Sometimes automakers have holes in their line-up bigger than Van Halen did in 1985. Due to a lack of time, resources or manufacturing facilities, the company looks for a quick fix. The solution? Grab a vehicle from another company that fills the void and rebrand it as their own. But like Wade Boggs in a New York Yankees uniform, these rebadged vehicles never look quite right. And, like any decision made by cobbling together bits and pieces from here and there, it doesn’t always work.

In the world of rebadging, Australian General Motors division Holden is king. The company will rebadge anything and everything for the Australian market. Since Holden could have a top ten list entirely their own, we’ll skip them. Instead, let’s focus on vehicles most in North America will recognise in either current or rebadged form. We are not talking platform engineered cars within a company or ones co-developed between two companies, but rather vehicle rebrand jobs that seem to come out of left field and are thinly disguised.

Suzuki of Wichita is switching brands rather than shutting down in light of the Japanese brand pulling out of the U.S. market.

The dealership is undergoing $700,000 in improvements to meet Subaru standards, but owner Scott Pitman says the dealership philosophy will remain the same. Specifically, that means salespeople will remain salaried rather than being paid a commission.

Shortly after Suzuki announced its plan to leave the U.S. car market, Pitman bought half the equity in a Subaru store across town and moved it to his location. The store sold about 600 cars per year at the previous location, and he hopes to more than double that figure to between 1,300 and 1,800 vehicles annually.

Boosting those sales will take more than a friendly, pressure-free sales staff, and Pitman plans to keep more than that intact. Just as with past sales, he will also cater to buyers poor credit, saying half of his customers last year came through credit leads.

[Source: Automotive News]

Suzuki Canada Inc. (SCI) has announced that it will realign its business operations in order to focus on long-term growth for its Motorcycle, ATV, and Marine Divisions, resulting in transitioning out of the automobile business in Canada.

This doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering the Japanese automaker had already filed Chapter 11 in America. Suzuki however will continue producing and supplying 2014 model year vehicles to SCI, but after the 2014 model year it will discontinue production of new vehicles for Canada.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Bankrupt, Files for Chapter 11 in America

SCI has also confirmed that it will carry on servicing its products through and after its realignment process. All warranties on vehicles will be honored and SCI automobile parts and service will continue to be provided to customers without interruption through its dealer network. It will be working with its current dealers for a smooth transition from new automobile sales to exclusively warranty and service operations. SCI will be providing its dealers with at least 12 months to make the transition.

Discuss this story at Suzuki-Forums.com

Suzuki announced its exit from the U.S. market late last year, but the brand’s cars are still selling in other countries – the latest of which it is teasing ahead of the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

A C-segment crossover, the car Suzuki is teasing will be a production evolution on the S-Cross concept it brought to the Paris Motor Show in Septmeber, 2012. Specifications are still a mystery, but the teaser shows more than most usually do.

For example, the LED light bars that sat on the concept’s lower front fascia move up to sit directly underneath the headlights. The grille is also transformed to be more in line with current Suzuki production cars. Nevertheless, it seems to be keeping the same questionable green color seen during the Paris show.

The wheels are different than on the concept, but are still heavily styled.

Of course, the concept car’s tiny side-view mirrors are replaced with normally-sized units. The A-pillars now also match the car’s paint color where the concepts were black and matched the heavily tinted glass.

Suzuki did disclose in its press release that the car will come with four-wheel drive and will have the largest luggage capacity in tis segment.

Suzuki may no longer exist in America, but the Japanese automaker is still performing just fine in its home country.

The Suzuki Wagon R was first introduced in Japan back in 1993 and has been the best-selling kei car in Japan since 2003. So it’s no surprise that the Japanese automaker made its funky, boxy model the main vehicle at its 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon display.

SEE ALSO: 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage

At the center of it all is a pair of customized WagonRs, one called the Stingray WagonR Customize and the other being a WagonR RR Concept. Both vehicles were based on the fifth-generation WagonR which was recently launched in Japan. The WagonR Stingray Customize builds on the higher-end Stingray model with a unique brown exterior shade, teal-accented headlights and LED strips and a body kit that gives it a much lower stance.

As for the WagonR RR Concept, the standard model WagonR gets outfitted with sportier suspension, smoked headlights, black wheels, a body kit, and a center exit, twin exhaust.

GALLERY: Suzuki Stingray WagonR Customize

GALLERY: Suzuki WagonR RR Concept

Discuss this story at Suzuki-Forums.com

After checking out the top 10 best selling vehicles of last year, it’s now time to take a look at the worst performers on dealerships lots.

It isn’t a huge surprise to see the Volvo C30 on the list at 10th place, considering the Swedish automaker decided to give the vehicle the axe at the end of 2012. The Volvo C30 was on the market for six years in North America and sold only 26,000 units.

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As 2012 winds to an end, AutoGuide looks back at all the vehicles that received the axe this year, some that will be missed, while others surely won’t be.

Starting it off is the Acura ZDX, a crossover that had a very tough time breaking into the market. Priced at around $51,815 including delivery, the ZDX was hardly a hot seller for the Japanese automaker, and it’s clear that Acura can’t wait to move forward from it.

Suzuki may have ceased its operations in America, but the Japanese automaker continues on as normal overseas, heading to the 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon with several Wagon R models. 

Two new Suzuki concepts will debut at next year’s TAS with the Wagon R RR Concept and Wagon R Stingray Custom taking center stage. The Wagon R RR Concept was designed to be active and sporty and will feature an aero kit with new front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a tailgate-mounted spoiler. Finishing off the package are tinted headlights, graphics, and a center-exit dual exhaust system.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Bankrupt, Files for Chapter 11 in America

As for the Wagon R Stingray Custom, Suzuki shows off how its Wagon R can be customized. It too sports a four-piece body kit that’s been further accented by silver-finished accessories, wheels, LED lights and a dual exhaust system.

Joining the two customs will be a standard Wagon R, Wagon R Stingray, and the Solio Black & White II.

GALLERY: Suzuki 2013 Tokyo Auto Salon Preview

Discuss this story at Suzuki-Forums.com

American Suzuki is issuing out a recall for 2,830 XL7 SUVs for a faulty fuel pump that could potentially cause a fuel leak.

The vehicles affected were originally sold or currently registered in the following states: Arizona, California, Nevada, and Texas, and manufactured between June 13, 2006 through December 22, 2006.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Bankrupt, Files for Chapter 11 in America

The condition is caused by the plastic supply or return port on the fuel pump cracking, which can cause a fuel leak. The automaker will be contacting affected owners and dealerships will replace the fuel pump module free of charge.

Discuss this story at Suzuki-Forums.com

American Suzuki Corp. filed for bankruptcy recently and announced its exit from the U.S. market, and now the company is importing 2,500 more cars to America to meet a rise in demand. 

Suzuki sales jumped 22 percent to 2,224 units in November, and are continuing to rise in December according to the brand. Generous incentives and a seven-year warranty program are cited as the main reason for the jump.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Bankrupt, Files for Chapter 11 in America

Suzuki sold 23,412 vehicles through November of 2012, representing a three percent decrease over the same time period in 2011. Even with the jump in sales over the short-term, Suzuki cannot justify keeping a sales network going in which 69 percent of its dealers were selling less than five cars a month.

Suzuki has said it will continue to honor warranties, as well as supply parts and service to cars through its dealer network.

Discuss this story at suzuki-forums.com

[Source: Auto News]

Despite filing for Chapter 11 last month, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is buying an additional 2,500 vehicles from Japan to sell in the U.S. market.

Trying to capitalize on its recent publicity, the automaker’s American arm is bringing more cars Stateside to sell.

“In response to continued consumer demand, dealer interest has remained high in continuing to order and receive shipments of Suzuki automobiles as long as they remain available, ASMC intends to use a portion of the DIP funds to purchase and ship 2,500 additional cars from Japan to the continental U.S., which have been manufactured since ASMC announced its restructuring,” Suzuki said in a press release.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Sales Increase as Brand Offloads Product

Hoping to liquidate its remaining cars, Suzuki offered customers zero percent financing last month for up to 72 months through an agreement with Ally Financial. The brand announced this week that it plans to extend the offer into December as well.

This week, the company announced that it sold 2,200 units in November on the heels of its bankruptcy announcement — a 22 percent increase. Given the brand’s plan to offer more cars to the U.S. with its remaining life, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the brand reporting strong December sales as well.

Suzuki is scrambling to sell its remaining stock in the U.S. and to a certain extent it seems to be working.

The brand is reporting a 22 percent sales increase in November — the biggest jump it’s seen all year. Suzuki sold 2,224 vehicles compared to 1,822 in the same month last year. After filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last month, the brand offered incentives to lure buyers — something it will continue this month.

SEE ALSO: Suzuki Bankrupt, Files for Chapter 11 in America

Those include zero percent financing for up to 72 months or rebates ranging from $500 to $2,000.

Despite exiting the U.S. car market, Suzuki will remain, but only to sell motorcycles, ATVs and boat engines. The company’s dealer network will remain to honor warranties, although only as service centers rather than full dealerships.