Suzuki catches on to name Ignis

Suzuki has replaced its long-running Swift and Wagon R with the Ignis, a vehicle it says is a functional blend of the two.

Why Suzuki settled on the handle Ignis is not known. It is part of an old Latin meaning for will-o-the-wisp, or a light floating at night over a swamp. These days it mostly means something that is impossible to catch.

This perhaps is stretching things a bit as far as the Suzuki is concerned. The output of its four-cylinder engine would not put the Ignis beyond the reach of most things on four wheels.

Perhaps Suzuki in Japan so named it because it is going to enter a specially prepared factory-backed model on the international motorsport scene, where class rivals might indeed find it difficult to catch.

But Latin names and kilowatts aside, Suzuki New Zealand sees the Ignis as right for the times. It is well priced, too - $21,795 with a five-speed manual gearbox and $23,295 with a four-speed automatic.

Standard equipment includes electric power steering, air-conditioning, dual front airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners.

The Ignis is 3615mm long (identical to the Toyota Echo, the New Zealand Herald Car of the Year, but shorter than the Mazda Demio, Honda Logo and Daihatsu Sirion and YRV), 1540mm high and has a wheelbase of 2360mm.

Ground clearance of 165mm is greater than most of Ignis' rivals and gives it a strong recreational vehicle flavour.

The view from the driver's seat is said to be good, thanks to the upright seating position.

Suzuki says that while the Ignis' body is light for fuel efficiency, the structure has been maximised for occupant protection and the cabin built to resist deformation in a crash.

There is plenty of storage space. In addition to the usual cup holders, the Ignis has a tray under the dashboard, centre console pockets, a glove box, tray under the front passenger's seat, door and seatback pockets.

A 19-litre removable box in the rear incorporates a lift-out floor which can, with the optional legs, be used as a picnic table.

The Ignis is powered by a specially developed 16-valve 1.3-litre engine, which delivers 61kW at 5500 rpm and 110Nm of torque at 3500 rpm.

Suzuki says the Ignis is fuel thrifty, consuming between 5.2 and 6.4 litres of unleaded for every 100km. That works out between 44 and 54 miles to the gallon.

The suspension consists of MacPherson struts with internal shock absorbers at the front and trailing arms and coil springs at the rear. Brakes are disc in front and drums in the rear.

Suzuki says a limited edition version of the Ignis will raise the car's profile in New Zealand.

The New Zealand-only LE comes with a full kit - front and side skirts, a rear spoiler and alloy wheels built especially by ROH Australia.

"The overall effect is to create a more aggressive visual impact and ensure the Ignis stands out even more from its competitors," said sales executive Peter Goldfinch.

"The kit has been developed and produced in New Zealand specifically for Suzuki and we are very pleased with both the design aspects and the quality of the finish."

Suzuki has priced the body kit at $3200. But Goldfinch said that in order to make the Ignis LE as affordable as possible. "we have set the recommended retail price of the LE at $23,700, which represents a customer saving of $1300."

The Ignis LE will be available from March 1. Once the initial models have been sold, the full kit will be available as an optional package.

Suzuki has also given its four-wheel-drive Vitara range a boost with the release of a upgraded diesel model.

It is using French carmaker Peugeot's excellent 2.0-litre common-rail oil-burner under the bonnet of the Grand Vitara five-door.

The common-rail engine basically improves combustion. It is cleaner burning, lighter, more fuel efficient and has more flexibility at lower revs than previous diesels.

The installation of the four-cylinder powerplant has boosted power by 25 per cent and torque by 16 per cent.

The Vitara now develops 80kW at 4000 rpm and 250Nm of pulling power at a low 1750 rpm, compared with 216Nm at 2000 rpm in the old model.

The new model boasts 81 per cent more torque than the 1.6-litre Vitara, 44 per cent more than the 2.0-litre model and 20 per cent more than the 2.5-litre V6.

"What the figures don't show is that the new Grand Vitara diesel is much more driveable then the old," said Goldfinch.

"The engine is smoother and more tractable."

Suzuki first provided a diesel option for the Grand Vitara in 1998, about six months after the arrival of the petrol models. But the common-rail engine is a marked advance on the earlier diesel.

"Given the recent changes to the price of petrol, the attention that people are now paying to running costs in general, and the dramatic improvement in diesel engine technology, we are confident that diesel-engined cars will experience a surge over the next year or so," said Goldfinch.

The three-door Grand Vitara has been given a wider body with the adoption of lower splash panels from the five-door.

The add-ons give the vehicle a more purposeful appearance and increase the overall width by 85mm to 1780mm.

The increase in both front and rear tracks by 40mm, says Suzuki, improves stability and road holding.

The three-door's 2.0-litre has also been reworked to flatten the torque curve. Throttle response at moderate engine speeds is improved and peak power of 94kW is produced at a slight lower engine speed.

Other Vitara models have also been upgraded. The entry-level 1.6-litre three-door boasts new front and rear bumpers, a new grille and bigger wheels.

Prices have also moved upwards.