Friday 27th July 2007

Tarmac test

Suzuki Tests Forthcoming WRC Car

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Suzuki has been out testing their new SX4 World Rally Car on tarmac for the first time. The new car sees Suzuki progress to the full WRC championship.

The tests are part of an extensive development schedule over different types of terrain ahead of the new car’s debut at the Tour of Corsica on 12^th of October later this year.

Nobuhiro Tajima, President of Suzuki Sport isn’t getting carried away: “The car is shaping up to an extent that I think it’s competitive to quite a degree. But our rivals’ machines are also evolving as faster and stronger, so we need to make sure we find even more speed and performance for our car.  That’s why we’ve decided to move up our schedule and try and see if we could incorporate into our test-entry 2007 model the specs originally intended for the 2008 Championship entry model”.

[Tankman]

Be interesting to see if Suzuki can be as succesful in WRC as Pikes Peak . . . .

[crackthatoff]

Tankman said:

Be interesting to see if Suzuki can be as succesful in WRC as Pikes Peak . . . .

yeah it might need a bigger spoiler though !

[Moi?]

Power to weight. Hopefully they can do it.

[odyssey2200]

Look forward to the road going version hitting the showrooms

[FestivAli]

It will be interesting to see how Suzuki fare in WRC. Does anyone know who their tyre supplier will be? I wish them good luck, they're improving their road cars and if they do okay in WRC it will give them more of a profile in markets that don't get to see the Super 1600 series on TV.

Ali.

[sprinter885]

Agree with Ali- Suzy have had success in Junior WRC for a while but most of all ANY new manufacturer into WRC is a GOOD thing. ( it's been a bit of a 2-3 horse race this year Citroen Ford/Subaru-just !)

[Chalky180]

odyssey2200 said:

Look forward to the road going version hitting the showrooms

Me also being a Suzuki Sales Manager!! New smoker to go home in!

Edited by Chalky180 on Saturday 28th July 11:38

[odyssey2200]

Chalky180 said:

odyssey2200 said:

Look forward to the road going version hitting the showrooms

Me also being a Suzuki Sales Manager!! New smoker to go home in!

Edited by Chalky180 on Saturday 28th July 11:38

Let me know when it arrives and I will come for a demo!

[Steve Luck]

I've got an Ignus sport as a daily driver it's a lot fun from a cheap package, high seating position makes it a great commuter hack but doesn't compromise the handling too much. It lets me keep the Elise for weekends, safe from all the 4x4's and utes here in NZ

[keith2007]

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

[wab172uk]

keith2007 said:

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

Glad you sorted that out for us.

You should email Suzuki, and tell them not to bother

[joz8968]

[quote=Moi?]Power to weight. Hopefully they can do it.
[/quote]

I believe the WRC rules stipulate a min. weight limit of 1230kg(?) and a max. horsepower limit of 300bhp, so everything else being equal, the little Swift will have no more advantage than the other cars...

[joz8968]

joz8968 said:

I believe the WRC rules stipulate a min. weight limit of 1230kg(?) and a max. horsepower limit of 300bhp, so everything else being equal, the little Swift will have no more advantage than the other cars...

...That said, its small dimensions and short wheelbase should help...

[odyssey2200]

keith2007 said:

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

No! it's an SX4

[Slippydiff]

joz8968 said:

I believe the WRC rules stipulate a min. weight limit of 1230kg(?) and a max. horsepower limit of 300bhp, so everything else being equal, the little Swift will have no more advantage than the other cars...

And therein lies the flaw................ !!!

[The Wiz]

keith2007 said:

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

Why? The Swift Sport is dominating Junior WRC at the moment .. no reason the SX4 can't be as successful.

[GravelBen]

Success often comes down to money in top-level motorsport (remember how well the Peugeot 206 did with a season budget more than double any of the others). If the factory is taking it seriously they could have a decent chance. Whether they do well or not, more variety is sorely needed in WRC at the moment so this has got to be a good thing

[joz8968]

Slippydiff said:

joz8968 said:

I believe the WRC rules stipulate a min. weight limit of 1230kg(?) and a max. horsepower limit of 300bhp, so everything else being equal, the little Swift will have no more advantage than the other cars...

And therein lies the flaw................ !!!

And your point is?... I was simply illustrating that, so far as power to weight is concerned, the SX4 won't benefit, becuase of the weight and power limitations.

[Ahonen]

keith2007 said:

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

Nice one.

If you're going to slate something at least have the common decency to find out what type of car it is first.

Oh and I, for one, am delighted that's all you're 'gunna' say.

[K50 DEL]

keith2007 said:

Its a swift with a spoiler. It's gunna fail. That's all I'm saying.

Since you appear to be unable to say going to, or even spell its shortening (gonna) correctly, I think I'm glad that's all you're going to say.