Suzuki gears up for U.S. passenger car market during gas crunch

Known primarily in the U.S. for motorcycles, ATVs and small SUVs, American Suzuki Motor Corporation and their strong dealer network are getting serious about the passenger car market. Suzuki is quietly gaining momentum realizing four consecutive years of growth, and setting three straight years of sales records. This surge is being led by an award-winning and fuel efficient vehicle called the SX4.

Suzuki SX4
The SX4 Sport brings competitive fuel economy, affordability and handling capabilities in a stylish, four-door package. The SX4 offers a youthful design along with a generous list of standard features and a surprisingly roomy interior. Targeted toward younger buyers, the SX4 Sport represents a core model for Suzuki that has a personality distinct from its competitors.

With standard features like a MacPherson front strut suspension, KYB tuned performance shocks, front and rear stabilizer bars, 17 inch aluminum alloy wheels, and an Aero body kit; it is no wonder the SX4 Sport was named one of the top ten best automotive deals for college graduates by Edmunds.com as well as one of the top ten coolest new cars under $18,000 by Kelley Blue Book. The SX4 has also won numerous other awards and received recognition from respected organizations such as Motor Trend, Road & Track, Car & Driver, CNN Money, Intellichoice, AutoByTel, Consumer Guide and New Car Test Drive.

Powertrain
Built in Japan, the SX4 Sport features a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine matched to a five-speed manual transmission or an available specially tuned four-speed automatic transmission. The responsive engine’s strong low-end torque provides the fun-to-drive feeling commuters – and weekenders – crave, and is more powerful than Civic and Corolla. The 2.0-liter engine delivers 143 horsepower and 136 lb.-ft. of torque, with an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 23 mpg/city and 31 mpg/highway with automatic transmission.

Driving in Confidence
The SX4 Sport offers customers an extensive array of standard safety features. Active safety features include daytime running lights, four-wheel Bosch disc brakes with ABS and a tire pressure monitoring system. Passive safety elements include a safety-reinforced body with front and rear crumple zones designed to help absorb impact energy. The unibody structure is designed to direct impact energy away from the reinforced cabin area.

Six airbags are standard on the SX4 Sport to provide additional protection for outboard front- and rear-seat passengers. Additionally, the SX4 Sport is fitted with front three-point seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point emergency locking retractor rear seat belts, ISO FIX-compliant child seat anchors, LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) and a high-mounted stop lamp.
The Electronic Stability Program1 (ESP) is available on SX4 Sport Touring models and provides outstanding safety and control. The system uses the SX4 Sport’s electronic brake and traction control systems to measure vehicle speed, steering wheel angle and yaw faster than a typical driver. This information is sent to a central controller that can intervene as needed.

Together with the traction control system, ESP helps the driver maintain control when cornering, under acceleration, during emergency maneuvers and/or when driving on slippery road surfaces.

Amenity-filled Interior
The stylish design continues inside the SX4 Sport. The handsome integrated center stack contains a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with four speakers or an available six-disc in-dash CD AM/FM/MP3 audio system with nine speakers. Both audio systems are XM Satellite Radio-capable. Customers who want the convenience of a fully integrated iPod system or Bluetooth connectivity can purchase a Suzuki interface from their Suzuki dealer.

Suzuki’s Way of Life
The Suzuki SX4 Sport is the automotive cousin to the five-door SX4 Crossover and is designed to ease the day-in, day-out urban grind for its drivers. Sharing a common appeal for those who live a life consistent with Suzuki’s “Way of Life” brand philosophy, the SX4 Sport and SX4 Crossover seamlessly blend into varied driving conditions and environments.

America’s Best Warranty and Complimentary Gasoline Program
As with all 2008 Suzuki automobiles, the SX4 Sport is backed by America’s #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty. To help motorists at the pump this summer driving season, Suzuki has announced a nationwide sales promotion offering buyers zero percent financing and three months of complimentary gasoline on retail purchases of all new 2007 and 2008 vehicles.

“Suzuki recognizes the economic impact resulting from soaring gas prices and thought this promotion was a great way to entice eager car buyers,” said Gary Akin, vice president of sales, American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “Working through our U.S. dealer network, we’re happy to extend this unique program to consumers across the country, providing potential buyers even more reason to consider Suzuki during the summer shopping season.”

Customers who qualify for the offer through American Suzuki Financial Services will enjoy zero percent APR financing for up to 60 months and will receive a debit card that can be used for fuel purchases. The amount of each gas card is determined by several factors, including an assumed three-month timeframe for summer driving, the vehicles EPA estimated highway mpg, the Federal Highway Administration’s estimated average of 1,000 miles driven per month and the U.S. national average price of one gallon of regular gasoline as determined by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. See your local Suzuki dealer for more details.

American Suzuki Model Lineup
Beyond the SX4 Sport and Crossover, Suzuki’s model lineup also includes the XL7 midsize SUV and Grand Vitara compact SUV as well as the Forenza and Reno passenger cars. Later this year, Suzuki will add the Equator pickup and for the 2010 model year, the recently-revealed production version of the Concept Kizashi 3 sports sedan. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki’s brand virtues of fuel efficiency, toughness, leading-edge style and high-end features at affordable prices.

For more information, visit a local Suzuki dealer or visit www.suzukiauto.com.