Author Topic: Suzuki Tidbits (Read 5221 times)

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **on:** February 01, 2007, 11:21:49 am »

Suzuki Motor third quarter operating profit up 7.6 percent

Reuters / February 1, 2007 - 9:00 am

TOKYO (Reuters) -- Suzuki Motor Corp. reported a 7.6 percent rise in quarterly profit today as sales grew worldwide, and it reiterated its forecast for higher full-year earnings.

Suzuki is enjoying record profits thanks to a global shift in consumer taste toward smaller, fuel-efficient cars, while it continues a rapid expansion in the burgeoning Indian market. Its local unit, Maruti Udyog Ltd., earlier announced its highest-ever monthly sales with a 30 percent jump in January.

Growth was especially robust in Europe, where Suzuki increased car production by 41 percent during the October-December quarter thanks to the popular Swift compact car. Globally, its car output revved up 11.5 percent to 619,000 units last quarter.

Operating profit at Suzuki was $258.5 million (31.18 billion yen) for the third quarter, according to calculations by Reuters based on the automaker's nine-month results.

Net profit rose 6.5 percent to $150.0 million (18.05 billion yen) on revenue of $6.28 billion (755.89 billion yen), up 11.2 percent.

For the year to March 31, Suzuki stood by its projection for an operating profit of $1.03 billion (124 billion yen), which would be up 8.9 percent from last year and mark the seventh straight year of record profits.

The company expects the dollar and euro to average 114 yen and 144 yen respectively for the year to March 31. For the first nine months, the currencies averaged 116 yen and 148 yen and have climbed further since.

AVToller · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2007, 11:37:20 am »

Good news. Now if only WE could get the real Swift rather than the Swift+ (which should be called the Swift-), ...

safristi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2007, 12:53:39 pm »

SWIFF_ERR!!!..dog gone hairy if'n ya arsk ME.....

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2007, 01:05:22 pm »

Suzuki plans mid-sized comeback

Kathy Jackson | | Automotive News / February 12, 2007 - 1:00 am

LAS VEGAS -- Suzuki plans a return to the mid-sized car segment.

The company killed its only mid-sized car, the Verona, after the 2006 model year. But a new one is in the pipeline, says Koichi Suzuki, president of American Suzuki's automotive operations.

"The mid-sized segment is very important, and Suzuki will come back," he said at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention. "It will be a totally different vehicle than the Verona."

He gave no other details.

Company sources say the new car could arrive as early as 2009.

The Verona was built by GM Daewoo & Technology Co. of Korea. It had a 155-hp, 2.5-liter, inline six-cylinder engine teamed with a four-speed automatic transmission. Customers said it was underpowered.

Koichi Suzuki did not say whether the car would come from GM Daewoo. Suzuki execs have said they want to be in charge of engine technology for the Verona replacement. They say U.S. buyers want a larger V-6 and a five-speed automatic transmission.

The Verona, which debuted in September 2003, never hit its target of 25,000 sales annually. The best year was 2004, at 12,874 units.

Scaerio · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2007, 02:00:45 pm »

The new Daewoo Tosca aka Chevy Europe/Holden Epica seems to be powered by the same 155hp inline 6. Perhaps they can drop something larger in there...

safristi · « **Reply #5 on:** February 12, 2007, 02:48:41 pm »

suzuki tidbits....makes me LARFF!!!!

Mitlov · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2007, 01:39:10 am »

I'll sit up and notice when Suzuki cars are built with the same passion as Suzuki motorcycles. I've never understood how two parts of the same company can be so different. Honda motorcycles are refined, reliable, and generally competent (and some even offer VTEC), just like Honda cars. BMW motorcycles feel rich, cost as much as they feel, and are laden with cutting-edge gadgets, just like BMW cars. But I don't see ANYTHING remotely like my SV650 in the Suzuki cars lineup.

Wolfe · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2007, 08:24:12 pm »

Quote from: Scaerio on February 12, 2007, 02:00:45 pm

The new Daewoo Tosca aka Chevy Europe/Holden Epica seems to be powered by the same 155hp inline 6. Perhaps they can drop something larger in there...

The Chevy Epica/Daewoo Tosca is/was the same car as the Suzuki Verona. Another fine example of badge engineering.

I've only ever seen one Verona in person and I was surprised to see a Suzuki badge on such a large car. I'm sure there is enough room under the hood of the Tosca/Epica/Verona for a much larger engine.

johngenx · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2007, 10:46:11 pm »

I'm seeing lots of SX-4's on the road now...

Scaerio · « **Reply #9 on:** February 14, 2007, 12:20:06 pm »

Quote from: Wolfe on February 13, 2007, 08:24:12 pm

Quote from: Scaerio on February 12, 2007, 02:00:45 pm
The new Daewoo Tosca aka Chevy Europe/Holden Epica seems to be powered by the same 155hp inline 6. Perhaps they can drop something larger in there...

The Chevy Epica/Daewoo Tosca is/was the same car as the Suzuki Verona. Another fine example of badge engineering.

I've only ever seen one Verona in person and I was surprised to see a Suzuki badge on such a large car. I'm sure there is enough room under the hood of the Tosca/Epica/Verona for a much larger engine.

The pictured (Epica/Tosca) car is the redesigned version of the old Daewoo Evanda that was sold as the Chev Epica/Suzuki Verona in North America. It has a new body, but it seems that the underpinnings are from the old car...

Personally I think Suzuki should stick to its knitting, and focus on refining the types of vehicles it excels at - small real off-roaders (à la GV), as well as the SX4 and smaller cars - rather than trying to expand into segments where it has no experince. The SX4 is getting good press over here, and the real Swift is a winner in the markets where it is available (sadly not here...) I think that if Suzuki treated its core car/truck line the same way as it treats its motocycles, the 4-wheeled products would do better and better.

AVToller · « **Reply #10 on:** February 14, 2007, 02:53:14 pm »

Ken - the Suzuki tailor should stick to it's last.

johngenx · « **Reply #11 on:** February 14, 2007, 05:06:33 pm »

Quote from: Mitlov on February 13, 2007, 01:39:10 am

...But I don't see ANYTHING remotely like my SV650 in the Suzuki cars lineup.

What about a car "like" the 'Busa? If they did, it would be a 1000hp GT machine capable of 0-100km/h in 3.0 and top out at over 340km/h, and would cost about $40,000!! Yup, an ultra-high performance machine priced about the same as an entry-level luxo model.

Mitlov · « **Reply #12 on:** February 14, 2007, 06:29:32 pm »

Quote from: johngenx on February 14, 2007, 05:06:33 pm

What about a car "like" the 'Busa? If they did, it would be a 1000hp GT machine capable of 0-100km/h in 3.0 and top out at over 340km/h, and would cost about $40,000!! Yup, an ultra-high performance machine priced about the same as an entry-level luxo model.

How about if they just took two Busa engines, grafted them together as a V8, retuned slightly for additional torque, and dropped it into a RWD four-seat or two-seat coupe? Not quite as insane as your plan, but a moderately viable plan in my opinion. And it could definitely eat into Mustang/350Z sales. It would be a great halo car for Suzuki.

For the short-term, though, I'd be happy with a turbocharged SX4 and/or a turbocharged AWD Verona.

Snowman · « **Reply #13 on:** February 15, 2007, 06:52:45 am »

How about they start building a dealer network instead of selling cars from the old chicken barn franchise.

Scaerio · « **Reply #14 on:** February 15, 2007, 01:51:52 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on February 15, 2007, 06:52:45 am

How about they start building a dealer network instead of selling cars from the old chicken barn franchise.

Good call.

sirAQUAMAN64 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2007, 05:08:56 pm »

Suzuki bolsters SX4 lineup with sedan

Kathy Jackson | Automotive News / March 8, 2007 - 2:36 pm

LOS ANGELES -- Suzuki will unveil its SX4 sedan to North America at the New York auto show April 5.

The sedan follows in the footsteps of the SX4 hatchback, which went on sale in September.

Suzuki says many of the features of the small sedan were borrowed from the Suzuki Swift, which is not sold in this country.

The SX4 sedan will be powered by the same 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that is in the hatchback. The engine makes 143 hp and 131 pounds-feet of torque. The standard transmission is a base five-speed manual; a four-speed automatic is optional.

The sedan's 98.4-inch wheelbase is identical to the hatchback, but it is 14 inches longer, at 176.8 inches. The sedan is 1-inch narrower and2.4-inches shorter in height than the hatchback.

The SX4 packs more power than the slightly larger Suzuki Forenza sedan and wagon and its sibling, the Reno five-door hatchback. The Forenza's inline four-cylinder engine makes 127 hp and produces 131 pounds-feet of torque.

Through February, the Reno and Forenza were Suzuki's top-selling vehicles in the United States, with sales of 6,527 units, up 6.1 percent over year-ago numbers.

Sales of the SX4 hatchback and its sibling, the Aerio wagon, were up 60.2 percent to 2,261 units.

In an earlier interview with Automotive News, Gene Brown, vice president of marketing at American Suzuki Motor Corp., said the new sedan will "not necessarily replace" the Forenza and Reno.

The SX4 sedan goes on sale this fall. No pricing has been set.

Scaerio · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2007, 06:50:30 pm »

I think we've seen spy pics of this monstrosity. Ugly, ugly, ugly.

Mitlov · « **Reply #17 on:** March 08, 2007, 08:44:04 pm »

Quote from: Scaerio on March 08, 2007, 06:50:30 pm

I think we've seen spy pics of this monstrosity. Uglu, ugly, ugly.

I actually like it better than the hatch. The front side window is fugly, but besides that it's not bad at all.

Scaerio · « **Reply #18 on:** March 08, 2007, 11:07:53 pm »

It seems really oddly proportioned. Even more ungainly than the Aerio sedan, and I didn't think anyone could top that.

safristi · « **Reply #19 on:** March 09, 2007, 12:28:34 pm »

IS that Avt 's YARIS.........................