FRANKFURT: 2008 Suzuki Splash

[Flybrian]

GM @ Frankfurt
2008 Suzuki Splash
Press Release & Image Gallery
2008 Opel/Vauxhall Agila

SUZUKI SPLASH
A NEW SMALL PASSENGER CAR WITH EUROPEAN DESIGN

World Premiere at the International Motor Show in Frankfurt / Available with three engines with CO2 emissions below 140 g/km

With the Splash, a new fresh and exciting small passenger car, Suzuki Motor Corporation intends to gain a significant market share in this growing market segment in Europe. The new flexible compact car combines the sportiness of Suzuki’s successful model Swift with the technologies and immense know-how of the Japanese world market leader in the mini car segment.

The Splash is not the successor of any specific former Suzuki model, but a brand-new concept to satisfy the needs of demanding European customers in terms of roominess, compactness, modern design, aerodynamics, quality, driveability, performance and environmental friendliness. The safety equipment encompasses state-of-the-art features such as six airbags and an Electronic Stability Program (ESP®*). It looks fresh, energetic, juvenile and emotional and thereby underlines the aspiration of its name Splash. Within the global growth strategy of Suzuki, the Splash is already the fourth entirely new model within three years after the launch of Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4 which all embody Suzuki’s unique ‘Way of Life!’-philosophy.

Within this market segment, the car convinces with a relatively tall body (1.6 metres) based on the chassis from the sporty Swift. With its overall length of 3.7 metres and width of 1.7 metres it offers an amply tall and comfortable roomy cabin with sufficient legroom for adults on all seats. Its modern design leads to excellent aerodynamic efficiency and consequently to low carbon-dioxide emissions.

The Splash will make its worldwide debut at the International Motor Show in September in Frankfurt am Main. Sales of the car with its excellent ride comfort will start as of spring 2008. It will be available with two different petrol engines: a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder, 12-valve unit with maximum power of 48kW (65hp) and a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder, 16-valve unit with maximum power of 63kW (86hp). With these engines, low friction and plentiful flat torque delivery at low and mid-range speeds help to ensure good driveability across the rev range while promoting fuel economy and limiting CO₂ emissions.

Customers preferring a diesel engine can choose a proven 1.3-litre, common rail, 16-valve unit with optional particulate filter and a maximum power of 55kW (75hp). In light of the growing need for environmental compatibility, emissions of all three engines with 5-speed manual gearbox are between only 120g/km and 140g/km. The petrol engines were both newly developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation as next-generation power engines. The diesel engine will be produced at Suzuki’s plant in India under licence from Fiat Powertrain.

Suzuki aims to sell up to 60,000 units per year of the Splash in Europe. The brand-new model has been developed by Suzuki Motor Corporation and will be produced by its subsidiary company Magyar Suzuki Corporation in Hungary.

* ESP is a registered trademark of DaimlerChrysler AG.

Image Gallery

[Intrepidation]

Looks like a Renault

[thegriffon]

Looks like a Renault

You're thinking of the Renault Modus. The 1st-generation Agila (with its Suzuki WagonR+, JDM Solio and Chevrolet MW siblings) was unique as the only "MPV" in its size class (there is now a Chinese-market competitor as well). This new Splash/Agila pair have moved up a segment, and now square off against the Peugeot 1007, Renault Modus and Daihatsu Materia (JDM Coo, which Toyota also sells as the new bB in Japan). Assuming Suzuki sells the Splash in Japan as well it will also square off against the standard Nissan Cube (there is also a lwb Cube³ [three rows of seats], which is another segment up in size). The Mini, Nissan Micra, Toyota Yaris and Suzuki Swift are about the same size, but don't offer the same flexibility and space characteristic of the taller MPVs.

[Sixty8panther]

It's ugly.... flat ass like an anorexic chick =

The rest of the car is no better. Thank God I do

not live in the EU. I love my 425 cu. in. Caddy

way too much to put up with some cheesy, tiny

42.5 cubic inch powered bread box.

[91z4me]

I like the Opel version of this better, Agila. But if this has a chance to come to the States I say bring it. Gas prices here are beginning to match the rest of the world. Might as well have the high mileage offerings ready.

[LastMercury]

I don't think it's too bad.

CHEVY SPLASH does have a nice ring to it but those big headlights make it look more like a Saturn.

[prinzSD]

I just read in the Sacromento Bee that the Versa, Fit and Yaris are doing well in light of the current gas prices. GM needs to bring this thing over here and sell it as a Chevy if it wants to remain relevent in the California import biased attitudes market. If it waits too long then the press will be all over GM for coming to the market too late with a competive model.

[thegriffon]

Umm, GM already has the Aveo, which trails only the Yaris in sales. The Yaris sedan (much bigger than the hatch) drives Yaris sales, and the Versa is cheap C-segment car (similar to the Golf and Focus), not a B-segment car like the Fit, or an A-segment car like the Yaris hatch. Sales of the Aveo are up more than 30% this year (after taking a 14% hit last year after the intro of the Yaris, Fit and more competitive Korean rivals) and should reach 75K for the first time.

[prinzSD]

Umm, GM already has the Aveo, which trails only the Yaris in sales. The Yaris sedan (much bigger than the hatch) drives Yaris sales, and the Versa is cheap C-segment car (similar to the Golf and Focus), not a B-segment car like the Fit, or an A-segment car like the Yaris hatch. Sales of the Aveo are up more than 30% this year (after taking a 14% hit last year after the intro of the Yaris, Fit and more competitive Korean rivals) and should reach 75K for the first time.

Gm still needs to sell it as a Chevy. With the spate of Micro cars that are heading to our shores GM needs to be there when they arrive so they do not get the blame game for ariving late to the party. The above mentioned vehicles may not be in the same segment but the perception is GM does not have cars that compete with them. The Aveo alone does not help that image perception.

[daves87rs]

It's interesting,I'll say that.

Something about that rear scares me...