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Author Topic: '07 Suzuki SX4  (Read 13727 times)

Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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'07 Suzuki SX4
« on: November 30, 2005, 04:46:00 pm »
Enter the entry-level car-based UTE. Looks like a wise idea to me!

http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000477070410/
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000800070215/
« Last Edit: November 30, 2005, 04:48:21 pm by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline Shnak

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2005, 05:09:15 pm »
Wow! That looks like a pretty cool vehicle! There isn't much like it on the market right now and it really seems like a good idea. Too bad it probably won't sell much because it is a Suzuki, but I'll definitely keep that on my radar screen.
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Offline Scaerio

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2005, 06:10:26 pm »
Many many on the Aeriostyle forums think it will replace the Aerio hatch...
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eax

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #3 on: December 01, 2005, 08:44:32 am »
The AWD Mode is pretty cool...It will be selectable BUT instead of RWD, 50:50 LOCK or AUTO AWD, it will be FWD, 50:50 LOCK and AUTO AWD.  The first vehicle in the industry to offer a FWD option to save fuel consumption...It will replace the Aerio SX and as can be noted by the increase in sales of the Grand V...this model will continue to the upward sales trend.
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Offline Snowman

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2005, 08:48:55 am »
Agreed, looks great. Is Suzuki going to be the first entry into the entry level UTE battle?
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eax

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2005, 10:24:41 am »
This vehicle is based off the new European Swift+ platform...Suzuki is building the vehicle in Hungary.  Suzuki has sold a version to Fiat (like GMDAT did with the Aveo to Suzuki Canada) that will help to gain marketshare in Europe.  There are area's of Europe for example (such as Italy) where rebadging the the car as a Fiat will push up sales dramatically.  Suzuki LOVES to lower tooling costs.  The average vehicle may take 6 or 7 years to pay off, but by sharing product, you can reduce that time to 2-3 years.  This means HUGE winfalls in profitability.  So, before anyone starts the debate that it is a rebadges FIAT or GM lol...it is a Suzuki, engineered from the ground up, rebadged as a FIAT in certain parts of Europe but will be sold here exclusively as a Suzuki.  The car will sell, it's too bad it won't come with the European Diesel, 120hp/207lb.ft torque...Here's another article....
http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/preview/2005/suzuki-sx4/sx4.html
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eax

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2005, 10:26:47 am »
Here's some clairification on the relationship between Suzuki and Fiat...

"The link with Fiat is not an obligation from the former Fiat/GM partnership, even though Suzuki is itself 20 percent GM-owned. Suzuki controls its collaborative deals itself, on a project-by-project basis; another example is the Fiat 1.3 JTD diesel engine in the Swift, an engine which Suzuki will soon build itself under licence in India."

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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2005, 11:39:45 am »
I was just thinking earlier this week that the entry level utes (just below Tucson) should be the next notable market segment. Higher ground clearance or AWD availability with tall interior space in a compact and affordable pkg with reasonable fuel economy. Sounds darned good.

But replacing the Aerio SX? I realize they would overlap in price, but is there enough trunk room in the SX4? It really doesn't look that long.

Since this is coming from Europe, can you tell the powers that be to bring over the European Swift please  ;)
EDIT: article mentions it'll also be built in Japan. Even better for pricing and quality if you ask me.
« Last Edit: December 01, 2005, 11:43:21 am by sirAQUAMAN64 »
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Offline kavatski

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2005, 12:05:03 pm »
Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on December 01, 2005, 11:39:45 am
I was just thinking earlier this week that the entry level utes (just below Tucson) should be the next notable market segment. Higher ground clearance or AWD availability with tall interior space in a compact and affordable pkg with reasonable fuel economy. Sounds darned good.

Sure does -- this describes our first-gen RAV4 to a T, except we had to buy it used to get it "affordable". Now that the RAV4 has gone larger (and it was always expensive) there's a definite opening for small SUVs, if anyone comes along with a product to fill it. Good for Suzuki. They seem to have realised that styling is still a key factor for success.
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Offline Shnak

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2005, 11:15:52 am »
Quote from: bmorton on December 01, 2005, 12:05:03 pm
Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on December 01, 2005, 11:39:45 am
I was just thinking earlier this week that the entry level utes (just below Tucson) should be the next notable market segment. Higher ground clearance or AWD availability with tall interior space in a compact and affordable pkg with reasonable fuel economy. Sounds darned good.

Sure does -- this describes our first-gen RAV4 to a T, except we had to buy it used to get it "affordable". Now that the RAV4 has gone larger (and it was always expensive) there's a definite opening for small SUVs, if anyone comes along with a product to fill it. Good for Suzuki. They seem to have realised that styling is still a key factor for success.

yeah the original RVA4 was small, but it was quite high too... the SX4 is much lower, only slightly higher than an Aerio or Matrix... I think it makes a lot more sense to have a vehicle like the SX4 for city driving because of the lower center of gravity. Depending how they package this (engine, transmission, equipment, price), this could be one of the coolest vehicles to hit our market soon! I hope it's at least as big as a Matrix inside... and that its AWD system isn't too truck-like... I'd like a permanent AWD system kind of like in the Subarus or RAV4... not the AWD-on-demand, or transfer case like in the trucks... a vehicle this low has no use offroad, and thus needs a car-like AWD system.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2005, 12:25:30 pm »
I expect a small but versatile interior with lots of headroom, and an elevated seating position - somewhat like a Yaris. Not much hatch space, but enough to live with. I don't think it would be as large as a Matrix inside.

FWD with AWD capability is an ideal combo.

This should be a great mini SUV-ish entry. With AWD at $18,5 - $19 or so with decent equipment and some low cost popular options they'd be onto something!
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avtoller

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2005, 12:36:09 pm »
I sounds very interesting to me. If it had been out in time, it could have been a real contender for my purchasing dollars.  ;D
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Offline Shnak

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #12 on: December 02, 2005, 12:37:58 pm »
Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on December 02, 2005, 12:25:30 pm
I expect a small but versatile interior with lots of headroom, and an elevated seating position - somewhat like a Yaris. Not much hatch space, but enough to live with. I don't think it would be as large as a Matrix inside.

FWD with AWD capability is an ideal combo.

This should be a great mini SUV-ish entry. With AWD at $18,5 - $19 or so with decent equipment and some low cost popular options they'd be onto something!

Yeah it does look to be sized somewhere in between the Yaris and the Aerio... I'll have to see for myself, but I think it will be a bit too small for what I'm interested in... Matrix-sized would be perfect.

And you'd rather have a AWD-on-demand system like the CR-V has instead of always-on AWD system like the RAV4? I don't know... Other than in parking lots with tons of snow, I'm not sure on-demand AWD systems are useful that much... I think I'd rather have a cheaper FWD version of the SX4 instead of a on-demand AWD SX4 that costs more...
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #13 on: December 02, 2005, 01:09:04 pm »
I don't want the 'RealTime' Honda system.

I'd like a switch where I decide whether I want FWD, AWD, or Auto AWD. During the summer I'd stick with FWD, on the highway Auto AWD, and when snowy AWD.
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Offline Shnak

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #14 on: December 02, 2005, 04:40:48 pm »
Quote from: sirAQUAMAN64 on December 02, 2005, 01:09:04 pm
I don't want the 'RealTime' Honda system.

I'd like a switch where I decide whether I want FWD, AWD, or Auto AWD. During the summer I'd stick with FWD, on the highway Auto AWD, and when snowy AWD.

That would be perfect indeed. Does Suzuki even have that kind of AWD system in any of their vehicles? As far as I know, the Grand Vitara is RWD until slippage... and has a transfer case to be locked in 4WD... and the Aerio is an on-demand AWD system... I don't think Suzuki has an AWD like you describe, and if they don't, I doubt they would develop one for an entry-level vehicle.
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Offline sirAQUAMAN64

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #15 on: December 02, 2005, 05:34:02 pm »
EAX noted already below (or above, depending how you're profile is set) this was the system coming though...
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eax

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #16 on: December 02, 2005, 11:20:42 pm »
it's a new system developed for this car, the first selectable AWD available in Canada with a FWD instead of RWD option when AWD is not needed.  It is like the GV 4 mode, just reversed...
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Offline Shnak

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #17 on: December 05, 2005, 12:14:09 am »
Quote from: eax on December 02, 2005, 11:20:42 pm
it's a new system developed for this car, the first selectable AWD available in Canada with a FWD instead of RWD option when AWD is not needed.  It is like the GV 4 mode, just reversed...

So... when road conditions are perfect, you leave it FWD, and when there is rain, snow or ice, you flip it in AWD and it'll be like a full-time AWD vehicle until you flip it back into FWD? That is pretty cool! But I wonder if the fuel economy difference between FWD and AWD is big enough that it is worth it to have a system like this instead of always being in AWD... the RAV4 is a full-time AWD system and it's still one of the best small SUV for fuel consumption...
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Offline marineboy

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #18 on: December 05, 2005, 03:20:41 am »
Well check this out:


http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=103702

Seems to be smaller than I thought. (Aveo, Yaris competitor). I'd really like a vehicle between the thrifty AerioSX and the thirsty GV. I like the selectable AWD drive system though...
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avtoller

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Re: '07 Suzuki SX4
« Reply #19 on: December 05, 2005, 10:34:34 am »
"Next September the Japanese automaker will introduce the slightly larger 2007 SX4, which it will market as a small “sport crossover vehicle.”"

I don't understand your comment as the article says it is slightly larger than the AerioSX!!!  ???
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