Suzuki unveiled SX4 WRC rally car, and they're joining!

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Suzuki are to unveil their newest rally car in Genevé. As far as information goes, this picture is all there currently is:
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No surprise to me if it gets the regular turbo 2.0-litre four, with an understated 300hp and 550Nm to all four wheels via six-speed sequential.

I'm just hoping it'll be right up there with the big boys when/if it starts competing.

Edit: Whoops, forgot to mention that all information on it will be revealed once Genevé opens. I.e debut event, potential drivers etc
 
With Ford and Subaru remaining for this season, we really need another factory backed WRC team.
 
I heard something about Suzuki joining WRC last year, and I hope this is a sign of it. If true and they are really coming in 👍 Good luck!
As red70mach1 said, we really need more teams to join.
 
Suzuki's been in the JWRC for a while... with their 4x4 experience, you just had to wonder when they would step up. Any word on what event they'll debut the car at?
 
niky
Suzuki's been in the JWRC for a while... with their 4x4 experience, you just had to wonder when they would step up. Any word on what event they'll debut the car at?
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Check edit in first post.
 
It does look mean and nice. Suzuki however is bound to be one of the underdogs.
 
It's more likely to be a Super 2000 class car and not a WRC class car.[
 
I like the front, but a 5 door? This car would look hot as a hatch in my opinion. Chop the back doors out and i'll be all over it.
 
Suzuki already has a Super 2000 class car. At 300hp, this is likely a full Group A (is that right?) car.
 
It's official!
Suzuki Confirms FIA WRC entry

One of the most eagerly anticipated announcements in recent months was confirmed today, February 28, when the president of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Mr Hiroshi Tsuda, confirmed that the marque will enter the FIA World Rally Championship in the World Rally Car category in 2007.

Tsuda confirmed that the manufacturer plans to join in August '07, at the beginning of the first 'split' WRC season, running over the 2007/8 winter. It sees this as a four year project, which was green-lit at the end of 2005.

The plan is for the manufacturer to remain involved in the Junior World Rally Championship until the end of 2006 in an "official" capacity. From that point, all Super 1600 activity will be looked after by the current customer operation in Hungary.

Many details were unconfirmed at this stage; hardly surprising considering the debut is some 18 months away. However, it was announced that all work, including the development of the car, engine and transmission, will be carried out in Japan. Nobihiro 'Monster' Tajima's Suzuki Sport Company Ltd will look after engine development and Tajima himself will, not surprisingly, fill the role of Team Principal.

Tsuda also confirmed that the 'simplification' of the technical regulations, such as the switch to mechanical transmission systems from hydraulic, have made it possible for Suzuki to proceed. "Had the regulations still allowed active transmissions, it would have been impossible for us," he said.

The crossover Suzuki SX4 model will be used as the base, with a fairly traditional WRCar layout. It will use the J20 four-cylinder engine, 2.0-litre and turbocharged.

According to Tajima, the main challenge will be the new regulation regarding homologation, which seeks to promote technical stability by fixing specifications and limiting changes to designs for a two year period. However, for a brand new manufacturer in the WRCar category, this will prove almost impossible and Suzuki will probably need to ask for dispensation to allow it to introduce changes as it moves forward.
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@Live4Speed, thanks for telling me. I thought the article was public (automatic log-in, you know).
 
Could you copy and past the article, I can't login there.
 
Suzuki could also be one of the dark horses of the WRC.

P.S: Live can you clean out a bit of your PM inbox plz, I want to send you a PM mate.
 
You have to love rally racing. This is one of the racing series in which you can have a compact car and be a serious contender in off-road conditions. One of the best compact racing machines is the Peugeot 206 WRC. I liked it in the GT series, in Colin McRae 2, and even Enthusia. The Citroen Xsara is also a nice compact for rally action. This car is pretty handsome. I'm sure it will do the same for rally courses whether it's in the Mexican Rally, the Monte Carlo Rally, the "jumps" of the fun Finland rally, the snow of Sweden, the tarmac roads in Japan, or down under in Australia. I wish Suzuki luck. They may have their next best off-road car since the wild Escudo/Grand Vitara.

Out of 100% approval for this machine, I'm giving it an oh so handsome 90%. Very nice rally racer.
 
JohnBM01
You have to love rally racing. This is one of the racing series in which you can have a compact car and be a serious contender in off-road conditions. One of the best compact racing machines is the Peugeot 206 WRC. I liked it in the GT series, in Colin McRae 2, and even Enthusia. The Citroen Xsara is also a nice compact for rally action. This car is pretty handsome. I'm sure it will do the same for rally courses whether it's in the Mexican Rally, the Monte Carlo Rally, the "jumps" of the fun Finland rally, the snow of Sweden, the tarmac roads in Japan, or down under in Australia. I wish Suzuki luck. They may have their next best off-road car since the wild Escudo/Grand Vitara.
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That's what I like most about rally, too. I mean, Peugeot, one of the best hatch-maker, had huge success with two machines (three, actually) - the Peugeot 205 v16, and the v16 Evolution II, as well as the 206. On the other side, Mitsubishi had a lot of success with the Lancer Evolution (well, untill the VII was introduced), which is a sedan. Lesson: a lot of cars are competitive here, meaning variety.

And the Suzuki looks really nice, actually. Does remind me a bit of the latest Grand Vitara Pikes Peak...
 
Freddie
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:drool: Another beautiful Suzuki that will never see the day in the U.S. Suzuki could be making gazillion dollars in this market, but they have their blinders on or something.
 
Is there going to be a road version of this car, like Subaru has?
I like this little car.
 

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