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Too Little, Too Late: Suzuki to Import 2,500 Cars from Japan to Meet Increased Demand in the U.S.

In November, Suzuki's automotive division in announced that it would be shutting down its operations in the United States. On Thursday, December 20, American Suzuki Motor Corp successfully filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, in Santa Ana, California, winning permission to close its automotive operations, while re-organizing its motorcycle and boat businesses.

But that's not all that went down in the court as U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Scott Clarkson also approved Suzuki's request to borrow $50 million to import extra cars from Japan. Confused? Well, allow us to explain.

Suzuki may have pulled the plug on its automotive operations in America, but in Europe, it's still alive (well, at least for now), thank you very much.

Following the release of the updated 2013 Jimny last month, Suzuki has now given a mild facelift to its aging Grand Vitara that goes on sale in the United Kingdom this month as a 2013 model with prices starting from £15,995 for SZ3 1.6 litre 3 door version.

Shortly after introducing the modestly revised for the 2013 model year Jimny, Suzuki is now offering its updated compact 4x4 model in the United Kingdom, with prices remaining unchanged over the previous version.

Exterior styling revisions are limited to a new front bumper and grille design with five slots, together with a new bonnet shape that houses a central air scoop. The redesign of the front bumper has led to a slight increase in overall length of 30mm to 3,675mm (144.7 inches). There's also a new, optional available, Breeze Blue metallic color.

Just the other day, Suzuki Motor Corporation filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in the USA and announced that it is abandoning the car market in the country, while continuing to sell its motorcycles and ATVs.

Now we learn that the Japanese company is terminating all of its Spanish-based motorcycle production activities by the end of the first quarter of 2013. Not the best news for a country that is in a deepening recession with an unemployment rate of 25 per cent at the end of September.

We knew that Suzuki's automotive division was having problems in the United States, but we never imagined that the Japanese carmaker would go as far as to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and completely exit the automobile market in the country (this decision does not affect its global automotive operations).

American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC), which is the exclusive distributor in the continental United States of Suzuki Motor Corporation automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and marine outboard engines, made the announcement on Monday night, citing several reasons:

VW’s Chairman Ferdinand Piech and Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne, two of the European automotive industry’s most prominent executives, have presumably read Sun Tzu’s Art of War and are aware of this excerpt:

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

The two groups are currently involved, if not in war, then certainly in a peculiar game of strategy and tactics – and there is no way of knowing who will come up trumps.

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.”

The two groups are currently involved, if not in war, then certainly in a peculiar game of strategy and tactics – and there is no way of knowing who will come up trumps.

Even though Suzuki has already presented a spicy concept of the Swift Sport at the 2011 Geneva Salon, as well as the toned-down, final production model powered by a 1.6-liter petrol engine delivering 134hp (100kW / 136PS), the Japanese marque has prepared another study for the 2012 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney next week (October 19 to 28).

Suzuki tells us that the Swift Sport is a one-off concept designed by the brand's chief engineer Naoyuki Takeuchi.

Some 13 years since its market launch, the third generation of Suzuki' highly capable off the road but no so much on the road, Jimny 4x4, is clearly getting a little long in the proverbial tooth, but there's no replacement in sight.

Instead, the Japanese carmaker is trying to keep new customers interested in the small off-roader by applying mild upgrades from time to time.

The latest refresh concerns the European market model that receives some subtle cosmetic revisions highlighted by the new hood with a functional air intake, a newly design five-slot front grille and a re-sculptured front bumper.

Instead, the Japanese carmaker is trying to keep new customers interested in the small off-roader by applying mild upgrades from time to time.

The Suzuki stand at the Paris Salon showcased a new concept vehicle named the S-Cross, and mind you, this isn't just another one of those show-grabbers as it hints at a production model that will go on sale sooner than you think.

"The new crossover will be the first in an ambitious programme of annual European model launches, which Suzuki will be starting in 2013," the Japanese carmaker said in a statement.

Here's our first clear look at the new Suzuki S-CROSS Concept that will be heading to the 2012 Paris Motor Show on Thursday for its world premiere.

The S-CROSS is a compact (C-segment) crossover model and it gives us an idea of what Suzuki's plans are for a replacement of the current SX4 that is manufactured together with the Fiat Sedici in Hungary.

Here's our first clear look at the new Suzuki S-CROSS Concept that will be heading to the 2012 Paris Motor Show on Thursday for its world premiere.

The Volkswagen Group has put to rest an appeal of a court ruling in a brand infringement case against Suzuki regarding its use of the GTi nameplate on the sportiest version of the Swift hatchback – not because it wanted to, but evidently, because it had no chance of winning the case.

The dispute began back in 2004 when the German automaker challenged an application granted to Suzuki to use the GTi moniker and took the Japanese brand to court.

The highlight of Suzuki's presence at the Paris Motor Show that runs from September 27 (for the public from September 29) to 14 October will be the S-CROSS concept.

In addition to a shadowy image of the study's front end and a more revealing sketch released by the Japanese carmaker back in August, Suzuki has now dropped a third teaser photo that gives us a look at the crossover model's…very SEAT-like… rear end.

While Suzuki has already prepared us for the world premiere of a new concept model called the S-Cross at the Paris Motor Show on September 27, behind the scenes, the company's engineers are hard at work finishing the development of the actual production version that may replace the current SX-4. Read more »

Suzuki Debuts European Market 2013 Grand Vitara at the Moscow Auto Salon

The launch of the lightly refreshed 2013 Grand Vitara (as the Escudo) in Suzuki's home market of Japan earlier this summer has been followed up by the reveal of the European specification model at this week's Moscow International Automobile Salon.

The update brings some cosmetic tweaks on the outside and new design features on the inside to keep customers interested in the compact SUV that has started to show its age as the current model has been in production since 2005.

Auto Parts

Too Little, Too Late: Suzuki to Import 2,500 Cars from Japan to Meet Increased Demand in the U.S.

Suzuki Unwraps Refreshed Grand Vitara for the UK Market

Suzuki Puts a New Face on the 2013 Jimny, Releases Prices for the UK

Suzuki Shutting Down its Spanish Motorcycle Production Operations As Well

Suzuki Pulling Out of the American Car Market, will Focus on Motorcycles and Marine Divisions

Is Fiat Flirting with Suzuki as a Response to the VW Group Wanting to Buy Alfa Romeo?

Is Fiat Flirting with Suzuki as a Response to the VW Group Wanting to Buy Alfa Romeo?

Suzuki to Bring New Pocket-Rocket Swift Sport Concept to the Sydney Motor Show

Suzuki to Bring New Pocket-Rocket Swift Sport Concept to the Sydney Motor Show

Suzuki Subtly Refreshes European Market Jimny 4x4

Suzuki Subtly Refreshes European Market Jimny 4x4

Suzuki Affords us a Peek Into its Future with New S-Cross Concept, Enters Production in 2013

Suzuki Affords us a Peek Into its Future with New S-Cross Concept, Enters Production in 2013

Suzuki S-CROSS Concept Comes Under the Spotlight

Suzuki S-CROSS Concept Comes Under the Spotlight

Volkswagen Abandons Appeal Against Suzuki and the Use of the GTi Moniker

Volkswagen Abandons Appeal Against Suzuki and the Use of the GTi Moniker

Suzuki Drops Another Dark Teaser of S-CROSS Concept

Fresh Spy Shots of Suzuki's New SX4 Crossover Replacement

Suzuki Debuts European Market 2013 Grand Vitara at the Moscow Auto Salon

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