Three new Suzukis next year

This week’s release of Suzuki’s new SX4 S-Cross marks a new wave of fresh models from the Japanese small-car specialist.

On sale from January 1 priced from $22,990, Suzuki Australia’s first Hungarian-sourced model is powered exclusively by a 1.6-litre petrol engine matched with manual and CVT transmissions.

However, Suzuki’s all-new compact crossover will also be offered in 12 months or so with a Fiat-sourced 1.6-litre turbo-diesel delivering 88kW and 320Nm of torque, once it is available from the factory with a CVT.

Even without a diesel option, Suzuki expects the S-Cross to be one of its most popular models in Australia, with about 500 sales a month – about double that of the SX4, which will be discontinued by March.

“New S-Cross signals the first in a wave of new products from Suzuki,” said Suzuki Australia Managing Director Masaaki Kato.

Also due by late 2014 is a facelifted Jimny complete with electronic stability control (ESC), which became mandatory for all passenger cars sold in Australia from November 1.

The upgraded version of one of Australia’s cheapest SUVs (from $20,490) is the result of continued lobbying by Suzuki Australia, which still sells about 45 examples a month and has about 270 pre-November plated models in stock.

That means the current model will be discontinued by around March, leaving Suzuki without the Jimny until the upgraded model arrives later next year, after which it will continue on sale indefinitely.

However, Suzuki will release two more all-new models in Australia next year, following January’s S-Cross, which like the SX4 it replaces will continue to be marketed as a hatch.

That’s because the S-Cross will be joined here by the all-new iV-4 crossover, which made its world debut at September’s Frankfurt motor show, will be marketed as a compact SUV when it arrives here late next year.

The iV-4, which will wear a different name in showrooms, is based on the same all-new front/all-wheel drive platform as the S-Cross (which is 100kg lighter than the SX4, despite being a whole vehicle size larger) and built at the same Magyar plant.

Expect it to be priced around the same or cheaper than the S-Cross, with which it should share its engines, forming a two-pronged Suzuki assault on the fast-growing compact SUV segment led by the likes of Nissan’s Dualis.

Before the iV-4, Jimny ESC and S-Cross diesel arrive late next year, however, Suzuki will replace its pint-size Alto, which pioneered the sub-light A-segment in Australia in 2009, with an all-new model around mid-2014.

Revealed at the Bangkok motor show on Friday, the A:Wind concept is an accurate preview of the Alto successor, which is due on sale here in mid-2014.

However, the Alto replacement will eschew both the names of its predecessor and the concept that previewed it by adopting a new global nameplate: Celerio.

Like the A:Wind, the Celerio production car will be a tiny five-door hatchback measuring 3600mm long (100mm longer than the Alto), the same 1600mm wide and 1540mm higher (70mm taller).

Despite a 75mm-shorter (2425mm) wheelbase, the Celerio is claimed to offer more legroom than the Alto and class-leading boot space. Like the Alto, it will be powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine, matched with a CVT auto.

Unlike the Indian-built Alto, the Thai-made Celerio will benefit from cheaper shipping costs and a free trade agreement between Australia and Thailand.

However, Kato told motoring.com.au that, rather than being priced even lower than the Alto, which is one of Australia’s cheapest cars at $11,790 plus ORCs, the Celerio is likely to bring better value via more standard equipment.

Beyond next year’s new model barrage, Suzuki is also developing a replacement for its strong-selling Grand Vitara in 2015.

The Grand Vitara remains one of Suzuki Australia’s top-selling models (alongside the Swift) and one of the few remaining mid-size SUVs to be based on a full ladder chassis.

“We are still thinking about which direction we should go for the next Grand Vitara,” said Kato san, opening the possibility it could switch to a car-like monococque platform.

The dramatic upswing in new model releases from Suzuki Australia follows a hiatus since February 2011, when its last all-new model, the MkIII Swift, was launched.

Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers said the Japanese car-maker had moved cautiously since the 2008 GFC, but had used that time to develop a series of new products aimed at growth areas of the market.

“The company is well-placed to now deliver a swag of new products aimed squarely at maintaining the success we have enjoyed in Australia in recent times,” said

Suzuki sales are down 9.2 per cent to October this year in Australia, in a total market up 2.6 per cent. While sales of the outgoing SX4 and the Grand Vitara and Jimny are up or static, Alto, Swift and Kizashi sales are all down.

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