Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[The Suzuki Method: SX4 S2000 in the works for WRC comeback?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/the-suzuki-method-sx4-s2000-in-the-works-for-wrc-comeback/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/the-suzuki-method-sx4-s2000-in-the-works-for-wrc-comeback/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/21/the-suzuki-method-sx4-s2000-in-the-works-for-wrc-comeback/#commentsFiled under: ,


Suzuki SX4 WRC - Click above for a hi-res gallery

It's only been four months since Suzuki announced it was leaving the World Rally Championship, but reports are already surfacing about its comeback. Suzuki's decision came amidst a whole slew of similar announcements, primarily from Japanese automakers, to cancel their racing programs. Honda pulled out of F1, Subaru out of the WRC, Mitsubishi out of rally raids... even Kawasaki dropped their motorbike team. But while Honda is undoubtedly kicking itself for leaving the grand prix scene one season too early, it could be Suzuki that gets back into the race first.

The reports come from the mouth of Urmo Aava, one of Suzuki's most valued rally drivers. Since the Japanese carmaker withdrew from the top-level series, he's been helping the junior team with set-up for the Suzuki Swift S1600, but the planned switch next season to the more production-car-based S2000 formula in the top-tier WRC could open the door to more automakers like Suzuki coming back to the fold, or entering for the first time. Like the one which Suzuki was campaigning until last season (pictured above), the new car would be based on the SX4, but cost less to campaign. For his part, Aava realizes he'd need to bring in his own sponsorship cash to make it happen, but if it does, Suzuki could be kickin' gravel and jumping hills by 2011. Thanks to Eralp for the tip!


Gallery: Suzuki SX4 WRC


[Source: RallyBuzz]

The Suzuki Method: SX4 S2000 in the works for WRC comeback? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>s2000suzukisuzuki rallysuzuki sx4suzuki sx4 s2000suzuki sx4 wrcsuzuki world rally teamsuzuki wrcsuzuki wrtSuzukiRallySuzukiSx4SuzukiSx4S2000SuzukiSx4WrcSuzukiWorldRallyTeamSuzukiWrcSuzukiWrtsx4wrcTue, 21 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Suzuki suspends WRC program ]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/suzuki-suspends-wrc-program/#commentsFiled under: ,



Another one bites the dust. Today was the deadline for manufacturers to announce their intentions to race in the FIA World Rally Championship for 2009, and Suzuki saw fit to let its entry expire after just a single year of competition. The Japanese automaker calls the move a countermeasure to "the contraction of the automotive sales caused by recent global economic turmoil." In other words, fewer car sales mean less excess money for racing. Worse, Suzuki says it expects things to stay bad for the foreseeable future, so riding out the storm wasn't a possibility.

Suzuki was just beginning to see some success in WRC, finishing in the top five for the last two races of the season with its SX4 WRC racer. The manufacturer's Swift Cup will remain active in 2009. This move follows rival automaker Honda's announcement that it would be suspending Formula 1 and AMA Roadracing competition, also a result of the global economic downturn. Thanks for the tip, everyone!

[Source: World Rally Championship]

Suzuki suspends WRC program originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>suzukisuzuki sx4suzuki sx4 wrcsuzuki wrcSuzukiSx4SuzukiSx4WrcSuzukiWrcworld rally championshipWorldRallyChampionshipMon, 15 Dec 2008 17:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Don't believe the hype: Suzuki won't be producing roadgoing rally-inspired SX4]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/25/dont-believe-the-hype-suzuki-wont-be-producing-road-going-ral/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/25/dont-believe-the-hype-suzuki-wont-be-producing-road-going-ral/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/25/dont-believe-the-hype-suzuki-wont-be-producing-road-going-ral/#commentsFiled under: , ,



A number of rumors began circulating the Web yesterday that contend Suzuki is in the process of building a homologation special out of its SX4 AWD hatch to take on the WRXs of the world. The idea was that Suzuki would enlist some of the technology derived from its WRC contender and it would form the basis of an "SX4 Sport," likely packing a 200+ HP turbocharged motor, along with upgraded brakes and a suspension tuned by rally savant Nobuhiro Tajima.

We took all this with a grain of salt when it originally swirled around the 'Net, and after some leg work by our friends over at Winding Road it turns out that the "Sport" is purely vaporware. According to a Suzuki spokesperson, the fact that the SX4 is already in production negates the need for a homologation version since the five-door hatch already satisfies the requirements for competition.

That all said, we'd still love to see Suzuki combine some of its rally-inspired tech with its motorcycle background, and with the new Subaru WRX and the rumored Ralliart version of the Mitsubishi Lancer coming to market, it would face some stiff competition for the hearts and minds of enthusiasts.

[Source: Winding Road]

Gallery: Suzuki SX4 WRC

Don't believe the hype: Suzuki won't be producing roadgoing rally-inspired SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>rallysuzukisuzuki sx4 sportsuzuki sx4 wrcSuzukiSx4SportSuzukiSx4Wrcsx4wrcwrxTue, 25 Sep 2007 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Suzuki SX4 WRC takes to the tarmac]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/27/suzuki-sx4-wrc-takes-to-the-tarmac/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/27/suzuki-sx4-wrc-takes-to-the-tarmac/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/27/suzuki-sx4-wrc-takes-to-the-tarmac/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click image for photo gallery

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]

Gallery: Suzuki SX4 WRC

Suzuki SX4 WRC takes to the tarmac originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>suzuki sportsuzuki sx4 wrcSuzukiSportSuzukiSx4Wrcsx4 wrcSx4Wrctajimaworld rally championshipWorldRallyChampionshipwrcFri, 27 Jul 2007 10:43:00 EST