Daewoo-sourced Suzuki Forenza/Reno to leave American Suzuki Lineup after 2008MY

[CaymanS]

The Forenza will be replaced by the SX4 Sedan.

Who would've thunk it (NOT)? For 2009, Suzuki will remove its top-selling vehicles, Forenza and Reno, from the line-up to accommodate more room for the SX4 range. With the SX4 experiencing a 35% increase in sales for 2007 and the Daewoo siblings facing dips, Suzuki knew which one had better potential.

Suzuki had sold 28,259 examples of the Forenza and Reno through July, a 6.8% decrease from last year. The SX4 gained a 35.1% increase with 9246 units sold. Come this October, Suzuki will add the SX4 Sedan and in 2009, the FWD models of the SX4 Hatch. The Forenza and Reno were on sale since 2004 and has undergone a minor refresh for 2006.

We personally think Suzuki should have kept its ties with Daewoo, considering that the next-generation Lacetti is certainly a looker from the camo-clad spyshots, an element that the current Lacetti/Forenza/Reno performs below par.

http://thecarblogger.blogspot.com/20...be-canned.html

[Ming]

The SX4 is new for 2007 (of course it will "increase"), and the sales numbers combined with the Aerio still are under half of Forenza / Reno sales.

The SX has hardly "eclipsed" Forenza / Reno sales. "Slow selling" Forenza / Reno? I think not. They top everything else Suzuki is selling here!

July 2007 American Suzuki Sales:
FORENZA/RENO: 3735
AERIO/SX4: 1102

So far this year Forenza/Reno sales are down 7%: to 28,259 -- compared with 30,329 in 2006.

Source: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...01/056945.html

The Forenza / Reno's "dip" is due to the cars having been out since 2004 - until this year they were the engine behind American Suzuki's growth to over 100,000 units, consistently American Suzuki's top selling cars.

This move is a gamble by Suzuki, since the Aerio sedan and hatch never performed nearly as well as the Forenza / Reno, and the SX4's performance thus far has been Aerio-like at best.

Looks like Suzuki wants to go full ahead on its own product and will not tie up with GMDAT for the 2009 redesign of the Lacetti/Forenza if AutomotiveNews' source is correct.

[SonicAerio]

So this confirms other news that you and I Ming have read on the other forum....

I was guessing this all along, and the Aerio will resurface with a new gen sedan while the Aerio Sx stays discontinued.....for now....

I agree with all of your points...and when I first read slow selling Forenza....I didn't know what to make with it....but it was alsready stated that the SX4 sedan would be substantially less then the Sx4 now so maybe it will stay in Forenza territory. To prevent internal competition they dropped the aging Forenza...and kept their promise of slowly killing out non Japanese/Suzuki vehicles in their lineup as they have available models

I wonder if the Sx4 sedan will keep the Forenza name....my guess is it will....

Well the Tosca should be here as a Verona by next year untill 2010 when the Kizashi replaces it....

this also allows GM to lineup the next gen cobalt and GMDAT subcompact offering to become a truly gloabl car.....seems like it worked out for both companies... Suzuki rcvd a stopgap model and GM rcvd an outlet to sell excessive models in their lineup....

OR maybe...the seatbelt recall just threw it over the topin reliability (even though I am taking my Aerio in this week for the manual tranny wire clip recall)

[Ming]

I can answer that, Sonic Aerio. I've seen the redesigned web-site, and it shows the SX4 4WD and SX4 Sport, the "Sport" being the sedan.

After this year I suppose it ("Sport") could go to a name change of Forenza or Aerio.

Neither name is used by Suzuki Japan, however while the SX4 and Swift are used worldwide. So I wonder if both Aerio and Forenza nameplates won't just be unceremoniously dumped.

[CrunkedRL]

Isn't the SX4 smaller than the Forenza about the size of an Aveo? I would have thought they would have given the Forenza a mild refresh like it's clone the Chinese Buick Excelle is getting before killing it altogether.

[Bravada]

1) I would be VERY surprised if they kept the Forenza name. While it is a big seller, it is somewhat of a mixed blessing - it diverts from the desired Suzuki image. I believe the name will be laid to rest (along with Reno), as the Forenza was somewhat of a stopgap.

I also think the SX4 sedan will be marketed at higher prices than the Forenza, as Suzuki seems to want to reaffirm its position as a "premium small car" brand - and the current market trends in the US allow for that.

2) The SX4 IS smaller, just like the Aerio was - Suzuki tries to market it as a "class bridging" or "unique" model, bought more for what sets it apart from competition than for what they have in common...

3) Great to hear the Tosca is coming!

[Ming]

Originally Posted by Bravada

1) I would be VERY surprised if they kept the Forenza name. While it is a big seller, it is somewhat of a mixed blessing - it diverts from the desired Suzuki image.

True. American Suzuki often tries to play up the success of its other models while downplaying the better sales of the Forenza/Reno, but there's no denying they've been its growth engine since they debuted.

The SX4 Sedan has more room in the rear than the "4WD" (hatch), but I haven't compared specs with the Aerio Sedan to see how they stack up.

Here are some photos of the SX4 sedan's rear seat: http://suzukiphile.com/index.php?blo...&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

I personally think the 2 SX4 variants have a better chance at succeeding than the Aerio, and with the Forenza / Reno gone, they will really need to step it up or see American Suzuki sales dip under 100,000 annual sales once again.

Of course this is over a year away, so plenty of time for Suzuki to surprise us.

[SonicAerio]

Originally Posted by Ming

I can answer that, Sonic Aerio. I've seen the redesigned web-site, and it shows the SX4 4WD and SX4 Sport, the "Sport" being the sedan.

After this year I suppose it ("Sport") could go to a name change of Forenza or Aerio.

Neither name is used by Suzuki Japan, however while the SX4 and Swift are used worldwide. So I wonder if both Aerio and Forenza nameplates won't just be unceremoniously dumped.

I've seen the new website as well and noticed the SX4 sport (I am on web committee) and it is a nice vehicle...but according to the person on the aerio forum that we have gotten pretty reliable info in the past that the sales of the Aerio have raised the eyebrows and that the Aerio name will resurface on a new generation. The platform the current Aerio is on now is only 5 years old, so why would they dump it when they could offer another sedan a bit larger then the SX4 sedan?

BTW.... Suzuki Japan used the Aerio name on the same vehicle...only the Liana was used everywher else....

Originally Posted by Bravada

1) I would be VERY surprised if they kept the Forenza name. While it is a big seller, it is somewhat of a mixed blessing - it diverts from the desired Suzuki image. I believe the name will be laid to rest (along with Reno), as the Forenza was somewhat of a stopgap.

That is true to you and me...but for the average consumer it already has some name recognition and value more so then even Aerio...why would they dump it?

Originally Posted by Bravada

I also think the SX4 sedan will be marketed at higher prices than the Forenza, as Suzuki seems to want to reaffirm its position as a "premium small car" brand - and the current market trends in the US allow for that.

Suzuki NA is all about value and showcasing what you can get for the money, the same applies to the SX4 sedan....a japanese competitor to the Kia/Hyundai Koren budget groups if you will....They are in know way going anywhere towards premium. The SX4 sedan will lack the i-AWD on the SX4 allowing it to cost less....

Plus they will have the swift to slot under it for price so they really arn't loosing any segment by axing the GMDAT...

Originally Posted by Bravada

2) The SX4 IS smaller, just like the Aerio was - Suzuki tries to market it as a "class bridging" or "unique" model, bought more for what sets it apart from competition than for what they have in common...

Very true...but the Aerio I think was still larger then the SX4 or SX4 sedan....but I guess we will see...

Originally Posted by Bravada

3) Great to hear the Tosca is coming!

Agreed!


***Sorry for rush and errors had 5 mins ***

[Ming]

Originally Posted by SonicAerio

I've seen the new website as well and noticed the SX4 sport (I am on web committee) and it is a nice vehicle...but according to the person on the aerio forum that we have gotten pretty reliable info in the past that the sales of the Aerio have raised the eyebrows and that the Aerio name will resurface on a new generation. The platform the current Aerio is on now is only 5 years old, so why would they dump it when they could offer another sedan a bit larger then the SX4 sedan?

You too eh? Fellow committee member. Swift_Moves is the source? I think it would be fine for name recognition, and I think I said it before but "SX4" seems to play off of "Aerio SX", so why not just rename the SX4 and SX4 sport (so strange with the 2WD getting the SX4 moniker) to Aerio and Aerio SX?

As far as the Aerio goes, I don't see it here, and assumed it was replaced in Japan by the SX4: http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/index.html So when you say "why would they dump it?" are you talking about keeping the old Aerio? Am I the only one who sees the SX4 variants as a clear replacement for the Aerio SX and sedan?

Originally Posted by SonicAerio

BTW.... Suzuki Japan used the Aerio name on the same vehicle...only the Liana was used everywher else....

Ah, that's right! Doesn't "Liana" sound like a typical Japanese car name, though?

[chrisbenz]

I wonder if GM will sell it under the Pontiac brand? Maybe replace the g5?

[Ming]

The addition of another plant for the SX4 in Japan is also likely to allow a larger dealer inventory of SX4's, as a problem the SX4 has faced has been lack of sufficient numbers of the new car to sell.

[FordFan]

People still buy Suzukis?

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by Ming

I can answer that, Sonic Aerio. I've seen the redesigned web-site, and it shows the SX4 4WD and SX4 Sport, the "Sport" being the sedan.

Isn't 'Sport' just the upper trim level for US SX4s?

I'm glad they are aligning the US lineup with the rest of the world, but I wonder if they can sustain the Forenza's volume with the SX4 Sedan.

[benroethig]

Originally Posted by chrisbenz

I wonder if GM will sell it under the Pontiac brand? Maybe replace the g5?

Not likely. Pontiac is going affordable performance (as it should be). A cheap Korean model doesn't fit with that. I could see either the Daewoo name being reintroduced or GDAT products no longer sold in the U.S. market.

[SonicAerio]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

Isn't 'Sport' just the upper trim level for US SX4s?

No...it is an upper trim level for the SX4 sedan. the sedan will have a Touring and Sport edition that will come standard with lip kits, large rims, KYB struts, etc...

They showcased them when the SX4 sedan was unveiled in NA...it was the 2 cars that were blue and Burgundy...one had a chrome grill the other ad projectors I think