Autoblog

American Suzuki gets $100M in financing to go out of business... buy more cars?

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Suzuki, Earnings/Financials

American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), which declared bankruptcy in early November, has been approved by the courts for up to $100 million in debtor-in-possession financing to enable it to shutter its US car business. ASMC had received a $45 million loan from the Japanese parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC), last month in order to make repayment deals with its franchise dealers. At the same time, ASMC was awaiting final court approval of this larger loan.

Out of the newly approved funds, $50 million can be used for operations, and oddly, the other $50 million can be put toward purchases of new inventory from SMC. That's right, even as existing inventory was headed for a smooth exit with the help of incentives, customer demand for orphan Suzuki models is so strong - last month's sales were up 22 percent compared to 2011 - that ASMC plans to purchase 2,500 additional cars from SMC that were built after the bankruptcy announcement. Good news for the owners of those vehicles: the top 50 dealers, representing more than 98 percent of ASMC sales, will become parts and services centers.

The press release below has more information. Unlike its recent tenure here, the end of Suzuki cars in the US looks like it's going rather well.

Continue reading American Suzuki gets $100M in financing to go out of business... buy more cars?

American Suzuki gets $100M in financing to go out of business... buy more cars? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trouble signs keep piling up for Suzuki

Jeff Sabatini — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:34:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Marketing/Advertising, Suzuki, Earnings/Financials

So is it time to start the Suzuki dead pool? Automotive News seems to think so. While the newspaper doesn't go as far as suggesting that Suzuki is not long for the American market, it has compiled a depressingly long list of signs that the company is on its last legs here.

Among the many signs that Suzuki is hurting, the most damning might be what's happening with its dealer body. The report says the brand dropped 32 stores last year, roughly 12 percent, and that it is down to 246 total dealerships in the States. But of those, 150 sell five or fewer cars per month. That would explain why Suzuki only sold 26,618 cars last year, according to AN.

Other signs of distress include sluggish sales so far this year, not exhibiting at the most recent Detroit and Los Angeles auto shows, cutting off their deal for J.D. Power customer satisfaction data, and a lack of marketing leadership or initiative, according to the report.

While Suzuki's product lineup is among the smallest and oldest in the industry, that seems to be the least of the brand's troubles. Heck, even we kind of like the Kizashi.

Trouble signs keep piling up for Suzuki originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki's emergency quake action plan? Moving

Zach Bowman — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:31:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Suzuki

Japanese automakers are continuing to evaluate their strategies for coping with natural disasters after this year's earthquake and tsunami, and for Suzuki, that apparently means packing up shop and moving to higher ground. According to Automotive News, the manufacturer is investing around $494 million to move its factories and research center away from the coastal city of Hamamatsu. The report notes that scientists estimate that there's an 80 percent chance that an 8.0-magnitude earthquake will befall the coastline between Tokyo and Nagoya in the next 30 years, but for Suzuki, the larger concern is radiation contamination associated with a failing nuclear reactor.

Currently, the company's facilities are located near the Hamaoka reactor, which is receiving modifications to protect against the kind of meltdown seen elsewhere in the country. Suzuki plans to purchase around 67 acres of land 6.2 miles from the coast and 30 miles from the reactor for its new complex. It's also investigating new locations both in Japan and abroad for its manufacturing facilities.

Suzuki's emergency quake action plan? Moving originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki reveals first images of new 2011 Swift

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, Suzuki

2011 Suzuki Swift - Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki has just dropped the first official photos of the new third generation Swift compact that goes on sale in Europe this Fall. The new hatch gets a slight smaller, but more powerful 1.2-liter inline-four that generates 93 horsepower thanks to variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust cams. The manual transmission model now has a rating of 47 miles per gallon (U.S.) on the EU combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 116 grams per kilometer. That's 6.5 mpg better than the outgoing model.

The new Swift spans an extra two inches between the axles and 3.5 inches overall. Even with that extra size, the Swift is still a whopping 9.5 inches shorter than the Ford Fiesta hatchback, but it splits the difference between the standard Mini Cooper and the Clubman. Unfortunately, at this point we know of no plans for Suzuki to offer the Swift in the American market. In fact if the surprisingly good Kizashi doesn't start gaining some traction in the market, the brand as a whole might not be around in the States for much longer.

Gallery: 2011 Suzuki Swift

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading Suzuki reveals first images of new 2011 Swift

Suzuki reveals first images of new 2011 Swift originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Jun 2010 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA 2009: Custom Suzuki Kizashi models impress, upset

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA Show, Budget, Sedan, Performance, Japan, Suzuki

Delta Tech Engineering Suzuki Kizashi - Click above image for high-res gallery

We totally dig the new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi. It's a bold step forward for Suzuki and (hopefully) a harbinger of great things to come, which also happens to be what "Kizashi" means. However, the looks are a little, well... not outstanding. Not that it's particularly bad-looking (it ain't), but what if it were a little more... special? SEMA to the rescue!

We've got a trio of modded Kizashis for you to peruse down in the gallery, but how about some background info up front? First up is Delta Tech Engineering's car which might be our favorite. Delta Tech specializes in lighting and every light on the car is either LED or HID. Even though big mouth-look grilles are on the way out fashion-wise, we like the snout on this guy. We also like the fact that it has a cold air intake, custom exhaust and Koni coilovers.

While we just said that the Delta Tech Engineering might be our favorite Kizashi, the Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Kizashi pushes all the right buttons with an even more aggressive body kit. It also features a custom air intake, engine management system and data logger. You also get 13-inch slotted rotors up front (though "only" 10-inches out back). Custom springs, sway bars and chassis stiffeners round the package out.

[UPDATE: We wrongly identified Westside's Kizashi as Import Tuner's car. A total mistake on our (my) part. Sorry 'bout that.]

Lastly, we've got Westside's custom Kizashi - a car we just can't wrap our heads around. From the Frankenstein's Monster neck-bolts as exhaust tips to the bizarre two-tone paint job to the Jianghuai GIGANTIC grill, we're totally, 100% not in love. And that's that.

Gallery: SEMA 2009: Suzuki Kizashi Customs

SEMA 2009: Custom Suzuki Kizashi models impress, upset originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack takes more to the streets, less to the fields

Chris Paukert — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Suzuki

2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack - Click above for high-res image gallery

We've praised Suzuki's SX4 Crossover in these pages before. With its quasi-softroader abilities, surprisingly direct steering, segment-exclusive all-wheel drive and generous equipment levels, the cheap n' cheerful hatchback has carved out a unique niche for itself in the U.S. marketplace. What it has always needed, however, was a bit more power and better fuel economy.

For 2010, Suzuki has given it exactly that - but only just. An all-new, 16-valve, 2.0-liter four-cylinder has taken up residence under the hood, and it now achieves 150 horsepower (@ 6,200 rpm) and 140 pound-feet of torque (@ 3,500 rpm). Those figures represent increases of 7 hp and 4 lb-ft of torque, increases that we presume would be difficult for most drivers to detect without other changes to go along with them. Thankfully, Suzuki has also spent a few shekels on the SX4's gearbox range, and the standard-fit manual transmission gains an extra ratio (for a total of six), while the three-pedal averse will get a new paddleshift CVT - both units with rejiggered ratios to improve acceleration times as well as mileage scores. About that - Suzuki claims the SportBack manual will get 22 mpg city/30 highway, while the CVT will net 23/30. While these figures represent improvements, they still trail classmates like the Honda Fit and Chevrolet Aveo, though the Suzuki does offer more power.

On the outside, the SportBack has been dropped onto 17-inch, 50-series Dunlops, with a lowered, KYB-controlled suspension setup, and there's a new bumper and grille to go along with the car's revamped aero package that includes new side skirts, a rather meek front spoiler, and a tweaked rear spoiler. Interestingly, Suzuki claims that the 2010 alterations actually make the SportBack perform better than its own well-regarded Swift in various handling disciplines, including steering and yaw performance, skidpad, as well as braking. Light-duty off-roaders take note - the SportBack is really just a conventional compact, as it isn't available with all-wheel drive like its Crossover stablemate.

Inside, the Sportback gets an updated navi system that includes 3D graphics, lane guidance, as well as collateral information like weather mapping and airline arrivals/departures, and there's a new instrument cluster as well.

No word yet on pricing, but by way of guidance, the 2009 model-year SX4 Crossover (with its extra pair of driven wheels) commands $16,099. You can check out the full press release after the jump and the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading 2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack takes more to the streets, less to the fields

2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack takes more to the streets, less to the fields originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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