Australian Motor Show: Suzuki Unveils SX4 WRC Concept

Suzuki Australia today unveiled the Suzuki SX4 WRC Concept car at the 2006 Australian International Motor Show.

Earlier this year, in Europe, Suzuki launched the newest addition to its next generation product line up, the SX4, and also announced plans to enter the world rally championship (WRC) in 2008.

Suzuki Australia Managing Director, Mr Takeshi Hayasaki, today announced the official launch of SX4 in Australia is now scheduled for the first quarter of 2007.

The SX4, a sports cross over, combines the concept of "sporty compact" together with Suzuki's strong 4WD tradition.



Drawing from Suzuki's successful motorsport venture with the Swift and Swift Sport, the Junior World Rally Championship has provided Suzuki with the ultimate proving ground for testing new ideas and technologies, setting Suzuki as a serious contender in the upcoming WRC series.

Following two test events in Corsica and Great Britain last year, the Suzuki World Rally Team now embarks on its first full season of world rallying with two new drivers: Toni Gardemeister from Finland and Per-Gunnar Andersson from Sweden, the reigning Junior Rally Champion with Suzuki.

This will actually be Suzuki's seventh Monte Carlo rally, thanks to a successful Junior World Rally Championship campaign that resulted in two titles, but it is obviously the first time in the Principality with the all-new SX4 WRC.

The SX4 WRC sports a striking new white and yellow livery for 2008, and it has already racked up a number of testing kilometres in the region following a pre-Monte Carlo test at the end of last year with both drivers. Using the valuable experience gained from the two test events in 2007, the SX4 WRC features new differential and suspension settings for Monte Carlo, as well as a raft of other improvements under the skin.

Like all the other cars, the SX4 WRC will run on Pirelli's all-new control tyres introduced for this year. These tyres are not permitted to have anti-deflation mousse, and only one type of tread pattern and compound is allowed per event, in order to reduce costs. However drivers are permitted to hand-cut the tyres to help disperse water or loose gravel, and for Monte Carlo a short stud can also be used if necessary, to find grip in icy conditions.

The entire Suzuki team is eagerly awaiting the unique challenge of Monte Carlo, and the whole 2008 season.