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2001 Suzuki Swift | ||
| Price Range N/A  | Fuel Economy 30 city / 34 highway Base Engine 79-horsepower L4 | Value Rating  Average |
Suzuki pulled its previous Swift from the U.S. after the 2001 model year, but has continued to sell it in other markets since. The new Swift's U.S. launch was originally scheduled for later this fall, and Suzuki reportedly made it as far as staring to work out pricing for the car before those plans were put on hold.
The main reason for the delay, according to a Suzuki spokesman, is the rise of the yen against the dollar. "At the moment, if the exchange rate continues like it is, we couldn't expect very much profit," Takuma Mizuyoshi, a Suzuki spokesman, told Automotive News. "So that's a concern right now." In addition, during our drive of the new car in June, Suzuki officials admitted that the Swift did not yet meet North American crash regulations.
Another reason for the Swift's delay is the company's recent tie-up with German giant Volkswagen, which recently purchased 19.9 percent of Suzuki. The two companies are presently investigating how best to align product strategies, and we expect the future of the Swift to be part of the discussion.
Suzuki's dwindling American marketing budget is another concern that could possibly impact the car's launch if indeed it does come here. Suzuki spent $14.9 million on marketing in the first quarter of 2009, a figure that dropped to only $3.9 million during the first quarter of 2010.
Source: Automotive News (subscription required) courtesy of Motor Trend Staff
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