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Last month, the Suzuki SX4 WRC underwent tarmac testing in Europe, and the consensus is that things are progressing well, but there's room for improvement,. And to be competitive, more improvement is needed. The car's current configuration is said to be very close to what the team will use in the WRC test entries it's scheduled for -- the Rallye de France in October and Rally GB in November.
Suzuki Sport's president, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima (yes, him), said that while the results the group has seen are encouraging, he knows that the European WRC teams are evolving and improving just as quickly, and he and the rest of the team at Suzuki Sport are working very hard to ensure that the SX4 WRC will be a competitive entry when takes part in this season's upcoming test rallies, and more importantly, next year's World Rally Championship season. We hope this WRC effort will ultimately spawn a snazzy, turbocharged SX4 street car to do battle with the WRX in the marketplace. Because, you know, we're selfish like that.
Press release after the jump.
[Source: Suzuki]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Shadysi @ Jul 27th 2007 10:54AM
*waits for announcement of turrbo awd sx4*
:D
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 11:01AM
YES! This thing is just waiting to destroy the Caliber SRT-4 in acceleration, handling, and traction--and undercut it in price!
dap7298 @ Jul 27th 2007 11:09AM
At least Suzuki can still make an attractive station wagon unlike some other car company I won't mention.
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 2:19PM
Dodge can make an attractive station wagon--the 300C wagon isn't too bad. The Caliber is one of the worst designs ever, regardless of what engine Dodge stuffs under the hood.
Richard @ Jul 27th 2007 11:12AM
THAT WING!!!
Is what the WRX STi will be needing once it goes on sale here.
Fabri91 @ Jul 27th 2007 11:35AM
Did you know that the SX4 is a sibling of Fiat's Sedici?
MD @ Jul 27th 2007 11:40AM
The SX4 as far as I can tell is the lowest priced AWD sold in America. Suzuki could bolt-on a turbo with a huge intercooler and still drastically undercut the price of the competition.
Tiochristopher @ Jul 27th 2007 11:41AM
thats cool. Now if we can get Suzuki to add the S model here in the USA, which does away with the black trim and uses body colored trim.
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/sx4/exterior/gallery/pg.jpg
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 2:20PM
That looks a lot better. It probably wouldn't be too expensive to have the black trim painted, though.
ebm14 @ Jul 28th 2007 12:13AM
Also there are Xeons!!!
nagmashot @ Jul 27th 2007 11:55AM
Is that a full WRC car or a Super2000 Rally car... does not look like a full allert WRC Rally car... the second line Rally Series the super2000 (2.0l n/a 8500rpm limit AWD 260-285hp) is very popular in Europe and much more car brands race this Rally series as the WRC because it is a lot cheaper and much more private teams can run it.
Alex Nunez @ Jul 27th 2007 7:51PM
It is a WRC Car, not Super 2000:
http://www.suzuki-wrc.com/interview/suzukisport/e/index.html
Brad @ Jul 27th 2007 12:30PM
Wow, this would be a sweet car and for the price :o
I'd definitely buy this--a street version.
tbirdkatz @ Jul 27th 2007 1:02PM
Wagon looks cool. The sedan comes to the U.S. next year with either FWD or AWD. Give me the AWD model with 260+ hp and a decent interior and I'm sold. Also, get rid of the black body trim and go with body color like mentioned above.
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 2:23PM
The sedan version kind of spoils the SX4's SUV image in America.
Pud @ Jul 27th 2007 2:09PM
260 hp in an SX4? Do you plan on launching yourself to the moon or replacing your tires every week or what?
1337 @ Jul 27th 2007 2:22PM
I'm a bit worried about the SX4's AWD holding up to this kind of power. Suzuki will probably strengthen it the AWD for rally duty, but the street version's AWD might not hold up to the extra power from a bolt-on turbo.
Cortez @ Jul 27th 2007 2:23PM
This is a rally car it will not go in production
calebe @ Jul 27th 2007 3:16PM
I really like these, although the sedan not so much. To corolla looking. Not the corolla is a bad car, just very bland. the Hatch really needs the mono paint as an option.
Nick @ Jul 27th 2007 7:11PM
I think this is super2000, the interview with the engineer makes no mention of turbocharging.
Even though the SX4 is available with awd, any rally bred derivative would need a whole new rear suspension, as the rear axle on the production AWD SX4 is not even independent.