Suzuki is getting bigger...... literally and figuratively. First, figuratively : Suzuki enjoyed a
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| (Photo: Alain Raymond) |
remarkable growth over the last 12 months, better than every car companies in Canada. Indeed, with a 30 percent progression, the Japanese automaker is tops in the industry. We should point out that Suzuki sells almost half of its products in Quebec.
While business is good in this country, Suzuki seems to enjoy the same kind of success worldwide. It actually ranks 11th out of the 49 largest automakers with a total production of 2.1 million vehicles. Confident for the future and well supported by its Asian operations, particularly in India, Suzuki aims to produce 3 million units by 2009. That's quite a goal, especially considering the sluggish performance of some of its competitors!
A big newborn |
| (Photo: Alain Raymond) |
With a newborn baby weighing 4,000 pounds, Suzuki is also getting bigger, literally. We were used to tiny vehicles, but there's now a giant in the family : the new
XL7, a crossover specifically designed for the North American market. It offers the dynamic car-like qualities of a wagon as well as the seven-passenger seating and the high ground clearance of a SUV. To make sure, the XL7 is not a true 4x4. Yes, it's available with a permanent AWD system, sits higher than a sedan and sports a bold design that appeals to so many customers, but it doesn't crave the mountain trails. In short, the XL7 is a "civilized" vehicle for the city driver or the suburban folk with a big family who appreciates the safety feeling of a big truck.
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| Chevrolet Metro 1998 (Photo: General Motors) |
If you're familiar with the Chevy Metro, Pontiac Firefly, Suzuki Swift, Chevy Tracker, Suzuki Sidekick and Suzuki Vitara, you know they were all produced at the CAMI Automotive Plant of Ingersoll, Ontario, a joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki. Nowadays, the same plant manufactures the
Chevy Equinox and
Pontiac Torrent... and also their half-brother, the new Suzuki XL7. On the other hand, the GM-sourced 3.6-liter V6 comes from Japan.
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| (Photo: Alain Raymond) |
The new XL7, derived from the Concept-X introduced at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, is larger and more powerful than its predecessor. It's available in FWD or AWD, with five- or seven-passenger seating. In the seven-passenger model, access to the rear seats requires some agility, but the split seat folds flat and provides a nice cargo floor. The second-row split-folding seat works in the same way to further increase the cargo space. Finally, the front passenger seatback also folds forward to create a flat loading surface.
