Suzuki SX4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Suzuki SX4 | |
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| Manufacturer | Suzuki Fiat |
| Production | 2006–present |
| Assembly | Esztergom, Hungary Kosai, Shizuoka, Japan Manesar, Haryana, India St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Predecessor | Suzuki Aerio/Liana |
| Class | Compact/Mini SUV |
| Body style(s) | 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan |
| Layout | Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive |
| Engine(s) | 1.5 L DOHC I4 1.6 L DOHC I4 2.0 L DOHC I4 1.6 L turbodiesel I4 1.9 L turbodiesel I4 |
| Transmission(s) | 5-speed manual 6-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
| Wheelbase | 2500 mm (98.4 in) |
| Length | Hatch: 4135 mm (162.8 in) Sedan: 4490 mm (176.8 in) |
| Width | 1730 mm (68.1 in) |
| Height | Hatch: 1605 mm (63.2 in) Sedan: 1545 mm (60.8 in) |
| Related | Fiat Sedici |
| Designer | Italdesign |
The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car developed by Japanese and Italian automakers Suzuki and Fiat and produced since 2006. Designed by by Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio, the SX4 replaces the Aerio. Although originally intended soley for the European market, the SX4 is sold in Japan, India, South America, Australia and North America as well. It was introduced at the 2006 Geneva Motor Show and is manufactured at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Esztergom, Hungary, as well as in Japan. An expected 60,000 units will be produced — 2/3 to be sold by Suzuki and 1/3 by Fiat, rebadged as the Sedici.
Base engines are the 1.5-litre gasoline unit identical to the one used in the Swift, the new 1.6-litre VVT seen in the new Grand Vitara and a 107 PS (79 kW), 1.6-litre DDIS — along with the Fiat diesel engine with a maximum output of 120 PS (88 kW) and maximum torque of 280 N·m (207 ft·lbf).
The SX4 was initially released as a five-door hatchback body style, marketed as the SX4 Crossover. A sedan model, marketed as the SX4 Sport, debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show and has been released in Japan, India and a few Eastern European markets. It replaced the Suzuki Aerio sedan. [1]
The North-American market model arrived in 2006 as a 2007 model year as Suzuki's entry-level AWD vehicle. Differences from the European model are the offering of AWD as standard (2WD only available in Canada and China AWD is optional in Canada) and a single 2.0 L 143 hp (107 kW) inline-4 gasoline engine.
The US $15,270 base price (model year 2008) for the 5-door hatchback (now marketed in the US as the SX4 Crossover) includes intelligent All Wheel Drive (iAWD), power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, CD player with MP3 capability and keyless entry. Suzuki is also offering Mercedes Benz's ESP system (Anti-lock braking system, Traction Control, and Electronic Stability Control), fog lights, and an advanced key in a Touring package starting at MSRP US $16,870. For the 2009 model year, Suzuki will equip all it's SX4 sedans with standard GPS navigation systems, manufactured by Garmin; complete with Bluetooth, weather, and a gas station locator. [1]
The US-market SX4 sedan (marketed as the SX4 Sport) is only available in FWD. Model year 2008 prices range from $14,770 (for the base model) to $16,270 (for the Touring II package). Except for the absence of iAWD, the option packages for the SX4 Sport closely match those available for the SX4 Crossover.
Both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions of the SX4 are available, although not all combinations of drivetrain and body style may be available in a given market (e.g., the US-market SX4 Crossover is only available with iAWD). The AWD models use an electronically controlled iAWD 3-mode four wheel drive system, user-selectable between front wheel drive, automatic AWD, and AWD-LOCK 50:50 split permanent AWD.
The SX4 has been a sales success[citation needed] for Suzuki, especially in North America where 2007's automotive market has been depressed. In 2007 Suzuki Auto posted the best year-end close in company history, with SX4 sales a primary contributor to this success.[2]
The SX4 was initially released with a five-door hatchback body style. A sedan version debuted at the 2007 New York Auto Show and has been released in India. It shall be released in other markets for the 2008 model year. It will replace the Suzuki Aerio sedan in the U.S market. [3]
On September 2006, Suzuki announced that they have intentions to produce a rally-inspired hot hatch version of the SX4[citation needed]. A 2.0 L turbocharged engine will be used and the power target is at least 150 kW[citation needed]. The car will have permanent AWD and a wide body kit that will be keyed to the SX4 WRC. However the decision for a street rally car will be heavily decided by the outcome in the WRC 2008[citation needed]. If confirmed the car could see production in 2009 or 2010.[citation needed]
[edit] Motorsport
On February 28 at the Geneva Motor Show, Suzuki confirmed that the marque will enter the FIA World Rally Championship, with the factory backed Suzuki World Rally Team in the World Rally Car category in 2007, using the SX4. However due to WRC calendar changes Suzuki officially debuted in 2008, using the 2007 season as further development time for the SX4. The SX4 competed on a test basis in two 2007 WRC events: the Rallye de France in October 2007 (finishing 31st overall) and the Rally GB in November 2007 (finishing 27th overall)[4]. In the first event of 2008, the Rallye Monte Carlo, Suzuki driver P.-G. Andersson finished 8th.
[edit] References
- ^ 2007 New York Auto Show: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Will Make North American Debut (March 9, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-09.
- ^ http://media.suzuki.com/auto/_articles/sales_releases/2008/1199481846.December07SalesReleaseFinal.pdf
- ^ 2007 New York Auto Show: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Will Make North American Debut (March 9, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-03-09.
- ^ Suzuki World Rally Team. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
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| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| Subcompact | Forsa | Swift | Swift | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compact | Esteem | Forenza/Reno | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aerio | SX4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mid-size | Verona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mini SUV | Samurai | X-90 | Vitara | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Crossover | Sidekick | Grand Vitara | Grand Vitara | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| XL-7 | XL-7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pickup | Equator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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