Suzuki Forenza, Reno get the boot after '08, Swift convertible in the works
In memoriam: the Suzuki Forenza and its brother, the Reno, will shuffle off this mortal coil after 2008. Oh, how we barely knew thee – but we're not surprised.
Both vehicles have seen a dip in sales this year, and with the SX4's numbers up over 35-percent for 2007, and a sedan version due out in October, Suzuki obviously had too many vehicles vying for the same buyers.According to an un-named source quoted by Automotive News, the SX4's market share will continue to expand, with the aforementioned sedan as well as a hatchback model supposedly due in 2009. As for Suzuki's sub-compact offering, we can still expect the Swift to arrive on U.S. shores in 2010, packing a more performance-oriented punch than the SX4, with a convertible version due out sometime afterwards.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mattias 9:29AM (8/20/2007)
Since Suzuki and GM are loosening ties, it does not wonder that Suzuki discontinues selling the Daewoo.
The car itself is not: The finish and the engines remind of old Opels which is OK. The diesels are nice VM sourced units in the 120hp which is enough for travelling german autobahns and the wagon is clean looking and has a large boot.
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Bob-omb 10:35AM (8/20/2007)
"the SX4's market share will continue to expand, with the aforementioned sedan as well as a hatchback model supposedly due in 2009."
But the hatch is already out...or am I misunderstanding?
I would seriously have bought a Forenza Wagon or a Reno, but people had some scary reviews. Maybe that's why they were so cheap.
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Ming of GMI 10:40AM (8/20/2007)
The SX4 is new for 2007, and the sales numbers are combined with the Aerio still are under half of Forenza / Reno sales.
The SX has hardly "eclipsed" Forenza / Reno sales.
The Forenza / Reno's "dip" is due to the cars having been out since 2004 - until this year they were the engine behind American Suzuki's growth to over 100,000 units.
This move is a gamble by Suzuki, since the Aerio sedan and hatch never performed nearly as well as the Forenza / Reno, and the SX4's performance thus far has been Aerio-like at best.
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Nathan Sweeney 10:52AM (8/20/2007)
Bob-omb, perhaps by hatch they mean something along the lines of Mazda6 hatch (not wagon), or the Scion tC which is technically a hatchback. I usually think of "hatchback" as "Mini wagon" such as my Mazda3, but there are also ones that do not appear to be a hatchback from the outside.
I can't wait to see the Swift for sale again. Mini fighter with a cheaper price. If they put a small I4 with a turbo ala Mini Cooper S for significantly less, I would be tempted to look into one to replace the 3 in a few years.
Can't say I am sad to see the Reno and Forenza go, they were bland-mobiles of Camry-esque proportions.
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AlexP 11:06AM (8/20/2007)
How can the SX4's trunk get any smaller?
psarhjinian 12:28PM (8/20/2007)
These aren't bad cars, but they're not that great, either. They're transportation appliances--just not the best-of-breed appliances they need to be.
In Canada they're sold as Chevrolets (the Optra, Optra5 and Optra wagon) and they do fairly well. The interiors are nice (certainly moreso than "native" GM products of the same vintage) but the fuel economy and powertrain performance isn't competitive with, say, the Civic or Corolla/Matrix and the driving experience isn't comparable to the 3, Civic or Focus.
Actually, the Focus is probably these cars' primary competition and, unfortunately, they're not better in any way. With Ford neutering the Focus for 2008, these will probably sell better.
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Eric Elinow 1:57PM (8/20/2007)
The shortcomings of the Optra5 (I own one) can be summed up in two areas:
The engine's intake is very restricted. This opel/vauxhall engine's weak-point has been notorious. The solution to this is a proper cold air intake (Boshart Motorsport produces one worth 6 kw (8 bhp) at the wheels. That is how restrictive we're talking. It utilises the factory sensors (they come already part of the system), so no engine management lights get thrown.
The suspension is way to soft so lean is Volvo 2 series-esqe. Thankfully the same company produces beefier anti-sway bars which really help. They are light, and fairly roomy in both front and back seating areas. I just wish they offered the WTCC+ version in North America, and in the hatch & estate variants as opposed to just the saloon version.
eric
http://www.codedevl.com
Adam 12:38PM (8/20/2007)
The Swift is coming, really? I wrote them about it about six months ago and they said they had no plans to introduce to the US. I'd particularly like the little diesel.
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h8rain 1:32PM (8/20/2007)
I thought the Forenza was the best seller? That is all I see on the road around my parts.
IMO Suzuki biggest problem is over selection You have 5 vehicles that are very close in starting price and features (Reno 13.6K, Forenza Wagon 14.9K, Forenza sedan 14K, Aerio 14.3K, SX4 15K). Go to suzuki's website and compare the vehicles, it is actually quite humorous because they are so close in "specs" I would be hard pressed to decide on which one. Basically it would come down to which body style you wanted (smaller hatch, sedan, or estate wagon).
Ford had a similar problem with 500 and the Fusion if I recall correctly. Choice is good, but competition like that among your own brand can't be good for sales
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Ming of GMI 2:11PM (8/20/2007)
Some more facts:
July 2007 American Suzuki Sales:
FORENZA/RENO: 3735
AERIO/SX4: 1102
So far this year Forenza/Reno sales are down 7%: to 28,259 -- compared with 30,329 in 2006.
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Don 2:42PM (8/20/2007)
Thank God. Suzuki didn't do their reputation any good by selling that rebadged Daewoo crap.
Good for them.
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Calebe 2:57PM (8/20/2007)
I've been to two local Suzuki dealers and while I know you can not judge them all by what I've seen, they remind me of going to the AMC dealership when i was little. Not much money is spent promoting them. The dealers had Zero sx4's on the lots. They each had ten or so Forenza's and a few Reno's stuck at the back of the lot. Most of the inventory was SUV's. When i asked about the sx4 the comment was we don't get many of those. Can i show you an XL7? It's really sad that Suzuki has such bad dealers in my area.
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fit4life 5:02AM (8/21/2007)
The problem is that Suzuki production capacity is currently at its max. The recent earthquake in Japan has put production behind. Suzuki is only able to supply 1000 SX4's per month to the United States. It's not your dealerships fault. Suzuki just isnt currently able to produce them fast enough.
They are currently working on changing that.
ebm14 6:08PM (8/20/2007)
I have been seeing a lot of Grand Vitaras on the road
in PA and more and more in the Long Island, NY area.
As far as the SX4, I have been seeing more to and in fact one was a security vehicle for the IRS. The XL-7 have also grown in popularity, but the real problem is that the dealerships need to grow in number and in customer satisfaction ratings. Otherwise, with the dismissal of Dawoo and with more genuine Suzukis on the horizon, Americans must just their next biggest market.
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Robert O 6:45PM (8/20/2007)
The Firenza is a great car. I end up with them as rentals a lot lately from Budget. I was "upgraded" once to a new Dodge Avenger, and hated it. Fortunately, the door latch broke. I had to return the Avenger, and I was given a Firenza. A lot of value in that car!
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Bryan 11:28PM (8/20/2007)
They still make Suzuki automobiles? I can;t even remember the last time I saw one. Convertible? LMAO!
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