- Suzuki goes four-door with Ignis SUV
- Hybrid available, as well as AWD
- ‘Exudes Suzuki DNA from every pore’
UNVEILED FOR launch in South Africa around May 2017 is the cute Suzuki Ignis crossover SUV, another global small car from the masters of semi-midgetisation.
The cars were shown at the 2016 Paris auto show and praised (by the automaker) as “exuding Suzuki DNA from every pore while introducing an entirely new design with unique character”.
Character is something that Suzuki has never been short of and this model, it’s promised, is compact at 3.7m but “wth excellent visibility, a spacious cabin and ample luggage space”.
The concept, as so often in the past from Suzuki, was to create “a compact crossover whose styling was undoubtedly Suzuki”. It’s arrival will take to 11 the number of cars in the local Suzy stable. Oh yeah, and a small bakkie.
It will ride, we are told, on the Baleno platform, a model just introduced to South Africa.
There are six models in the range, each with a 1.2-litre petrol engine but a variety of equipment levels and a choice of manual or auto gearbox and two- or all-wheel drive – though only one of the latter. Whether that list will change before May 2017 remains to be seen.
The round shape of its aircon system’s panel and what Suzuki describes as “the advanced feel of its distinctive instrument cluster design” combine to give the cabin environment a futuristic look. The automaker adds:
“Orange and metallic titanium accent colours, depending choice of exterior colour, add an extra touch of quality to the cabin and help establish an active image that befits a crossover.”
LOTS OF CRASH-MITIGATION STUFF
It has adopted the Baleno’s short nose and compact engine to maximise cabin/luggage space but if you’re planning a week’s camping trip, just two folk might be best – the boot, depending on model, holding 204 (in the 4×4 AllGrip) or 267 litres of fresh air. There are, however, five seats – the rear ones sliding and folding.
Collision-mitigation stuff includes six crash-bags; comfort stuff includes (on all models), aircon, digital radio with Bluetooth, 15″ wheel rims, body-coloured external mirrors, front power windows and four- or five-seat passenger capacity.
SZ-T models add satnav, rear camera, 16″ rims, roof rails, wheel-arch extensions and four-seat capacity with individual sliding rear seats. SZ5 adds auto aircon, keyless entry/ignition, rear power-windows, diode headlights and front foul-weather lights.
The Ignis – in Europe, at least – will be available in one solid colour, five optional metallics and five two-tone colours which will include a black metallic roof. Prices in the UK (SA, for price indication only) from R167 000 to R235 000 (Dec 2016).
The range includes:
1.2 Dualjet SZ3 5-spd
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T 5-spd
1.2 Dualjet SZ-T 5-spd a/t
1.2 Dualjet SHVS 5-spd (smart hybrid)
1.2 Dualjet SZ5 5-spd ‘automated manual’ (read CVT)
1.2 Dualjet SHVS SZ5 AllGrip 5-spd 4×4 (smart hybrid)
Suzuki introduced the 1.2-litre Dualjet in 2014, initially in the Swift but more recently the Baleno SHVS (full title: Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) in June 2016. The engines use Suzuki’s engine technology with twin fuel-injectors placed very close to the inlet valves for finer fuel atomisation.
TOP-CLASS CLEAN EMISSIONS, 4.5/100km
The car’s starter motor doubles as a generator to provide extra electric power under acceleration; regenerative electricity is included.
“The SHVS system,” Suzuki explains, “only uses its conventional engine starter motor from cold; under all other conditions it uses the starter/generator unit for “smooth and quiet engine re-starts”.
The SHVS system helps Suzuki reach a top-class CO2 emissions figure of 97g/km and a claimed potential fuel consumption of around 4.5 litres/100km.
The AllGrip auto all-wheel drive system, first seen on the Suzuki Swift, is a simple fully-auto, permanent all-wheel drive layout which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling. The automaker adds:
“Enhancements to AllGrip include gradient-descent control and Grip Control, the latter activated by the driver for slippery surfaces to be crossed at less than 30km/h. It focuses torque on wheels that have grip, quickly applying braking any wheel that starts to spin.”
READ MORE SUZUKI features on Carman’s Corner
An exra safety feature on SZ5 models is “Dual Camera Brake Support” which uses stereo cameras, one each side of the driving mirror, to detect lane markings obstructions – including pedestrians – and also their distance away. Should the distance become critical the car will brake.
The SZ3 has a fixed rear seat and luggage capacity of 267 litres with the rear seat upright. SZ-T and SZ5 models have two individual rear seats that can slide though 165mm to increase luggage volume or legroom; they can also recline.
If both seats are folded luggage capacity increases to 514 litres or 1100 litres to the roof.
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