Suzuki has revealed initial details for its new Splash compact car, scheduled to make its public debut at the
Frankfurt Motor Show this September. The company claims this latest addition to the range will enable it to grow market share and build on the success of the larger (and competent)
Swift model.
The exterior styling of the production car (which bears significant changes to the
Splash concept originally revealed at the
2006 Paris Motor Show) is claimed to be an all-new design specifically conceived for the European market. Changes to the front and rear fascias are evident, with large headlamps and a prominent grille that have been toned down to achieve production feasibility.
Power for the Suzuki Splash will be supplied by two different petrol engines and one diesel option. The petrol units consist of either a 1-litre three-cylinder unit with 65bhp or a 1.2-litre four-cylinder with 86bhp. For more frugal motoring, the Splash will also be available with a 75bhp 1.3-litre common-rail turbodiesel produced under licence from GM Powertrain Europe at Suzuki's plant in India. Suzuki claims the three engines produce CO
2 emissions between 120g/km and 140g/km when paired with the five-speed manual transmission.
Exterior dimensions reveal the latest addition to the Suzuki line-up seeks to compete head-on with small offerings from European carmakers. Measuring 3.7 metres long and 1.7 metres wide, the Splash slots between
Fiat's diminutive Panda and the
Renault Modus, and at 1.6 metres high the Suzuki's height is identical to that of
Peugeot's 1007 city car.
Suzuki, aiming to sell up to 60,000 units of the Splash annually in Europe, will build the new car at its subsidiary company, Magyar Suzuki Corporation, in Hungary.
Eric Gallina - 7 Jun 2007