Suzuki is a Japanese manufacturer with a long history in the automotive industry. Ironically, the company is less than 12 months away from introducing to the Australian market one of two possible lights cars -- and neither of them are built in Japan.
The Splash is built at Suzuki's plant in Hungary and the Alto is built in the company's Maruti plant in India. Both cars are built to similar specifications, with the Alto arguably less stylish than the Splash, but possibly landed at lower cost in Australia.
According to local Suzuki MD, Tony Devers, both cars will boast hybrid-bettering levels of fuel consumption and interior space commensurate with a small car, rather than a light car. In other words, both cars will be models of packaging and fuel efficiency. Data from a British fuel consumption website (the Splash is already on sale in Europe), indicates that the tiny Suzuki's fuel consumption would be 4.7L/100km. Specification may differ for Australian-delivered cars -- assuming the Splash is selected over the Alto anyway.
Whatever the case, either vehicle can be expected to expand the light car segment and pick up decent sales volumes, just as the Daihatsu Sirion did some years ago.
"We'll be making an announcement at the Sydney motor show and we're close to a decision. Whichever one we choose, will be second quarter of next year," says Devers, when asked for the scheduled launch of the new light car.
At the present, Suzuki Australia is uncommitted to either car and the decision doesn't rest on just each respective vehicle's landed cost. Suzuki wants to sell the car at a starting price below $13,000, if possible -- and there's that Sirion precedent again -- but that will depend on the volatility of the Australian dollar and its exchange rates with Indian and Hungarian units of currency.
In the final wash-up however, Suzuki will place similar precedence on the respective fuel efficiency, safety and quality of the new model, whichever one gets the nod for Australia.
"Specification is important," says Devers. "We want fuel efficiency, safety, quality -- they're the key issues that we want... and value for money, which is what Suzuki is about."
On at least two of those points (quality and value for money), the Indian-built Alto would appear to have the advantage on the Splash, although despite the Indian plant's strong showing in JD Power research, the Hungarian plant is like any other Suzuki plant around the world where it comes to quality assurance.
"Suzuki plants around the world are all a very similar process," says Devers. "They've got their Suzuki management running them; the employees spend 12 months in the Japan plants and they're all very, very new plants, so the quality is fine."
"Within the group, Maruti Suzuki has won several JD Power & Associates quality awards."
On the strength of that comment, the Indian plant could be described as 'first among equals' -- an assessment with which Devers broadly agrees, but notes that the Suzuki quality method can be transferred from one country to another.
"I think Toyota has proven that they can relocate and get good quality all the way through -- and Suzuki's going to do the same."
"What visionary manufacturers do," Devers continues, "they look at a community that could have craftsmanship and ability to build detail. Thailand is one area -- and we're opening up in 2010 with Thailand -- they're renowned for quality craftsmanship. India is renowned for quality craftsmanship as well."
According to Devers, there's no reason why the Alto couldn't be named the Splash (or 'A-Star', as the original concept was named) for the Australian market, although he isn't of the opinion that many prospective buyers will recall the 1.0-litre five-door model from the 90s or the commercial-based Alto hatch before that.
Suzuki is planning to bust the light car segment wide open with the new model and, with fuel prices being a major factor in new-car buying decisions, the tiny-outside/huge-inside Suzuki may exacerbate a growing trend -- of previous used-car buyers choosing small, cost-effective new cars instead.
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