Review: 2009 Nissan Frontier continues to blaze the small truck trail
We test the 2009 Nissan Frontier to see if this squat truck has more than just measurements on its size to woo punch-drunk pickup buyers away from the latest and greatest in the full-size segment.
Officially Official: Acura unveils 2010 ZDX crossoverThe Acura ZDX has arrived in production guise, and there's little to distinguish the angular crossover from its conceptual predecessor before it lands at dealers this fall.
STUDY: Raising national speed limit has resulted in 12,500 deaths
When the national highway speed-limit arrived in 1995, people could legally travel at speeds between 65 and 75 mph. But according to a new study there's been an alarming increase in accidents and deaths over the last decade.
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New Honda president says we don't need V8s, rear-wheel drive
Cadillac flagship to use stretched CTS platform, two new Buicks on the way?
Lexus prices the new 2010 Lexus HS250h at $34,200
Rumored Mini coupe to be dubbed Broadspeed?
John Surtees' son, Henry, dead after freak accident at Brands Hatch Formula 2 race
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Monster's Suzuki SX4 Sport - Click above for a high-res image gallery
They came. They saw. They were conquered. That pretty much sums up a thrilling Pikes Peak International Hillclimb for 2009 as Suzuki's legendary Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima took overall victory yet again, fending off a formidable paddock of rivals, while difficult weather conditions dictated that the mythical ten-minute mark - as well as Monster's own 10:15 personal best - remained untouched.
This year the Suzuki team replaced its existing XL7-bodied challenger in with a purpose-built SX4 packing a 2.7-liter V6 with a massive 873 horsepower on tap. But among those eager to strip the Japanese champions of their domination were two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm driving a specially prepared Ford Fiesta and an 1150hp Ford RS200. Along with all the other pretenders to the crown, they were fed a heaping dose of humble pie by the Monster. Meanwhile drift champ Rhys Millen took the 2WD class victory in his Hyundai Genesis, pledging to return to the peak in the top-spec Unlimited class in an effort to reclaim the title which Monster took from his father Rod Millen, whose record stood from 1994 through 2007 when Suzuki bested the time. The books were just closed on this year's run up the mountain, but the competition's already heating up for next year.
Gallery: Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima's Suzuki SX4 Sport
Continue reading Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4
Suzuki SX4 Crossover - Click above for high-res image gallery
Suzuki's upstart SX4 Crossover has continually surprised and delighted the automotive press with perky driving dynamics and nifty features like standard pop-up navigation. While we enjoyed the SX4 Sport we tested last year, we prefer the usability and all-wheel drive capability of the five door Crossover. AWD does add cost to the modestly priced SX4, though, and the added weight and parasitic drag have a negative impact on fuel economy.
Suzuki is reportedly further addressing that situation for the 2010 model year, as it is planning a front-drive SX4 hatch with SportBack trim. The front-drive SportBack, available only in Touring trim, will lose the Crossover's roof rack while gaining the sporty demeanor and lower ride height of the sedan.The Car Connection says that Suzuki will also raise the power output of the SX4's 2.0-liter engine across the range, bringing the stallion tally to 150. Without all-wheel drive, the SX4 SportBack will be lighter and more efficient, and without a roof rack, sitting lower to the ground, it figures to be more aerodynamic, too.
First Drive: 2010 BMW X6 M - Bimmer builds a highrider GT-R
BMW hasn't lost the plot with the introduction of the X6 M -- it's completely rewritten the screenplay, added Michael Bay firepower and harnessed the electronic might of a supercomputer farm to make a high-riding, four-door GT-R.
Pics Aplenty: Aston Martin V12 Vantage, DBS VolanteWhat better way to ring in the weekend than a massive high-res gallery of Aston's newest hotness?
Spanish Fly: Tramontana spotted strafing Swiss airport in full jet fighter regalia
The Tramontana F1 already has the canopy, so a fighter jet paint scheme seems appropriate for this twin-turbocharged, V12 road missile.
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Rumormill: Kia Amanti making switch to Genesis RWD platform?
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Henderson: GM to experiment selling cars through eBay Motors
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Two U.S. domestic automakers have now entered and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Other automakers that were doing well before the economic implosion are now scrambling to cut costs and get people into showrooms with creative incentives. And then there's Suzuki and Mitsubishi. While each brand offers a model or two that's genuinely competitive, neither has been able to fend off the huge sales decline that's hit the U.S. auto industry.
Suzuki sales in the U.S. were down a remarkable 78% last month, while Mitsubishi fared just a bit better with a 42% decline. These types of numbers have at least one analyst from Fukoku Capital Management, Inc. advising each Japanese brand to withdraw from the U.S. market altogether.
For its part, Mitsubishi says no way. Bloomberg quotes the company's president saying bluntly, "We will never give up the U.S. market." He went on to say that Mitsubishi won't seek alliances with other automakers or use its assembly plant in Illinois to build vehicles for other brands. In the meantime, Mitsubishi has shuttered its U.S. design studio and canceled the Raider pickup supplied by Chrysler.
Suzuki, meanwhile, has the Kizashi mid-size sedan on the way. Sales me be down now, but don't expect the automaker to pull out when it's got a potential game changer on deck.
While the analyst's advice is not surprising considering the numbers, the numbers aren't surprising when you consider the lineups on offer in Mitsubishi and Suzuki showrooms. Sure, Mitsubishi has the Lancer EVO and Suzuki's SX4 is not a bad little car, but the rest struggle to even compete and are backed by little-to-no creative marketing.
What we may be seeing are this market's two smallest Japanese import brands going into hibernation until the U.S. economy recovers. Other markets around the world are still profitable for each and Suzuki still makes some of the best motorcycles on earth (an association still far underutilized by its autos division). The question remains: Will either brand have anything worth buying when Americans open up their wallets again? Hat tip to Wave54!
1982 Suzuki Love commercials featuring Michael Jackson -- Click above to watch the videos
Michael Jackson's memorial service is being held today in Los Angeles (apparently sponsored by local Land Rover dealers). For a reminder of who the man was pre-Thriller and where all of this got started, few things could be better than some Suzuki Love scooter commercials that MJ did in way back in 1982.
In trademark Japanese commercial fashion, the spots don't all make linear sense, but they are fun to watch and there's even a making-of film. Better yet, the advertisements end with a line Jackson would still approve of: "Love is my message." Follow the jump to watch the videos.
Continue reading VIDEO: Obligatory Michael Jackson Post - Rare Suzuki Love commercials
2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery
Suzuki is getting in on the free gas bandwagon that Hyundai kicked off this year by launching a "Free Gas for Summer" promotion on all SX4s sold between now and August 31st. Of course, it pays to read the fine print - what the purchaser really gets is a pre-paid credit card loaded up with $270 for the SX4 Sedan or $290 for the slightly less fuel efficient SX4 Crossover.
Whether or not this incentive is really "free gas for summer" depends on how much you plan to drive over the next three months or so. Still, it's a relatively pain-free way for Suzuki to advertise "Free Gas!" and it's still a few hundred bucks off the running costs of the car.
Along with the aforementioned sales promotion, Suzuki has also announced that it's offering $2,000 in customer cash off the price of any SX4 sold with a manual transmission, which we found to be a willing partner in eking out the most performance from the little runabout and much more desirable than the four-speed slushbox when we tested it last year.
Gallery: In the Autoblog Garage: 2008 Suzuki SX4 Sport with TRIP
Photos Copyright (C)2008 Jeremy Korzeniewski / Weblogs, Inc.
Continue reading Suzuki offering free gas for summer with SX4 purchase
Suzuki Alto Lapin - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hear about those reports last week of a potential tie-up between Suzuki and Volkswagen for microcar development? Osamu Suzuki, chief executive at the automaker that bear his name, heard the same rumors that we did, and they apparently came as news to him. Though Suzuki falls short of denying outright that any potential deal could be struck, he told the Chunichi Shimbun daily (via Reuters):
So far there's been absolutely no contact (with Volkswagen). Lately, we've been the victim of a lot of rumors (of equity tie-ups and cooperation deals).
Suzuki sells more mini cars - albeit tiny 660cc Kei urban runabouts - in Japan than any other automaker not named Toyota, yet it has a limited footprint in most other markets. Thus, it's not surprising that rumors of impending partnerships are common. In this case, though, it would seem that reports of a potential 10% stake by VW are at least a bit premature.
Suzuki Alto Lapin - Click above for high-res gallery
According to reports from Reuters and Manager Magazin in Germany, Volkswagen is keen to purchase a 10% stake in Suzuki in order to cooperate on future small cars for emerging markets. In its home market of Japan, Suzuki is the second-largest automaker behind Toyota and dominates the tiny Kei car market alongside Toyota-owned Daihatsu.
These miniature 660cc vehicles are extremely popular in Japan's dense urban settings and Volkswagen reportedly believes this class of automobile holds great promise for emerging markets. In India, for example, Tata Motors has seen a great deal of success with its diminutive Nano, which is billed as the cheapest car in the world.
Suzuki already enjoys a measure of success in Tata's home turf, where its Maruti Suzuki subsidiary offers the Alto, which has been the best-selling automobile in India since 2004. At this time, both Suzuki and Volkswagen are declining comment, but VW chairman Ferdinand Piech has praised the Japanese automaker numerous times in the past.
Click above for a gallery of the graphtastic images from J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Lexus has taken the top spot away from Porsche, the initial quality leader for the past three years. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) -- a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.
This year, the industry average is 108 PP100, demonstrating a steady improvement from 118 PP100 in 2008, and 125 PP100 in 2007. In addition to the marked improvement by the industry overall, many brands continued to perform well in 2009. Following Lexus and Porsche is Cadillac (which moves from 10th rank position in 2008 to third in 2009), Hyundai (jumping from 13th rank position in 2008 to 4th in 2009) and Honda (up from 7th in 2008 to 5th in 2009). Infiniti, second in last year's study, drops to 11th overall, while Suzuki posts the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 32nd place in 2008 to 9th in 2009. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.
Gallery: 2009 J.D. Power IQS Results
Continue reading Lexus leads, Hyundai improves, while Infiniti drops in J.D. Power 2009 Initial Quality Study
Two U.S. domestic automakers have now entered and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Other automakers that were doing well before the economic implosion are now scrambling to cut costs and get people into showrooms with creative incentives. And then there's Suzuki and Mitsubishi. While each brand offers a model or two that's genuinely competitive, neither has been able to fend off the huge sales decline that's hit the U.S. auto industry. 
