New WRC regulations might push Suzuki's SX4 out
Click the image above for high-res shots of Suzuki's WRC contender.
Suzuki's newest entrant into the WRC may never grace the gravel if changes in car regulations take place earlier than anticipated. Originally, the new vehicle regulations changes were to take effect in 2012 under the World Rallies Commission's "Vision for 2012" plan. That's up in the air, however, as a competing plan targeted at 2009 would make WRC incorporate modified Super 2000 regs that retain turbocharging and 4WD, while still embracing simplified technology. (The standard S2K regs prohibit electronic driving aids in cars.) Using a revised flavor of Super 2000 might be very attractive to the WRC teams, as the simpler tech could potentially lower operating costs.
Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, head of Suzuki Sport, recently sat down with the automaker's senior execs to mull over the possibility of nixing the SX4's planned entry in October's Corsica rally. According to Autoweek, Tajima even questioned the development of a new car at all "when it will be quite useless in two years time."
[Source: Autoweek]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
why not the LS2/LS7? 11:44AM (8/29/2007)
Don't sweat it. The WRC are complete boobs at proposing rules, a couple years ago they actually proposed requiring cars use a spec transmission to save money. The problem was the spec transmission was transverse, and Subaru required a longitudinal mounting. Thus they would have excluded Subaru from WRC.
Instead, they took some good advice and simplified the computer-controlled diffs and left the tranny alone.
WRC won't drive out manufacturers, they need all they can get. They'll work this out.
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naggs 12:05PM (8/29/2007)
the WRC has to do something to get costs down
mitsu was the dominant force in WRC just a few years ago, now they are gone possibly never to return. how long till subaru and ford decide they are not getting their moneys worth?
if something isn't done, the WRC will fade into irrelevancy
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Rob 1:07PM (8/29/2007)
Poor Suzuki. Honestly, I don't really care if this car ever races in the WRX, because Suzuki is hell bent on never attempting to sell anything remotely sporty to the American marketplace, EVER. So... whatever. If they actually had a turbo/awd version of that car in the showroom, I'd 100% behind it.
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Rob 1:14PM (8/29/2007)
Woops. I meant WRC, not WRX. Heh.
drtofu 4:05PM (8/29/2007)
I'd love to see this car in the WRC. Small, 4wd, cheap. What's not to like?
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Don 5:33PM (8/29/2007)
It won't be cheap after it's been "rally-fied".
Don 5:32PM (8/29/2007)
Any way we can get the Rally version? 'Cause the NA version is a turd.
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