SUZUKI FAN

Suzuki Indonesia will launch Alto 800,Rumor of Swift Sport and one   unidentified new car in 2013.

In 2013 will be one of big year for Suzuki Indonesia as they plans to launch 3 new car into one of the most expending car market in South East Asia.As in 2012 the sale reach 150,000 unit first time in the history.

The Suzuki’s launch in 2013 will featuring by Suzuki Alto 800,An A-segment hatchback that will sell under Indonesia’s lowcost green car program which now waiting for final regulation from the goverment.

The car expect to launch in the second half of the year and the prices will be prices around Rp 75-105 million which will be in the same range of Toyota Agya and Daihatsu Ayla.

But unfortunately some source report that Suzuki first car in lowcost green car program will not be Suzuki Alto 800 but will be others A-segment car.Anyway,SuzukiFan believe first car in this program will be the Alto 800.

The Indonesia’s source report second car for for Suzuki Indonesia this year will be Swift Sport. Although  SuzukiFan not sure about this but there is possibility.The car could be import directly from Japan as Thailand which supply the Swift for Indonesia not produce the sport version and India’s plant is not produce this variant too.

The third new car for Suzuki Indonesia is undisclosed but reliable source report that apart from 2 car we said above,there will be one more new car.

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First spyshot of next generation Suzuki Alto/Celerio/A star that will increase heavily in length and height to give more space

Back to around more than 10 year ago,The A-segment car market is very niche and major brand not set important in this segment.Not like these day,competition is very intense as new players jump in (Volkswagen/Skoda)and current player’re upgrade quality (Fiat Panda,Hyundai i10,Kia Picanto).It can say that these small car have been improve a lot in recent day and it good for the customers.

The current Alto/Celerio/A star arrive since early 2009 and it now consider too simple and aging when compare to the new arrival.Anyway,plan to replace it is set in 2014 and it should launch on time as it has been captured prototype testing by Autoblog.it it very early stage since january 2013.

Many testers verdict the current Alto as one of the best riding and handling car in class,engine also on top of the chart combine with good economy and great power but some test driver suggest to improve on quality of interior’s plastic, limit back seat and boot space.

The news is say that Suzuki will increase heavily in length and height of the car in order to gain more space and reduce current generation’s weakness.The car will taller than average A-segment because Suzuki will use space efficiency concept from Japanese’s tallboy.Expect around 1550 mm high which is in the same league with Fiat panda .Wheelbase will also extent from current 2360 mm in order to give more interior space.length of the car expect to gain more 150 mm from 3500 mm to around 3650 mm.Suzuki is said to design bigger boot and make seat more comfortable as much as possible.While current strength will also improve.

The car will upgrade to Sub B-segment and will slightly up price in some market.Suzuki is hope the car attract more customer in India,especially,the sedan derivative that will offer first time in the history of Alto.Suzuki also aim to get new customers in south east asia as they will produce the car in the region.The car will arrive in 2014 and got YL7 codename( YL8 is Ertiga,YL1is SX4 facelift)

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Suzuki target huge growth in South east asia , want to sell 250,000 unit in 2013 and plan double around 2016.

Earlier this month,Osamu Suzuki,President and CEO of Suzuki motor interview with Japan’s Chunichi newspaper about company expanding and bussiness strategy in South east asia.Conclusion from the talk can be gather that
( 1 )”With downsizing (miniaturization) advances in the world, Asia is the strongest” Osamu Suzuki.

( 2 ) Indonesia and Thailand will be 2 most important market in the region and Suzuki planning to take advantage of the low-cost small car/Ecocar incentives to promote the two countries and strengthen local production.The company will give each countries a lot of new model each year.

(3) In 2013,Suzuki want to sell around 200,000-250,000 unit in South east asia and want to double in the next few year.

(4) In Thailand,Started production of Swift in march 2010 in “eco-car” project and want to release second ecocar in 2014 with engine size around 800-1,000 cc.production of Thailand plant will be double by 2015(SuzukiFan expect the factory to reach full production of first phase around 2015-2016 and 2nd phase will be annouce soon.

( 5 ) Will introduce a “low-cost eco-car “(LCGC) in Indonesia based on the Japanese minicar.

(6 ) Southeast Asia market environment is right because they can use the company’s product development capabilities and strengths of small car that is now ready.

(7 )Minicar in Japan, competition has intensified further as ten of brand compet in the single market.

(8 ) Suzuki will focus in Japan as well as India and growing strategic region like Southeast Asia and China.The same time have to capture the Europeam market.

Content by SuzukiFan (Source Chunichi)

Suzuki set sale target and will launch production version of S-Cross in march’s Geneva motor show , sale will start initially in Japan at middle of the year

A reliable source from Japan say that Suzuki plans to launch a production version of it compact hatchback crossover vehicle “S-cross concept” in March 2013 Geneva motor show.Then,it will start sell that vehicle in Japan first time in the middle of the year and release in Europe in september 2013.After that will be the time for India and China in late 2013/early2014.(But India and China will get sedan first and will fallow by hatchback around 6 month later).

This time line considering similar to the the launch of 2nd generation Swift and current generation Grand vitara’s that got preview  in europe (Swift was initially preview as a concept car in Paris motor show and Grand vitara was intended to leak clearly image during the clinical research in Europe)then,both car get production and sale first in Japan and fallow by Europe.

Suzuki plans to sale around 300,000 unit of S-cross a year

Autocar of India is report that Maruti Suzuki set target to sell 100,000 unit of the car a year(The company did not disclose the detail but Suzuki fan expect will be around 5,000 unit of sedan and 3,000 of hatchback/crossover a month).It a big move from the car it replace and far ahead volume than current’s segment leader.Prices and engineering of the car will be selling point.We expect start at 8 lakh

In China,It will be others important market for the S-cross.when consider that SX4 can sell around 6,000 unit a month at very long time although it may reduce to 4,000 unit a month after nearly 6 year of selling,SuzukiFan optimistic of 100,000 unit a year in China with right price and promotion.

Top level exclusive at Suzuki also confirmed sale target 60,000 unit a year in Europe. SuzukiFan also expect 40,000-80,000 unit a year for the rest of the world.

We thinks that the S-Cross will be second best selling model for Suzuki behind Swift/Dzire

Suzuki will discontinue production of SX4 in Japan In the middle of 2014

In the middle of 2014,Suzuki will cancel Japan’s production line of SX4.It can say that it will cut the supply of the car to North America,South America,Oceania and Middle East region.But the production still running in Europe,China,India and Indonesia.

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Suzuki confirmed 3 new sedan will launch in the next few year, Update on XA Alpha SUV

SuzukiFan has been reported that Suzuki is developing some batch of new sedan for the last few month.But that stories come as a rumour,scoop or insider source that disclose and not formal release.Now,is the first time we got confirm from top Maruti Suzuki exclusive,R C Bhargava,early this week that Suzuki is working on these car.

He did reveal to financial express that Maruti Suzuki is closely contribute the work with Suzuki Japan to develop 3 new sedan that will arrive by 2015.

First,The A-segment sedan in less than 3.99 meter in length that even smaller than the Dzire and based on the next generation Suzuki Alto (or A-star in India).The car will have main target in India and may be produce in South east asia as Thailand and Indonesia have strong possibility,especially in Thailand factory that have some websites report working on the next Alto hatchback may also build this sedan for Thailand’s ecocar program. The source did not disclose on launch date but SuzukiFan expect this car will start sale first in India in 2015.

The rest 2 car is world strategy model that will market in every part of the world.Start with B-segment sedan that will compete with Volkswagen Polo sedan,Hyundai verna and Kia Rio.Report to developed on the extended new Swift platform to position above Dzire and below new compact C segment sedan.In India in will cost 7-9 lakh and will replace the SX4 sedan around middle of 2015.Now, the SX 4 will get new life by getting the minor face lift in early 2013.

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Next generation Suzuki Pallete will arrive in first half of 2013,Here is render and latest information we got

The Suzuki Pallete is a super tall wagon minicar that have give the car better (and may be the best) cabin space when compare to normal tall boy.The car also equip with twin sliding rear doors that very wide which give ease to get in .Sit in “kei car” category that get special tax benefit and account around 32% of total car sale in Japan.

The Pallete enter showroom since January 2008 and fiercely compete with only competitor,Daihatsu Tanto,which the first generation arrived since 2003.The Tanto can sold 160,665 unit in the first 10 month of 2012.Compare to Suzuki Palette which sold 57,552 unit and Nissan Roox (The twin of Pallete produce by Suzuki) sold 46,342 unit at the same period.Accumulate for both car are 103,894 unit. SuzukiFan feel that due to lack of B-pillar give Tanto get advantage over Pallete and it may be impact in sale.Longer sale period may also involved in sale.

The latest competitor is Honda Nbox which got amazing sale record at 197,509 unit in less than 10 month since debut .SuzukiFan thinks that courage styling that different from conventional “Super Space Wagon” help them get impressive sale and the advantage of the Honda’s platform also give slightly more space at rear seat and the boot but SuzukiFan thinks styling is set the chart different.

The second generation Pallete

The new Pallete is in final stage of development and likely to arrive in the first half of 2013.Mag-x of Japan exactly reveal that it will be launch in January 2013 but SuzukiFan thinks launch date may later than that.The new palette is set to be best fuel consumption in the class with around 28 km / L compare to 20.8km / L of current car.

This will not the Nbox achievement as the car got too much square design and tall body style that not good for aerodynamic.Some website also say that current 660CC engine of Honda is now not fuel efficient as much as Suzuki 660CC engine.

Suzuki also report use of expensive high strength steel that will save weight of the car from 940 (kg) to around 850-870 (kg).The vehicle will get new develop engine and use ” Suzuki green technology” with the new idling stop system which function when travel at or under 13km per hour.

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Old but proven M series petrol engine will use in production version of S cross as newly developed engine not ready until 2015

The Suzuki M series petrol engine has been launched since 2001 when it debuted in LIANA/Aerio sub compact hatchback and sedan that replace Suzuki Baleno.The M series is a modern engine with DOHC- dual overhead cams,16 valves, multi-point fuel injection (MPFI) and got VVT-variable valve timing or even Dual VVT in some variant.

This engine consist of 1.3 liter displacement that use in Jimny,2nd generation Swift and Ignis,1.5 liter in 2nd generation Swift,Japannese spec SX4 and early life cycle of European SX4.The 1.6 liter M16A that widely use in Suzuki car range from SX4, Liana, Grand Vitara (3door), Suzuki Swift Sport version and Fiat Sedici and the M18A 1.8 liter in SX4 that sell in China.

The M series of 1.3 liter and1.5 liter version was later replace by new K series engine of 1.2liter and 1.4 liter.Now the 1.3 and 1.5 liter M series is use only in the Jimny and 2nd generation Swift which still producing in China.but the 1.6/1.8 liter still use in SX4 in Europe,Japan and others developed countries.

But latest report that SuzukiFan got,the aging 1.6 liter M series petrol will get soldier on and will be use in the production version of S cross that will arrive in september 2013 (And this will be mainstream petrol engine for this car) because the newly developed engine not ready until 2015.

That was not the good news but it not consider a bad news either because SuzukiFan compare this engine sheet specification and test drive report. It reveal that this engine still competitive.Ofcourse, it still return moderate performance,efficiency and emission.As it may be not the best in class natural aspire petrol engine and SuzukiFan sure it not among the last.

Here is the reference (converted from manufacturer data for car that sell in United kingdom )

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Suzuki Europe plans not less than 5 new model offensive by 2016,Production version of S cross will reveal by march 2013 but next generation Splash will be post pone

Suzuki’s European head,Takanori Suzuki,speaking with German’s sources in early december 2012 with mostly talked topic is about future model plan. Takanori san who share Suzuki family name not have relation to Suzuki’s founder revealed that Suzuki is an absolute “no go” in the industry as they release just one new model in past 3 year(2010-2012,Swift,Suzuki best selling which sell around 60,000 unit alone in Europe and nearly 500,000 world wide a year)but from 2013 Suzuki ready to get back with at least one new model every year by 2016.

Now Suzuki planing a large-scale model with wide range choice of trim level and both petrol/diesel engine.Start with the S cross concept of compact crossover which reveal in 2012 Paris motor show will debut in form of production version at march’s 2013 Geneva motor show.The same source also state that they ready to reveal the production version of S cross ‘s name to dealer in the next few month and will tell to the public at 2013 Geneva motorshow(They report that the name will refer to company’s heritage).
Then,The car will start sell in europe at september 2013 .While India,will arrive as soon as december 2013 or not later than early 2014.In China,They also plans sedan version of the car that will be the first vehicle from soon to be open new China plant.The reveal’s time line will be the similar to India.

The S cross designed for five people, will appeal to young families and active users, “who want to move sometimes off the beaten track”, There is an optional intelligent second generation’s all-wheel drive (i-AWD) system that Suzuki wholly develop.The source say that space and the boot are among the best in its class. The same applies to the consumption and emission .SuzukiFan also expect that the car is carefully setup and tune as we witness the car’s prototype on real condition testing for long time since early 2012.

In 2014,will be the time for next generation Suzuki Alto which will upgrade size of the car to be similar to second generation Suzuki Swift.

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Suzuki Hungary’s plant is now produce just half of their full production volume.Here,SuzukiFan post about timeline and it’s future model.

In 1992 Suzuki started car production at it first and only fully own production assembly in Europe (Actually,Suzuki used to produce Jimny and last generation Grand Vitara in Europe but that was hiring partner factory produce car in Spain).The company is called Magyar Suzuki Corporation and locate in Esztergom,north-west of the capital Budapest.

The plant expansion of the plant finished around 2007 and have three-shift operation of 300,000 cars per year and hire The 3,100 workers.The plant have duty to supply Suzuki’s car to european market.The peak year was 2008 with production around 270,000 unit.but sadly after that European car market was shrink and it made just 171,700 vehicles in 2010 and 168,555 car in 2011(which was 61123 Swift, 61,864 SX4 61,864 and Fiat Sedici,45568 of Splash and Opel Agila.

From January to october 2012,The plant produced 155,000 unit and recent news report that it will reduce work to single shift in last two month of 2012 and likely again in January 2013 to return to two-shift production.

Suzuki Hungary’s plant future model

In september 2013 it will start production of new compact hatchback/crossover that debuted as S cross concept in 2012 Paris motorshow.The car is likely to get Suzuki’s develop’s 1.6 liter petrol engine and Fiat design’s 1.6 liter diesel engine.

In 2014, the production will reduce as Opel will discountinue order supply of Suzuki’s Splash that rebadge as Opel Agila and will replace it with self’s develop new car that based from Opel Corsa.

Magyar Suzuki time line.

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Suzuki plans to build new car plant in Philippines  and Myanmar,Update production volume at Thailand’s plant.

As SuzukiFan have been reported in recent week,Suzuki discontinue car selling business in United State due to low sale since the crisis in 2009. SuzukiFan have been told that some of Suzuki buyers in that country not have the greatest credit and may got reject hire purchase from dominant car makers(But get green light at Suzuki).But after 2009,hire purchase procedure have lot more strict which that don’t help people who not have a good credit or Suzuki.

Others factor that made Suzuki car business say good bye from the US. is strong yen.This factor may be influence if Suzuki have production facility in United State,Canada or Mexico but Suzuki don’t have in any one of these and every model’s import from Japan which make them only few profit.

So,they turn to emerging market,new countries instead of fighting in high profile but hard earn profit.

Considering plant in Philippines and Myanmar

Actually,Suzuki already have production facility in Myanmar right now but it have limit volume as much as a thousand unit per year but was forced to stop operation in 2010 due to civil and political unrest.Suzuki say that they hope the government to give a positive response before March of 2013 and they’re hoping to start operations in the new plant by 2015 at at least 20,000 to 30,000 cars a year.

Irrawaddy report that Suzuki will utilize area in the suburban Thilawa district of Yangon to build its plant thru a wholly owned subsidiary. and the company is hope Myanmar give them special tax benefit as the plant is place in a special economic zone (SEZ).

In Philippines, Suzuki have a motorcycle plant in Carmelray Industrial Park in Canlubang, Laguna which just open this year.They plans to produce 200,000 unit motorcycle a year which double 96,000 units of their old plant at Pasig facility.Osamu Suzuki,The chairman and CEO, day that “We are planning to put up a car manufacturing facility beside our existing motorcycle manufacturing plant in Laguna.

Thailand’s plant

Osamu Suzuki say during the visited Thailand’s plant last week that the recently open earlier this year plant in Rayong province will hit 100,000 unit car a year in 2016.Now the Thai plant is 100% investment from Suzuki Japan.They are produce the Swift sub compact car that get a lot better than predict demand and waiting period in Thailand is around one year!! and they have to give 1,000 unit of Swift every month’s quota for Indonesia .Next year the plant is going to produce 4,000 Swift per month and will postpone export Swift to Australia due to too much better than expect local demand.

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