Autoblog

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner mentioned last week that, in addition to selling the HUMMER brand, other assets were being evaluated for sale, as well. While no other brands are likely to be sold off besides HUMMER, GM did announce this morning that it's selling all of its remaining stock in Suzuki. GM owns 16,413,000 Suzuki shares, which is about 3% of the Japanese automaker's traded stock. The value of the sale is estimated at $230 million, all of which should help keep the lights on at GM for an extra day or two if some form of government aid isn't approved this week by Congress.

Despite selling off its remaining interest in Suzuki, GM is still very much interested in continuing the two automakers' working relationship and may end up repurchasing a stake in the future. The giant American carmaker's interest in its Japanese competitor has fluctuated over the years, peaking in 2001 when it held over 20% of Suzuki's outstanding shares. In 2006, however, it sold 17.4% before today's unloading of the remaining 3%.

[Source: General Motors]

For the 2009 model year, Suzuki will begin offering navigation as standard equipment on all SX4 Sport models. Starting at a buck under 16K, the new 'Zook is the cheapest car in America so equipped, and that news was very well received by the media and car shoppers alike. In fact, so positive was the response, the decision was made to begin offering the GPS navigation about six months early as part of the TRIP package. We were intrigued by the idea of a low-cost commuter car coming standard with such a desirable feature, so we decided to procure one such TRIP-equipped 2008.5 SX4 Sport for testing. Is the navigation nothing more than a gimmick to get you into a sub-standard car, or does the SX4 have more going for it than just being well equipped? Read on to find out.


Photos Copyright ©2008 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.

When the Suzuki Kizashi 3 concept bowed in New York, we were smitten by the sedan's aggressive lines and low-slung stance. But after seeing some rudimentary patent drawings of the production model, we were seriously concerned that everything we loved about Suzuki's new sedan would be lost in translation. Finally, some glimmer of hope has arrived.

KGP caught a Kizashi mule in Germany before it set off on its mandatory 'Ring run, and with a modicum of camo and some artfully placed tape, the prototype laid most of our concerns to rest.

Although the exaggerated shape and massive fender flares of the concept has been eschewed for something a bit more sedate, the majority of the lines remain, along with the sculpted headlamps and broad rear shoulders. Unfortunately, things begin to go slightly awry in the rear, where the chunky C-pillar and 1-series look-alike lights join an upkicked trunk and a bulbous bumper. But overall, our gripes are minor, and with power rumored to be provided by either a 300 hp, 3.6-liter DOHC V6 driving all four wheels or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder putting power down to the front rollers, we think this might be the first in a string of new models from Suzuki that could finally bring it up to par with its cross-town competitors in Japan.

The Suzuki GSX-R1000 has been around since 2001, replacing the venerable 1100 sportbike that couldn't quite match the performance of the sensational Yamaha R1 that was introduced in 1998. Ever since, the big Gixxer has been battling it out with the other Japanese literbikes for the outright performance crown. For 2009, the model gets evolutionary changes that are meant to eke that extra bit of speed out of the platform, which has shed a few pounds off the slightly porky model of the past few years. One instantly recognizable update is the new dual exhaust cans, now made from titanium in a very swoopy shape. There's a slight bump in the engine's compression, which now has larger titanium valves for better breathing potential. The front forks also come from Showa and feature the firm's new Big Piston technology. All in all, it may not be as flashy as the ABS-equipped CBR from Honda or the new crossplane crank from Yamana, but Suzuki's definitely been in-the-hunt these last few years. We'll see how things play out on the track and on the sales floor soon enough. (NOTE: pics are of European model, we're still waiting for Suzuki to release images of U.S.-spec version.)


[Source: Suzuki]

As of today, Suzuki has a new Wagon R on the market in Japan. It's joined by a new Wagon R Stingray variant (above) as well, and the duo will set about filling the shoes of their bestselling predecessors. The new Wagon Rs don't lose their signature boxiness, but they wear all-new sheetmetal and sit on a longer wheelbase. The standard Wagon R gets a friendly face with large, tall headlamps, while the sportier-themed Wagon R Stingray gets a chrome grille strip that runs between its thinner, horizontal lamps.

The rest follows the standard kei-car formula. Darker, more masculine colors characterize the Stingray, while the Wagon R clearly includes women in its target audience, sporting a color palette loaded with the lighter solids and pastels. Normally-aspirated and turbocharged 660cc engines are offered, mated to either 4- or 5-speed automatics or a CVT, depending on trim level. The turbocharged Stingray with CVT even gets paddle shifters to give drivers complete control over the 64 ponies corraled underhood. A snazzier, dark interior with some nifty lighting is also available in the Stingray.

Suzuki hopes to sell 18,000 new Wagon Rs every month, and if the previous generation showed us anything, we can expect to see a variety of spinoff models over time.



[Source: Suzuki]

Suzuki has chosen a rather dubious time to enter the pickup truck market with the 2009 Equator. As you are surely aware, trucks and SUV sales are way down from their apogee a few years back, and small cars like the ones that have historically filled Suzuki showrooms are all the rage. So, why would the Japanese automaker even bother with a mid-sized pickup truck based on the Nissan Frontier? That's a good question, and we aimed to find out when we grabbed the keys to Team Yellow's first-ever real pickup contender in the U.S. Read on to see what the Suzuki Equator has to offer.


All Photos © Copyright Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs Inc.

Loris Capirossi, who usually races on two wheels in MotoGP, will give it a go on four wheels, though he'll be remaining loyal to the Suzuki brand in the process. The race will take place on November 8 in Aldershot, U.K. as part of the Suzuki Swift Sport Cup rally racing series that we told you about last April. The Italian motorcycle racer has driven in rally events in the past, but his low experience level against the talented crew of professional rally drivers will make the successful MotoGP racer a major underdog. As an added bonus, Capirossi will race against his motorcycling boss, Paul Denning, who is also racing as a guest at the Tempest Rally. That should be fun.

It isn't that uncommon for racers from one sport to take part in another. Recent examples such as Travis Pastrana and Michael Schumacher prove that success in one discipline can in fact equal a measure of success in another. For his part, Loris says he'll do his best to be competitive. We wish Capirossi the best, but we expect him to be back on his factory Suzuki GSV-R mount in short order.

[Source: Motorcycle.com]

The European patent office has revealed a few outline drawings of the upcoming Suzuki Kizashi mid-sizer that the Japanese automaker, more often associated with high-performance motorcycles, hopes will compete head-on with the best in the world. The Kizashi could be a make-it or break-it type vehicle for Suzuki, which sells huge numbers of very small cars in Japan but has only a small foothold in the United States. These drawings seem to indicate that the Kizashi will keep some of its styling cues intact, though it also looks as if it could be mistaken for a Chevy Malibu from some angles.

When Suzuki releases the Kizashi to the general public, which some speculate could be as early as the Paris Motor Show next month, it will be equipped with both four-cylinder and V6 engine options with up to 300 horsepower and all-wheel-drive. Specs like that ought to strike some fear into the established players if Suzuki is able to keep the price down. Stay tuned.


[Source: Autoblog Spanish]

A production Suzuki Equator has been snapped while hanging out in California, and the nose job looks successful. The Equator is virtually pure Nissan Frontier, besides the front sheetmetal, but that's not a bad thing. The Frontier is a handsome 2/3rds scale Titan, probably the most attractive of the "compact" pickups. Configurations will mirror the Frontier, too, with 2wd and 4wd models motivated by Nissan's big 2.5-liter four or 4.0-liter V6. Both extended and crew cab setups will be on offer for buyers needing space, and we're waiting for the 'Zuki pickup to hit stores this fall so we can check out interior fitment and prices.

[Source: Automobile]

Click above for two high-res shots of the new Suzuki Alto

Suzuki will bring its seventh-generation Alto to the Paris Motor Show this October, featuring stylistic and powertrain upgrades to compete with the best and brightest from the budget-oriented, compact class. Based on the A-Star concept introduced at last year's New Delhi Motor Show, the new model will be built in India by Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant, and will likely packing a 1.0-liter engine which should make Euro V emissions regulations a breeze to exceed. Expect the new Alto to find its largest market in India, along with limited sales throughout Europe. For an economy car, it's a pretty decent looker from what we can tell from the two shots Suzuki's released ahead of the show, and we expect it will find plenty of buyers looking for a relatively cheap way to get around. Check the press release after the break for more.


[Source: Suzuki]