While Suzuki cars might not be very popular in North America, in its home market of Japan, they are a very big deal indeed. So to serve their home market, Suzuki is bringing a trio of concept cars for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. These are the Regina, Q Concept and the Swift EV Hybrid.

All this is fine when the company is making tons of money, but when a company is in the red, spending lavishly at an auto show is not the smartest thing to do.

You can sound polite and say “inexpensive” but if you’re strapped for cash, the most important question when shopping for a new car is: what’s the cheapest car on the market? AutoGuide has got the answer, along with the nine runners up.

A public disagreement between Volkswagen and Suzuki in early September left the Japanese automaker wanting to end its partnership, but that might not happen. In a news release Monday, the company said it “will retain its stake in Suzuki Motor Corp. unchanged.”

Amid the ongoing dispute between Suzuki Motor Co and Volkswagen AG, Suzuki has written to VW, alleging various breaches of contract and asking VW to address the situation.

Suzuki may be an also ran in America, but in India, their Maruti Suzuki partnership can boast the title of “best-selling car” with their Alto subcompact. With a population of 1 billion people, the Indian market is a significant one, and the Japanese auto maker is facing competition not just from home grown efforts like Tata, but Hyundai as well.

After a two year alliance between Volkswagen and Suzuki, relations and communication quickly deteriorated earlier this September after Suzuki had gone to Fiat to supply their engines. Volkswagen, upset at the deal, very publically claimed it was a serious breach of Suzuki’s contract.

It’s official, the proposed alliance between Suzuki Motor Co. and Volkswagen AG is now dead in the water. On Sunday; VW said that the Japanese company’s decision to source diesel engines from Fiat, was an infringement on the terms of the deal between it and VW.

With the Volkswagen/ Suzuki tie-up all but officially over, the latest move by Volkswagen is sure to end it. After its first full review of the “partnership” Volkswagen has announced it is, “serving notice of an infringement by Suzuki of the cooperation agreement.”

Young love can turn into a bitter divorce faster than you can say “ Rocktan.” That at least appears to be the case with the relatively recent partnership between Germany’s world-domination seeking Volkswagen and the minicar experts from Japan, Suzuki.

In 2010, Volkswagen took a twenty-percent stake in Suzuki, and virtually no progress has been made from the alliance since then. Neither side has been thrilled with the coalition and the two automakers have even stated cultural differences as being a factor in the failed relationship.

In Japan, the most popular car is neither big, nor powerful, but it fills the needs of most of its motorists. Since 2003, the most popular car sold in Japan is the Suzuki Wagon R.

The next-gen Suzuki Swift Sport will debut at the 64th Frankfurt Auto Show on September 13.

Suzuki’s rocky relationship with Volkswagen has not ended, the Japanese automaker stated today. Even though Suzuki has made public remarks against VW’s role in the two automakers’ joint-venture, there are no plans for the Japanese automaker to pull out.

Students at the Ohio Technical College, in conjunction with American Suzuki Motor Co., have joined forces to build a customized Grand Vitara SUV.

Suzuki has been very successful with sales up 17 percent year-to-date for 2011, and hopes to maintain the momentum into 2012. Suzuki has updated the Grand Vitara with the “Ultimate Adventure Edition” which arrives for 2012. The new edition will feature 18-inch alloy wheels, water-resistant seat fabric, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and integrated fog lamps.

In 2009, Volkswagen, in its ever growing quest to become the largest automaker in the world, bought 20% of Suzuki for $2.5-billion. The partnership would have given VW insight into Suzuki’s small-car technology, a segment the Japanese auto-maker is very successful at in Japan. Suzuki on the other hand would have gained valuable knowledge on hybrid technology. It looked like a win-win for both sides, but things have been far from ideal between these two companies.

The News Of The World scandal rages on, with pressure mounting from Parliament, investigators, and the general public. Now an anonymous executive suggests that car companies who had planned to advertise in the tabloid should donate the money to charity instead.

“Monster” Tajima’s record-setting Pikes Peak car was heavily sponsored by GoPro Cameras, which is why it’s no surprise that they’re letting us experience the glory of the sub-10-minute run for ourselves.

Tajima’s Suzuki SX4 Hill Climb Special was outfitted with multiple cameras, capturing every angle of the epic run. GoPro’s dedicated team of boffins is editing the footage right now—good luck boys, and I’ll buy you a Red Bull Sugarfree for your efforts—but what we do have right now is the most important angle of all: the front view out the cockpit, shot on the GoPro Hero in full, glorious 1080p HD.

Watch Tajima storm the tarmac after the jump.

Standing Pikes Peak record holder Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima is once again back on top of the world, being the first ever to break the 10 minute barrier at the treacherous Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. As in the past his weapon of choice was a Suzuki, with the SX4 Hill Climb Special laying down a massive 910 horsepower.

The current best time up the 12.42-mile course is 10:01.408, set by Monster himself in 2007.  Cracking the 10-minute mark is the Holy Grail, the motorsports equivalent of the four-minute mile—but just as that challenge was cracked in 1954, so too will Pikes Peak be conquered in under 10 minutes.

Suzuki cars might not be the strongest selling product in North America, but that might just change if and when they introduce the Swift PHEV.

After a few years of Suzuki offering a portable nav unit in its SX4 hatchback, the comapny announced it would offer an integrated, in-dash system, however the U.S won’t get the system.

In Japan however, it is a different story. Suzuki cars are still very popular there and May 2011 is clear proof of that, since their WagonR was the best selling car in the land of the rising sun.

Even with skyrocketing fuel prices, subcompacts are selling less than their compact counterparts.  The Ford Fiesta was the overall leader in the subcompact department, 9,147 sales but still trailed the larger Focus’  17,265 total sales. Honda Civic sales rose 7% to 26,777 which is more than triple the Fit’s total of 8,116 units in April. Furthermore, the mid-size Accord even managed to outsell the Civic.

Suzuki is hopping on the hybrid bandwagon with their new Kizashi EcoCharge, a concept car designed to hint at the possibility of a hybrid Kizashi. Suzuki claims that the Kizashi will deliver a 25 percent increase in fuel economy without any performance drawbacks, thanks to a 144 horsepower 2.0L 4-cylinder gasoline engine and a 20 horsepower electric motor.

Suzuki is set to reveal two all new cars at the upcoming New York Auto Show and the automaker has announced that one of those vehicles will be an updated Kizashi.

Japan’s major car companies have also been badly hit due to this disaster. Toyota and Honda have still not started their operations, and will stay shut over the weekend, due to a shortage of parts coming from suppliers, which were situated in areas most badly hit by this recent disaster.

The two company’s goals are different: VW wants to make a dent in the Asian small-car market, while Suzuki wants to tap into VW’s expertise in diesel, hybrid, and electric cars. But like a mismatched couple in a sitcom, Suzuki is demanding more from VW than they’re willing to offer, especially to a company with whom they only hold a minority stake in.

Japan’s three largest automakers announced that they will donate $3.75 million each for earthquake relief. Honda says it will donate 1,000 power generators (a product made by the company) as well as 5,000 gas canisters, while Nissan is considering the donation of vehicles, provisions and medical supplies. Toyota also said that it is investigating such a move.

The Suzuki Kizashi may have enjoyed critical acclaim (and rightly so) but it’s sales figures have never been stellar. Suzuki is planning to sell the Kizashi in the UK  later in 2011, and while Suzuki only plans on selling 500 units, it’s difficult to imagine the car being anything more than a low-volume curiosity.

On display at the Geneva Auto Show, Suzuki is hinting at a hot-hatch version of its new Swift model with the Swift S Concept. That standard car debuted back at the Paris show late last year and Suzuki is now ready to preview what will no doubt be the next in a long lineup of hot hatches dating back to 1968.

Suzuki is recalling their SX4 compact and Grand Vitara SUV over a faulty tensioner pulley that could cause steering difficulties and engine stalling if it causes the accessory belt to detach while driving.

Dealers will replace the pulley at no charge starting February 16th. The recall affects 32,291 vehicles.

[Source: NHTSA]

Hit the jump to read the official recall notice

Suzuki may not have much of a profile in the United States, but their Swift compact hatchback has been a hit with both critics and consumers in other markets, and the Geneva Auto Show will be the platform for Suzuki to launch a thinly veiled “concept” version of the new Swift.

With the onset of the Great Recession in 2008, some pundits were predicting that automakers like Suzuki wouldn’t last much longer in the U.S. market.

The MR wagon fits under the kei-class category in Japan, which in English would mean, ultra sub-compact. There are many benefits to owning such vehicles in Japan, as you get plenty of tax cuts for driving economical vehicles. So like all other kei-class cars, the MR wagon features an engine displacing just 660 cc and three-cylinders.

To say Suzuki is struggling a bit in North America is an under statement. After posting record sales of 101,884 units in 2007, their sales took a drastic turn for the worse in 2009 when they shifted just 38,689 vehicles. 2010 is not looking good either as sales are again down by a lethal 42%.

At this rate, Suzuki could go extinct, but they are not going to give up that easy. To help boost their image and brand awareness, Suzuki is launching a whole host of new TV adverts promoting the Kizashi to catch your eye.

The new ads feature the Kizashi competing against cars like the Mercedes-Benz C300, the Audi A4 and the Volvo S40 – all vehicles that seem to be out of its league. The ads highlight the Suzuki’s better handling and braking and also value for money. For humor, they also pit the Kizashi against a stretch limo, a motorized sofa and a bubble wrap man!

These type of ads are nothing new. Back in the 1980’s, Hyundai used to have ads pitting their Stellar against the Mercedes-Benz E-class and more recently Hyundai brought ads of that type back.

Suzuki is ensuring people will see these ads, as they will be aired from Christmas day, and will be played next year during programs like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars.

Will these new ads help Suzuki sell more cars? Only time will tell, but do check out one of the ads below or hit the link to view them all.

[Source: Kizashi Kicks]

What was the last “memorable” Suzuki? And why was it memorable? Maybe the mid-late 80’s Sidekick? Which developed a following, but was more memorable for its ability to roll-over on command like a Labrador? Or maybe it could be the X-90, memorable for proving how utterly out of touch Suzuki was with what people wanted from a car.

Ah, another day, another spate of recalls. A total of 90,000 vehicles from three different automakers are under separate recalls for everything from loose mirrors to defrosters. (At least it’s not as ridiculous as rusting Bentley ornaments).

Suzuki, everyone’s favorite forgotten automaker, is still alive and kicking, and set to bring a number of vehicles to SEMA, including two Kizashis and an Equator pickup truck.

Revealed well ahead of its planned official debut at the upcoming Beijing Auto Show, the Suzuki Swift R Concept takes inspiration from (where else) the GSX-R bikes. It sports an aggressive body kit, big fender flares and some larger and wider tires. To go along with there there’s a custom suspension.

Having debuted back at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Suzuki has finally released official details on the new Kizashi Sport model. Available in Sport GTS and Sport SLS trim levels, all Sport models come equipped with a more dramatic front fascia with chrome accents and a lower grille, along with side skirts with chrome accents, a trunk spoiler, 18-inch wheels and a 10mm lower ride height. As a result, it not only looks more impressive, but handling is improved with a lower center of gravity and sharper handling. Inside, Sport models get a leather sport steering wheel with contrasting stitching, which can also be found on the shift boot and e-brake handle.

Road Race Motorsports (RRM) has just announced that it is offering a ton of accessories for the Suzuki Kizashi, transforming it from a mundane commuter car to a  brilliant performance sedan that actually looks pretty good. And for those already rolling their eyes about it being a Suzuki, RRM is throwing down 300-hp (as opposed to the factory’s boring 185-hp) and the car actually doesn’t look bad.

A recall has been issued on approximately 20,692 Suzuki brand vehicles (including 2009-2010 Equator pickups, Grand Vitara and SX4 models) for defective navigation systems. The vehicles, which were originally equipped with Garmin Nuvi 750; 760 and 765 systems are being recalled for batteries in the nav system that could overheat and potentially start interior fires.

Nissan is denying reports that Suzuki‘s tie-up with Volkswagen will affect their small car ventures in countries like India. Nissan sells a rebadged version of the Suzuki Alto (one of India’s most popular cars) in that market, but a senior Nissan exec was quoted as saying that ““Suzuki and Nissan have done a lot of business for many years. As far as we are concerned, nothing changes.”

Suzuki‘s Swift compact car won near universal praise in Europe and Asia, winning Car of the Year awards in the UK and Japan, as well as seeing duty in international rally championships.

As a part of Suzuki‘s ongoing push to drum up interest in the surprisingly good Kizashi sedan, the Japanese automaker teamed up with Road & Track to build a Bonneville Salt Flats racer. Thanks to engine builder Richard Holdener and the fearless driving skills of R&T editor Sam Mitani, Suzuki got the record it was looking for with a 203.720 mph run, clinching the new Land Speed Record for the Blown Gas Coupe Category

For video of the run and more info about the turbocharged Kizashi land speed record car, hit the jump:

With sales falling 75 percent since their record-setting year in 2007, Suzuki has taken the drastic measure of buying out 50 of its worst performing stores in the United States.

Hyundai may have created a lot of buzz with its Pikes Peak record attempt this year but it was Suzuki (yes, Suzuki) that climbed the hill the fastest. Even more surprising is the fact that Suzuki driver Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima won the race for the fifth straight year, setting a dominant pace that put him at the top of the hill a half a minute before his closest competitor.

In anticipation of Tajima breaking his own world record of 10:01.41 Falken Tire decided to document the 2010 effort. Sadly Tajima’s 2007 record remains, with this year’s run clocked at “just” 10:11.490.

The good news is, that’s a few extra seconds that we get to enjoy the awesome ride-along experience of the 910-hp twin-turbo AWD Suzuki SX4 using up every last inch of the road – and in some cases, even more.

As for what this all has to do with Falken Tire, well, the Japanese tire company is using the video to help promote its new Falken WildPeak A/T tires – which Tajima used during his dominant performance.

Check out the awesome video after the jump:

Fancy yourself a bit of a social media guru? In need of some new wheels? If either of these apply to you then you’re certain to enjoy Suzuki‘s innovative new social media marketing campaign, called the Suzuki AllPoints Rewards Points & Sweepstakes Program.

The way the program works is that users sign up and are then awarded points for posting, linking, tweeting and commenting on Suzuki sites like SuzukiAuto.com, Suzuki’s Facebook page, the company’s Twitter Account and even a YouTube channel. Plus, more points can be won by competing in the Kizashi Ring of Fire online racing game, as well as by getting creative and making your own video for the “Live Large” Video Contest.

In total, Suzuki will give away 250 prizes over several months, with the grand prize being a 2011 Kizashi GTS Sport. Other prizes include a Sony 3D TV a Garmin GPS, a trip for two to any U.S. city, a $1,000 shopping spree and a Sony PlayStation 3. Plus, each week, Suzuki will give away ten $25 gift cards to members just for competing and the AllPoints user with the highest monthly tally will be given a $500 Apple gift card. And there’s one last cool price – a trip to an open-wheel racing school!

The AllPoints program runs until January 3rd. To get involved click the link below and get all the official details after the jump:

Suzuki AllPoints Program Info and Signup

Porsche was the big winner for July 2010 sales, moving 75% more cars than in July 2009, with Hyundai/ Kia, Jaguar/ Land Rover and the Big Three all making solid gains. Japanese auto makers bore the brunt of the market, with Toyota and Honda losing a bit of market share, while Suzuki took the dubious title of “Biggest Loser” as sales fell by 43%.

Road & Track magazine is helping prep a Suzuki Kizashi to attack two land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats. In conjunction with master race car builder Richard Holdener, the team from R&T will attack the naturally aspirated Gas Coupe class, as well as the turbocharged Blown Gas Coupe category.

Volkswagen is looking to expand its 19.9% stake in Japanese automaker Suzuki by an additional 10 percent reports Automobile Magazine. The reasons for the larger share aren’t entirely clear, with possible reasons being increasingly shared products between the two automakers. We’ve already heard that Volkswagen intends to rebadge Suzuki models as VWs in some emerging markets and there’s rumor of an SX4-based VW crossover called the RockTan. Automobile also suggests the SX4 platform being used for future VW brand models and a new Gran Vitara platform that would also be used across several VW brand companies.

Suzuki is so confident that you will like their new Kizashi sedan, that they are offering customers $250 if they test drive a Kizashi and then purchase one of its rivals.

Suzuki has issued a recall for its new Kizashi mid-sized sedan. A recall is never a good thing, particularly for a brand like Suzuki that is struggling to find a foothold in the U.S. market. It’s even worse when it’s for the bran’s all-new model – which by all accounts has received glowing reviews.

With plenty of lead up to its introduction at the 88th annual Pikes Peak Hillclimb, the Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Genesis PM580 didn’t deliver on any of its promises and instead was overshadowed by the Suzuki of Nobuhiro ‘Monster’ Tajima. Rhys Millen had set out to break the 10 minute barrier on the treacherous mountain and reclaim the record for his family. (Rhys’ father Rod set a record of 10:04.06 in 1994, which Tajima topped in 2007 with a 10:01.41).

One day after spy photos of the new Suzuki Swift were captured, Suzuki has released official shots of their new MINI-rivaling subcompact, and the car looks great, despite it being more of an evolution than a clean-sheet design. The car is slightly long, lower and wider and weight has been reduced, though Suzuki didn’t specify how much mass has been trimmed from the already sprightly car.

The 2011 Suzuki Swift has been spied on the Nurburgring in full camouflage, but now, uncovered examples have been spotted on a transport truck in Hungary, giving us a closer look at the car’s styling. Only the rear was visible, but it’s safe to say that the design is an evolution of the current Swift’s looks.

Suzuki engineers have been hard at work testing the upcoming next-generation Swift subcompact, recently completing a series of runs on Germany’s famed Nürburgring. No official info is known about the car yet but it is expected to grow slightly – especially as Suzuki is reportedly planning to bring the model back to the North American market to compete in the growing sub-compact segment here.

Power is certain to come from a small-displacement 4-cylinder engine, with rumors that a new powerplant could come from Volkswagen a a result of the recent tie-up between the two automakers. While Suzuki makes more than competent small cars, it would be exciting to see VW’s small turbocharged 1.2-liter offered.

Testing for the Swift should be in its final stages with Suzuki looking to launch the new model at the Paris Auto Show this Fall.

See after the jump for some tire screeching video:

[Source: CarScoop]