Suzuki aims for 40,000

Suzuki has plans to significantly expand its lineup of passenger cars over the next few years as it aims to achieve annual sales of 40,000 a year by the end of the decade. If achieved, this will more than double the status quo with the Japanese marque’s total sales for this year expected to reach 15,000.

Already with the introduction of the Swift hatch, the company's sales are up over 100 per cent on the 2004 total. The new Swift Sport, on sale from September 30, is expected to add a further 1000 units a year. The Sport version of the small five-door uses a bigger 1.6-litre engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and is priced from $23,990.

Early in 2007, the company will launch a new small SX4 crossover vehicle (pictured)designed to fit in between the Swift and Grand Vitara with prices expected to start in the low-mid-$20,000 region.

To be offered as either a front-wheel drive or three-mode all-wheel drive model, the SX4 five-door hatch is already on sale in Europe with a choice of three engines: an entry-level 73kW 1.5-litre unit, a 79kW 1.6-litre and a Fiat-sourced 88kW 1.9-litre turbo diesel. The latter is offered with a new six-speed manual transmission.

In the USA, the SX4 uses a 106kW, 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Suzuki has yet to confirm which engine and transmission choices will be offered in Australia.

The SX4 architecture will also spawn a new small sedan that will replace the unloved 1.8-litre Liana in the maker's Australian lineup later in 2007 or early 2008.

Following the introduction of the Liana replacement, Suzuki is set to re-enter the baby car market in Australia with a new hatch model to sit under the Swift and likely to be priced between about $12,000 and $13,000.

This car, due here in about 2008, is likely to be based on the Splash concept that will make its debut at the Paris motor show next week (for more click

With the Daihatsu Sirion no longer available Down Under, the new Suzuki sub-A segment sized car is likely to be among the smallest and cheapest cars on the Australian market.

At the other end of the scale, about 2009, Suzuki plans to introduce a new D-segment sized car that will compete with the likes of Mazda6 and Honda Accord with both sedan and five-door wagon body styles to be available.

Currently, Swift makes up about two-thirds of Suzuki's Australian sales tally. Suzuki doesn't expect its volume to decrease despite the additional models as at present, according to Suzuki Australia general manager David LeMottee, the Australian distributor is constrained by supply.

All models destined for Australia are built in Japan and there the maker is adding a new manufacturing plant which will take its global capacity from the present level of about 2.2 million cars a year to about 3 million.

This will significantly improve the ability of the Australian Suzuki operations to meet demand as with free supply LeMottee says the company could be selling about 1200 to 1300 Swifts a month -- compared to the current rate of about 850 a month.

Increased supply of the popular model together with new entrants should certainly improve Suzuki's volume but 40,000 units is still an ambitious target when the bulk of the company's cars sit in the ultra competitive light/small car sector.

Look out for CarPoint's full launch story on the new Suzuki Swift Sport later this week.