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REPORT: Suzuki XL7 production put on "indefinite hold"

Chris Paukert — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, GM, Suzuki

According to Automotive News, Suzuki has elected to halt production of its only North American-built model, the slow-selling three-row XL7 crossover. Blaming the nation's subprime loan crisis, Suzuki spokesman Hideo Kojima has confirmed that no additional examples of the America-only model will roll off out of General Motors' CAMI joint-venture facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. The plant is still operational, however, continuing to produce other GM vehicles for the remainder of the model year.

Given GM's dire financial state, you might expect for Suzuki to be worried about the future of the their arrangement, but apparently that isn't so. AN quotes CEO Osamu Suzuki as saying: "The possibility that CAMI would be forced into closure or a production stop is 120 percent impossible... it is a central pillar in the reconstruction plan, so I am not worried about it."

So while there may be a paucity of new kabuki-faced XL7s headed out onto North America's roads, Suzuki apparently believes that their joint venture with GM will find a way to carry on.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

REPORT: Suzuki XL7 production put on "indefinite hold" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Review: 2008 Suzuki XL7

Dan Roth — Sun, 18 May 2008 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Crossover, Suzuki

2008 Suzuki XL7 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki's swapped the ladder frame architecture of the past to create a more civilized XL7, a welcome change from the Vitara roots of the original. The XL7's unitized Theta II platform, on loan from General Motors, also serves as the basis for the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent. Suzuki also borrows the General's 3.6 liter V6, trying its very best in this application. The XL in the name is an apt descriptor, this is a lot of vehicle, and the price makes it a lot of value. So, what had to be sacrificed to bring such family friendly acreage in for the $22,000 of our trial unit?

Gallery: Review: 2008 Suzuki XL7

Continue reading Review: 2008 Suzuki XL7

Review: 2008 Suzuki XL7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 May 2008 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special unveiled

Alex Nunez — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:01:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, SUV, Suzuki

Click image for hi-res gallery

Damn. If only the real Suzuki XL7 was this awesome. The car you see above is the machine that Monster Tajima hopes to break the current Pikes Peak Hill Climb record in. While the Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special has about as much in common with the regular XL7 as a funny car does with a production vehicle, it does indeed have one of the GM-sourced 3.6L V6es under its bodywork, only this one's a fully worked-over, twin-turbocharged unit dishing out 993 horsepower (1007 PS) and 737 lb-ft of torque. The target is Rod Millen's 1994 record of 10:04.06. The 2007 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place this weekend, so we'll know soon enough if Monster's new ride has what it takes to put a new entry in the record book. In the meantime, we'd like to suggest that Suzuki add a "Hill Climb Special" checkbox to the list of available XL7 options for the rest of us.

[Source: Suzuki Sport]

Gallery: 2007 Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special

Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEMA: Suzuki shows off XL7 BaseCamp, 300HP SX4 "Zuk" concepts

Alex Nunez — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Concept Cars, SEMA Show, Crossover, Hatchback, Suzuki

UPDATE: Live shots from SEMA show added

At SEMA, Suzuki has unveiled their latest "Suzuki LIVE Series" concept vehicles. In the past, the series has treated us to goodness like a 357 horsepower turbocharged Grand Vitara "Blizzard," as well as other accessorized and/or modified cars such as the Forenza "Sea."

This week in Vegas, the focus is squarely on the new XL7 and SX4, two cars Suzuki is banking heavily on to dramatically increase its US sales. The XL7 is transformed into the BaseCamp concept, a metallic-finished crossover with features like a passenger-side gullwing door that provides access to a spacious, wi-fi-enabled passenger cabin. Outside, the metallic paint is augmented by titanium body cladding that flips down to create scaffolding which allows easy access to the roof, where a carrier hauls a pair of mountain bikes. Another highlight is a carbon-fiber-framed canopy that attaches to the roof to provide some protection from the elements at your campsite.

The SX4 gets a very serious injection of muscle in the form of the Zuk, a motorcycle-inspired version of Suzuki's new hatchback with 300 turbocharged, intercooled horsepower lurking underhood. Its paint scheme is borrowed from the company's line of sportbikes, and cutouts in the bodywork expose the car's inner workings, just as you'd see on a two-wheeler. Inside, the minimalist cockpit carries forward the cycle theme with a gauge cluster that recalls the GSX-R and exposed spaceframe and rollcage.

Those two are joined by another trick SX4, the race-prepped, US Touring Car Championship-compliant Thunderhill SX4 GodZUKI. This car is being developed to run in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill Endurance race. Naturally a couple of Suzukis outfitted with factory accessories are on hand as well, to generate interest in the additional baubles you can order right from your local dealership.

(More photos, press release after the jump)

[Source: American Suzuki]

Continue reading SEMA: Suzuki shows off XL7 BaseCamp, 300HP SX4 "Zuk" concepts

SEMA: Suzuki shows off XL7 BaseCamp, 300HP SX4 "Zuk" concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally! New Suzuki ads draw connection to successful bikes

Alex Nunez — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:42:00 EST

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Crossover, Hatchback, Suzuki

That Suzuki regularly achieves near-mythical levels of performance with its motorcycles is a well-established fact. The bikes are proven winners and champions on the international stage. When it comes to the company's automotive division here in the US, however, it's been a different story.

In recent years, the automaker's showrooms have been home to a rather odd and not-so-compelling mix of vehicles. Sure, there are bright spots, like the current Grand Vitara, a legitimately attractive small SUV. To a lesser extent, there's the Aerio, which I've heard is actually a fun and practical little car in its hatchback form.

The rest of the lineup, however, has had issues. The Forenza and Reno are rebadged Daewoo products that will ultimately be phased out now that Suzuki and GM have parted ways. The XL-7 was long-in-the-tooth and outclassed by many other vehicles in the segment. Nothing about those cars makes anyone think, "Oooh...fun!"

Suzuki is working to fix that, however, with the new-for-2007 XL7 (goodbye, hyphen) and the very appealing SX4. The XL7 uses GM's Theta platform and a lot of GM switchgear (a good thing), and blows away its Equinox and Torrent platform and production line-mates with a Suzuki-built V6 pumping out 250 horses. For its part, the SX4 looks good, has a peppy yet economical 4-cylinder underhood, features standard AWD, and will retail for between $15,000 and $18,000.

Those two cars are set to be Suzuki's launching pad for its US resurgence, and knowing they have two good things in the new rides, they are finally leveraging the motorcycle division in the marketing campaigns for the cars. The new SX4 print ad (above right) shows the Giugiaro-designed hatch casting a shadow shaped like one of Suzuki's sportbikes. The copy touts the company's fun reputation without mentioning any bikes specifically. The shadow says it all.

On the TV side, two new XL7 spots (sorry, we couldn't find them online) work the same angle. One pans from a motorcycle shadow over to the new XL7, which is the vehicle casting it. Another one shows a closeup of a foot emerging from the CUV, the door shutting, and a kickstand being flipped down as the driver walks away. Both spots ask, "Are our SUV's as much fun as our bikes?" and the Suzuki logo appears.

Only time will tell if customers think the answer to that question is "yes." We'll say this, though: both new products appear to have the goods to make a splash. Now, for the ultimate bike/car tie-in, Suzuki needs to hurry up and get their sportiest offering, the Swift, across the ocean as soon as possible. The SX4 and XL7 will put runners on base. The Swift is the car that'll drive them home.

UPDATE: Suzuki press release detailing the new campaign and images of the new print ads have been added after the jump.

[Source: Brandweek]

Continue reading Finally! New Suzuki ads draw connection to successful bikes

Finally! New Suzuki ads draw connection to successful bikes originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki XL7 and SX4 get priced

John Neff — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, SUV, Crossover, Suzuki

Suzuki has finally slapped a price tag on its two newest models, the XL7 and SX4. The XL7 CUV will start at a low $22,899 and come standard with GM's 3.6-liter V6 making 252 hp and 243 ft-lbs. of torque. It will be offered in standard, Luxury and Limited trim, the first two of which can be had with either five- or seven-passenger seating and either front- or all-wheel drive. The Limited model gets the third row standard, can also be had with either front- or all-wheel drive, and includes a Nivomat self-leveling rear suspension.

The SX4, which replaces the Aerio, will start at $14,999 and feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 143 horsepower. The SX4 is considered a crossover of sorts and also comes standard with Suzuki's intelligent all-wheel drive system. Two trim levels will be offered, SX4 and SX4 Sport. The Sport model will include TCS and ECS, cruise control, a premium audio system and start at $16,399.

This is an extremely aggressive pricing strategy on the part of Suzuki that should signal to its competitors that the once afterthough automaker in the U.S. is serious about carving out more market share for itself in 2007.

(Check out Suzuki's full press release after the jump)

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading Suzuki XL7 and SX4 get priced

Suzuki XL7 and SX4 get priced originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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