diesel drivetrains and will hopefully retain the current model’s sub-$40,000 pricing. (Approximately $37,000-$40,000)Honda Odyssey: An all-new Odyssey eight-seat people mover will follow in February, with fresh styling, improved features and safety and a more efficient drivetrain. (Approximately $35,000-$43,000)Kia Grand Carnival: Later in the year, Kia will replace the segment-champion but ageing Grand Carnival model. Improvements to safety, features, and efficiency are expected, and should be a winner if the smaller new Rondo is anything to go by. (Approximately $39,000-56,000)SUV/4WDFord EcoSport: The Blue Oval’s new EcoSport baby will complete its lineup in February, with the cheaper Trend and Ambiente spec levels joining the top-line Titanium that launched the model in December. (Approximately $20,790-27,790)Honda CR-V diesel: Honda will kick off 2014 by adding the first-ever diesel variant to the local CR-V SUV lineup in January. The 2.2 litre unit produces 110kW/350Nm, and will be available in six-speed manual or five-speed auto with all-wheel drive only. Official fuel consumption is as low as 5.8L/100km. (Approximately $35,000-$45,000)Jeep Cherokee: Jeep’s new more-civilised Cherokee SUV will arrive in the first half of 2014, with a choice of 2.4-litre petrol, 3.2-litre petrol V6, or 2.0-litre turbodiesel engines. (Approximately $28,000-$37,000)Kia Sportage: During the second quarter, Kia will grace its Sportage medium SUV with a more significant update than the minor revisions made in mid-2013 with the shift to European production. Like Optima, expect fresh interior and exterior styling and new features. (Approximately $25,000-$40,000)Kia Sorento: The final Kia model for 2014 is likely to be a significantly revamped Sorento seven-seat SUV, with a comprehensive design update inside and out to bring it in line with the fresher styling of its Hyundai Santa Fe mechanical twin. (Approximately $38,000-$51,000)Nissan X-Trail: Nissan will replace its hugely successful X-Trail medium SUV in about July, with the bigger design offering seating for seven for the first time, and improved refinement to go with its softened exterior design. (Approximately $30,000-$47,000)Nissan Qashqai: Nissan’s other significant SUV arrival for 2014 will be the Dualis-replacing Qashqai compact SUV, which will arrive in five-seat only guise in the third quarter. (Approximately $26,000-$36,000)Renault Captur: The Renault Captur will arrive mid-year, representing the French brand in the rapidly expanding compact SUV segement. The Clio-based crossover should start in the low $20,000s, and challenge the Trax, Juke, 2008, and EcoSport. (Approximately from $20,000)Skoda Yeti: Skoda’s best-selling Yeti compact SUV is also in line for a mid-cycle refresh in around June, with revised styling and features to bring it in line with the brand’s newer models. (Approximately $26,000-$38,000)Suzuki S-Cross: Suzuki’s SX4-replacing S-Cross will arrive in January, with reduced fuel consumption an increased interior space over the model it supercedes. Like the SX4, the S-Cross will continue with 2WD and AWD options, and will be priced between $22,990 and $34,990.COMMERCIAL VEHICLESFord Transit: Ford’s commercial lineup will receive a boost in January with the arrival of an all-new Transit van model, with the light-duty Transit Custom touching down ahead of the heavy-duty Transit Cargo range in April. (Approximately $36,000-$52,000)Renault Kangoo Maxi crew van: A passenger-carrying Kangoo Maxi crew van is also expected in the second quarter. (Approximately $27,000)

The next Suzuki Alto five-door hatch promises to be bigger and roomier, with the design being previewed in the A:Wind concept unveiled in Thailand.Measuring up with the same 1600mm width as the current Alto, but 100mm longer at 3600mm, 70mm taller at 1540mm and riding on a 65mm longer wheelbase at 2425mm, it claims to offer more rear leg room, wider-opening doors and 'class-leading' luggage capacity -- although the cargo figure isn't given.The concept has the usual show garnish, including jazzy 16-inch alloy wheels and a sharply-styled nose with headlights integrated into the spindle-like grille. Under the bonnet is the same 996cc (round it up to 1.0-litre) three-cylinder petrol engine, and while Suzuki hasn't revealed outputs, it could at the most be a small rise on the current Alto's engine, which develops 50kW of power at 6000rpm and 90Nm of torque at 3400rpm.There could also be a change of transmissions, with the front-wheel drive Alto's five-speed manual -- claiming 4.7L/100km -- likely to continue but the 5.3L/100km four-speed auto to be replaced by the continuously-variable transmission previewed in the concept. The car will go into production early in 2014 and is likely to arrive here late that year.However, while our Alto is currently built in India, Suzuki has so far only outlined plans for the new one to be built in Thailand. But with Suzuki referring to the A:Wind as a "global compact car" it seems a certainty to also roll out of the brand's other main production facilities. With the Chinese-built Chery J1 having to exit the Australian market -- culled by the November 1 manadatory requirement for all new cars to have electronic stability control -- the Alto has regained its crown as Australia's cheapest car, with an entry price of $11,790.That price tag is unlikely to move much higher, as despite the affordable level, the Alto is trailing the main rivals in a crowded field of nearly 30 light cars on the Australian market, with sales of 2490 year-to-date 26 per cent down on 2012 -- and considerably behind the leading Mazda2 on 13,136, Toyota Yaris on 12,269 and Hyundai i20 on 11,659.This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott 

Suzuki's new S-Cross crossover will replace the ageing SX4 in January, with the likes of Nissan’s Dualis (and upcoming Qashqai) and Mitsubishi ASX firmly in its sights.Compared with the SX4 that precedes it, the S-Cross has grown in size and will now be available as a five-door hatch only, and will sit above the recently launched Holden Trax, Nissan Juke, Peugeot 2008, Fiat Panda and Ford EcoSport in the booming compact SUV segment.Priced from $22,990, the S-Cross undercuts both the Dualis and ASX by at least $2000, and looks set to ruffle the feathers of small hatches like the Toyota Corolla, Mazda 3 and Nissan Pulsar to boot.The sole engine across all S-Cross variants is a 86kW/156Nm 1.6 litre petrol unit, with a five speed manual available only in the entry variant, with the rest of the lineup paired with a CVT auto.Fuel consumption is listed as 5.8L/100km combined for two-wheel drive S-Crosses, while the heavier all-wheelers consume 6.2L/100km.Three S-Cross trim levels will be offered, with the base $22,990 manual GL adding  the CVT auto for an extra $2500, and the mid-spec auto-only GLX is available in for $29,990, or with all-wheel drive for  $32,990. The top-spec $34,990 GLX Prestige auto is an all-wheel only affair.  The entry GL comes equipped with cruise control, cloth trim, air conditioning, Bluetooth phone and audio, and 16-inch alloys.GLX models add a leather steering wheel, dual-zone climate control 6.1 inch multimedia display with satnav, reversing camera and rear parking sensors, auto HID headlamps, wipers and rear-view mirror dimming, silver body detailing and 17 inch alloys.Sitting at the top of the range, the GLX Prestige adds leather trim and a panoramic glass roof with two sliding panels that create a 560mm opening when open.Cargo space is a useful 430L with the  rear seats up, which opens to 1269L with the seats folded. All S-Cross variants come with seven airbags, stability and traction control, ABS, seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters.This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_FlynnPricingSuzuki S-Cross GL 2WD (m/t) $22,990Suzuki S-Cross GL 2WD (cvt) $25,490Suzuki S-Cross GLX 2WD (cvt) $29,990Suzuki S-Cross GLX AWD (cvt) $32,990Suzuki S-Cross GLX AWD Prestige (cvt) $34,990

Suzuki will display several lightweight concept exhibits at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show including this gem -- the Crosshiker -- which looks like a new version of the ugly, egg-shaped Suzuki X90 from last century.It's a total contradiction of Suzuki's show theme which is "Let's Create a Brand New Story". That doesn't compute given the styling of this vehicle which is a throwback.Crosshiker is a compact crossover with weight reduction and fuel-efficient technologies. It uses the next-generation lightweight Suzuki platform. Crosshiker is the size of a compact car while weighing 810kg - the weight of a minicar. It runs a newly developed 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine which Suzuki says strikes a good balance between power and environmental performance.Suzuki is a small car specialist with strong sales based on well priced, sensible vehicles. Perhaps this is just a bit of fun, something to create a bit more interest in the brand in the face of stiff competition. 

New safety regulations brought into force from today herald the end of the Chinese-built Chery J1 city car and the Great Wall X240 SUV. The new laws require all new vehicles sold to have stability control -- a feature neither of those two offers. The Chery J1 has been a slow seller this year, beset by stiff competition from mainstream brands that saw it slice its price from $11,000 to $9,990 driveway. However even with the price drop, it has sold only 744 this year to the end of September -- down from 969 at the same time last year. The $23,990 Great Wall X240 SUV has fared even worse in sales, moving 340 year to date compared to 849 this time last year. Other vehicles affected by the new laws include the Suzuki Jimny Sierra, however some vehicles that miss out on stability control -- including the Toyota 70 Series LandCruiser and Foton Tunland -- are classified as commercial vehicles and therefore exempt from the ruling. This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott  

As the Australian car sales race heads into the final quarter lap for 2013, most eyes are on what will be the top car. But further back in the field, there’s been a big improvement for several European models, which are posting sales lifts of up to 1000 per cent as a result of aggressive price cuts.Leading the charge is Fiat’s 500 which was slashed more than $10,000 in June, and now starts at just $14,000. This resulted in 310 buyers last month, compared to just 86 before the price drop. The little Italian car has increased in sales at the rate of 850 per cent every month since June, in a market that shrank by almost 15 per cent.Fiat as a whole is benefiting too, with the 1765 sales so far this year being more than a 500 per cent increase over the 328 at this stage in 2012. While the Fiat 500 is attracting customers, established competitors like the Holden Barina, Nissan Micra, Suzuki Alto and Swift and Toyota Yaris have meanwhile seen a decline in sales year-to-date.This means that for the first time, the 500 is outselling more than half its competitors. Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s small models, which also received price cuts recently, have returned positive results – albeit on fairly low numbers. MiTo has doubled in sales in the premium light car segment from 23 to 45, while its larger sibling, Giulietta – in a field that includes the Toyota Corolla, Holden Cruze and Mazda 3, found 324 new homes compared to just 88 before the new pricing strategy.The local HQ says the surge in sales is due to sharper pricing and specifications and more dealership support. “The success is a result of a combination of factors: an expanded and engaged dealer network, streamlined vehicle spec levels and sharper pricing – as well as strong and smart marketing support,” Fiat and Alfa Romeo spokesperson Karla Leach says.With the international launch of the new Alfa Romeo 4C sport car this week – estimated to cost somewhere around $75,000 when it arrives here -- the Italian brand is buckling up for the challenge of luring customers with a few more dollars to spend. Leach says Fiat and Alfa Romeo have serious intentions to keep strengthening their position here. “We have strong ambition for the continued growth of these brands in Australia,” she says. But it’s not just Italians aggressively tackling the entry level market.Renault last month introduced the cheapest Clio ever, firmly cementing the French brand into the budget light car segment with an entry-level price of under $17,000. Keen to be seen as a viable alternative, Renault has hit hard at competitors, offering five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty and fixed price servicing. Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar said at the Clio unveiling last month that the brand has high expectations of the car.“We have a fantastic value proposition in terms of a beautifully designed vehicle with high levels of personalisation, at an extremely competitive price.” he said. Traditional options like Mazda, Hyundai and Toyota still dominate the light and small car segments, but European rivals are fighting hard to gain credibility as mainstream brands.The big winners are the buyers, who may now afford to consider Italian design, French flair or German precision for the same price as more established mainstream manufacturers. The exception to the success story is Opel, which failed to accrue enough buyers in its very short stint in Australia. Despite competitive prices, the German brand disappeared in August, posting less than 1,000 sales this year between the Astra and Corsa small cars combined. 

Suzuki is finally getting into gear with some much-needed improvements to its product line-up for Australia. After more than two years with nothing beyond Sport models for the Swift and Kizashi, it's readying three all-new additions to the showroom line-up from the middle of next year until the start of 2015.The headliner is the iV-4 SUV concept just unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show but it will be book-ended by the compact S-Cross that takes over from the $18,990 SX4 and a renewal of the tiny $11,790 Alto.The iV-4 takes a totally new direction, as it was developed for Europe and will be built in a factory in Hungary. It's also a new look for a company that is notoriously conservative on the styling front. It can be seen as a re-invention of the Vitara in the Suzuki line, as its size - 4.2 metres long and 1.65 metres tall - drops it into the open space between the current Jimny and Grand Vitara.But don't expect the iV-4 badges -  to reflect individuality, vehicle and four-wheel drive at Frankfurt - to make it to the road. "We're expecting a different name for the production car," the spokesman for Suzuki Australia, Andrew Ellis, tells Carsguide. "The timing will be 2015 for Australia. At a stretch, it could just make it into the back end of next year."He confirms the position of the iV-4 and the re-working of the other models. "This is an addition to the range, not a replacment for anything we already have. The SX4 is getting replaced by S-Cross next year and we also have a replacement for the Alto."Ellis says Suzuki Australia is still waiting for a full product plan from Japan, as there is not even a confirmation of engines - beyond a claim for class leading CO2 emissions - from Frankfurt. "All they have said at the moment is that it will be produced for Europe in Hungary. We will be taking S-Cross from the factory at Maygar Suzuki, but we don't know yet about the production model of the iV-4."The change to the SX4 is a big one, as the S-Cross promises to be much more youthful. For people who cannot decide, there will be a choice for much of 2014. "The two models will run in parallel for a while next year, as we're expecting the S-Cross at the start of 2014 and the SX-4 will continue in production for a few months," says Ellis. "The S-Cross is aimed squarely at the Nissan Dualis. It's on a new platform."Looking to the iV-4, Ellis says Suzuki is expecting a genuine four-wheel drive that can trace its roots back to its original LJ off-roader in the 1970s, on through the SJ in the eighties, then the Vitara, Jimny and Grand Vitara. The company is also planning an extensive personalisation program, under the catchtag 'Grab your Field', extending beyond wheels and tyres to exterior parts, colours and even textures of some body panels.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

Scottish motorcyclist Stuart Gunn is a fighter. Eleven years ago a bike accident – when a van crashed into him – left him paralysed from the waist down and along his right side. Four years ago, ongoing complications from the accident resulted in a seizure that left him completely blind. A few days ago he set a world speed record, hitting nearly 270kmh.His verified taking of the World Land Speed Record for a blind motorcyclist was undertaken at Elvington Airfield in the UK’s North Yorkshire area, where he piloted a Suzuki Hayabusa to 268.9kmh. In doing so, he beat the record of 265.3 held for the past 10 years by blind rider Billy Baxter.And according to the official Suzuki Bulletin, Gunn managed to set the new world time while battling strong crosswinds at the airfield, and raised funds for several charities in the process. During the record attempt, Gunn’s father rode beside him, using a helmet intercom to keep him on a straight line, advising him when to steer -- and to brake at the end.“I was surprised to hear I’d done it,” Gunn told the Suzuki Bulletin. “I hope this proves to people that just because you are blind or have a disability, doesn’t mean it should change or limit your life.”He also revealed he is planning another challenge – racing a lap in the famed and treacherous International Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Race, saying that he’d dreamed of doing it since he was a child.“I want to do the TT, definitely. That’s my main goal; I love it,” he said. “I think maybe a year or year and half to figure out the entire track to get safely round. Being in the dark makes it easy for me to work things out, so I can concentrate on learning that and aim for 2014 hopefully.”This reporter is on Twitter: @KarlaPincott