WHAT CAR AWARDS - The Suzuki Celerio City car gets a Best Buy nod at this years awards ceremony.

First launched in the UK two years ago, the Suzuki Celerio has been awarded a ‘Best Buy’ accolade at the 2017 What Car? Awards held in London. At £6,999, the SZ2 model was comprehensively judged by the editorial team and announced as the best overall model in its price bracket of less than £8,000.

Readers of What Car? regularly ask the team to assist with advice on their next new car and in the case of needing something small, cheap to buy and run and also easy to drive, Celerio is very high on the list.

Commenting at the awards, Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car? said “Nothing else in this class offers so much for so little, just £7000 is enough to land you our lowest price point winner. 

At that price you’d expect an empty box on wheels, right? Wrong. This entry level SZ2 trim isn’t the plushest, but how about this lot: a height-adjustable driver’s seat and steering wheel, split-folding rear seats, electric front windows, a DAB radio and six airbags? Best of all, you get a sprightly three-cylinder petrol engine that’ll easily whizz you around town, with enough in reserve for 70mph cruising on the motorway.  And it emits just 99g/km of CO₂, so is exempt from road tax.

Drivers can easily get comfy thanks to lots of seat adjustment, and it’s dead easy to see all the car’s corners when parking. There’s a surprising amount of space for all four passengers, and the boot is bigger than most city cars”.

Celerio is proving to be very popular in the UK with more than 16,500 sold since launch and the SZ2 is available from just £79 per month with a PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement from Suzuki Financial Services. The term is 48 months at 5.9 per cent APR and requires a deposit of £1,855 with an optional final payment of £2,228 to keep the car.

Suzuki opens a 2nd dealership in Birmingham, doubling it's presence in the region and taking its total to 158 Dealers.

• Suzuki doubles retail presence in Birmingham with new dealership on College Road (B44)
• Contemporary six car Sutton Park showroom becomes the 158th Suzuki Dealer in the UK 
• Premises include a state-of-the-art hospitality area and a seven-bay workshop plus MOT facilities

Suzuki GB PLC is pleased to announce the opening of its second franchise dealership in Central Birmingham. Operated by the Sutton Park Group, it is the eighth vehicle manufacturer and seventh site to be added to the motoring retailer’s growing West Midlands portfolio, and brings the total number of new car dealers in its UK dealer network to 158.

The newly refurbished six-car Sutton Park Suzuki showroom on the A453 College Road, one of the main arterial roads in the city, features the entire model line-up, spanning the frugal Celerio City car to the S-Cross crossover. Customers are hosted in a spacious, state-of-the-art hospitality area by a highly-knowledgeable sales team which includes dedicated fleet and Motability specialists. Furthermore, the modern premises come complete with parts and servicing departments, as well as a seven-bay workshop, MOT facilities, an external forecourt with a display of over 30 new and Approved Used vehicles and ample parking for visitors.

Dale Wyatt, Sales and Marketing Director at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “The Sutton Park Group has been trading in the region for 25 years and brings a long-standing reputation for excellent customer care and a high standard of service. The latest dealership is also situated in a prominent location, and therefore ticks all the boxes to continue growing our retail footprint in one of the UK’s largest cities. We look forward to working closely with the Sutton Park Group as they start their journey with Suzuki.”

Neil Boffey, Dealer Principal of Sutton Park Suzuki, adds: “We are delighted to be representing the Suzuki marque. The brand offers today’s motorists solid residual values, low running costs and great value, and with the recent additions to the product range such as the Baleno hatchback and the sporty Vitara S, the cars are a very compelling proposition for buyers within our catchment areas.”

Highly attractive finance deals are currently on offer on all new Suzuki models this summer at Sutton Park Suzuki*. These are namely the new 1.0-litre Boosterjet SZ5 five-door Baleno hatchback from only £179 per month (with a finance deposit allowance of £1,000), the 1.6-litre S-Cross SZ5 1.6 DDiS ALLGRIP TCSS crossover at just £269 per month with a £2,000 deposit contribution, whilst the sporty 1.4-litre five-door Vitara 1.4 S Boosterjet ALLGRIP is available with a deposit of £3,261, 48 monthly payments of £265, and an optional final sum of £7,002.

Suzuki revealed as the ‘most improved organisation’ in annual UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) for July 2016

• Suzuki revealed as the ‘most improved organisation’ in annual UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) for July 2016, out of 227 brands, including 24 carmakers
• Suzuki adds 9.1 points to July 2015 score and climbs to 27th place overall
• The bi-annual study is a nationwide measure of satisfaction and covers 13 different sectors

Suzuki GB PLC is delighted to announce that it has been recognised as the ‘most improved organisation’ in The Institute of Customer Service’s annual UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI) for July 2016. 

A national measure of sentiment across the country, the research asks over 10,000 consumers to rate their experiences of dealing with more than 200 different companies across 13 sectors, including brands in the motoring industry.  

Compared to the same study in July 2015, Suzuki has since added 9.1 points to give a score of 82.4, which saw the carmaker climb to 27th place overall. 

The year-on-year increase in the number of points was greater than any other of the 226 companies classified, and the biggest improvement out of all of the 24 car manufacturers that took part in the study. During the same period, the automotive sector equally saw a 0.6 point-rise in customer satisfaction. 

The significant jump in the latest ranking has been assisted by the launch of the nationwide Suzuki Service Promise initiative last summer. It is designed to ensure that vehicle owners receive a consistently high standard of care across its entire network of Service dealers when they take the car for routine servicing or repair.

Denis Houston, Aftersales Director at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “We are delighted with the results shown in the Customer Satisfaction Index and this clearly reflects our ongoing investment and the great lengths that Suzuki goes to in order to ensure that every motorist receives the very highest level of service. 

We are extremely pleased that the effort of our dealer network has paid off, and we will continue to strive for even better scores in 2017.” 

Suzuki announces that a long standing dealership chain is to open it's fifth Suzuki dealership in the City of Preston.

• City of Preston in Lancashire chosen for fifth Chapelhouse Suzuki dealership in North West of England
• Extensive refurbishment of existing vehicle showroom on Blackpool Road  
• Opening of new premises coincides with group’s latest great value car swap event

Suzuki GB PLC is pleased to announce the opening of Chapelhouse Suzuki Preston in Lancashire. The latest addition joins the Chapelhouse Motor Group’s four other existing Suzuki franchises located across the North West of England, namely in Southport, St Helens, Warrington and Wigan.

Situated close to the city centre, the dealership on Blackpool Road has been modernised as part of an extensive refurbishment programme. The result is a ten-car showroom offering contemporary surroundings and first-class hospitality for customers who wish to view and test drive models from the latest award-winning Suzuki range, spanning the highly economical and low emission Celerio City car through to the dynamic Vitara S Compact SUV. 

Furthermore, visitors are hosted by a team of Suzuki specialists who bring over twenty five years of knowledge of the marque, and include a dedicated Motability representative. Motorists equally have access to separate parts and servicing departments, and all repairs, maintenance and MOTs (free for the life of a Suzuki vehicle) are carried out on site for added customer convenience.

Dale Wyatt, Sales and Marketing Director at Suzuki GB PLC, said: “We are delighted to see the continued expansion of the Chapelhouse Suzuki franchise, which demonstrates the scale of success that they have enjoyed so far whilst working with our brand. It is also very encouraging to see the return of a sustained Suzuki presence in Preston, as this area of the UK represents a strategically important customer base.”  

Chris Layton, Group Operations Director for Chapelhouse Motor Group, added: "Preston is a key location as we continue to grow the presence of Suzuki in the North West. Being part of one of the largest local economies in the region, this allows us to expand the appeal of the brand to a greater number of motorists within the immediate area. With the arrival of the all-new Baleno hatchback in the coming months, the timing could not be better.”

For even more affordable motoring, the opening of Chapelhouse Suzuki Preston coincides with the group’s regular car swap event where drivers can exchange their used Suzuki for a new model at a discounted price, or for another Approved Used car from the wide selection available on the forecourt.

Alternatively, customers can take advantage of the highly attractive finance packages which are on offer across the vehicle manufacturer’s model line-up this winter. For example, the five-door Celerio SZ3 5dr DUALJET can be owned for £105 per month spread over 42 instalments, and the range-topping S-Cross SZ5 1.6 DDiS ALLGRIP TCSS at £269 per month over a four year period based on an initial deposit of £2,959.

The recently launched 1.4-litre Boosterjet-engined Vitara S ALLGRIP Compact SUV, with optional automatic transmission, is available from only £245 per month with a deposit of £2,909 and a final payment of £7,743. 

Suzuki to show the world the new Baleno in production form, as well as other models within it's range at Geneva.

New Baleno – Suzuki’s ideal compact hatchback

The full production version of the all new Baleno will be on display at the Geneva Motor Show from March 1^stand will be launched in the UK in June of this year.

Since manufacturing its first car in 1955, the Suzulight, Suzuki has produced a variety of compact cars that deliver value much greater than their sizes. Developed using the company’s compact car expertise, the Baleno has an elegant and powerful design, a spacious cabin and luggage space plus a host of new technologies.

The new technologies include a rigid, lightweight new generation platform, highly responsive 1.0-litre direct-injection turbo BOOSTERJET engine, and 1.2-litre SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) powertrain featuring engine assist from an Integrated Starter Generator (ISG) connected to a Lithium ion Battery. All of these contribute to a fun yet fuel efficient driving experience, giving the Baleno much more than just good looks and convenience.

In addition to fulfilling fuel efficiency and dynamic performance expectations, the layout has been optimised and various technologies used to reduce weight in order to meet the rigorous size and weight requirements specific to compact cars.

Further details will be available on March 1^st at the Suzuki press booth and also via media.suzuki.co.uk. If you are attending the show this year, we look forward to welcoming you in Hall 4 on stand 4251.

The Suzuki Celerio Dualjet takes a silver at The Green Organisation Awards ceremony 2015.

SUZUKI TAKES ANOTHER BITE OF THE GREEN APPLE

Green Organisation Award for Celerio

The Celerio Dualjet has won a Silver award at the annual Green Apple Environmental Awards held at the House of Commons this week. The awards are organised by The Green Organisation and judged by the Midland Group of Motoring Writers.

Chairman of the Midland Group, Ian Donaldson comments: “This is the fifth year we have saluted the greenest cars you can buy and, crucially, enjoy owning and driving. Our prize winners are chosen by our 28 members whose words are read across 400 media outlets in print and on the web all over the UK and beyond”.

Launched in the UK in February of this year, Celerio took second prize in the Supermini category, beating some strong competition by impressing the judges with its great drive and impressive real world fuel economy and with one judge commenting. “A budget priced, roomy car with an easy to drive engine which makes getting good economy simple."

Another said: "The Celerio Dualjet gave me more than 80mpg on a test drive, trying quite hard to be economical, but better than 70mpg should be easily possible without trying hard at all."

Priced at £8,499, the Celerio with its 1.0-litre Dualjet petrol engine enables it to attain 78.4mpg on the EC Combined fuel consumption cycle and achieve very low CO₂ emissions of just 84g/km. Dualjet technology positions the fuel injectors very close to the engine inlet valves and allows for a finer fuel atomisation (or mixture) which in turn provides a more effective transfer into the cylinder. 

With its high levels of standard equipment, low cost of ownership and generous interior and luggage space the Celerio is proving very popular in the UK with over 7,000 sold to date.

For new car customers looking at a low deposit and low monthly payment option, Celerio is available with a range of highly competitive PCP offers until the end of the year. As an example, the SZ2 at £6,999 is available for a deposit of £1,721 followed by 42 monthly payments of just £79 and an optional payment of £2,809 to keep the car. The SZ3 Dualjet model is available for a deposit of £1,934 and 42 monthly payments of £103 with a final optional payment of £3,271.

JD Power has named Suzuki as the second highest ranked volume brand for overall customer service satisfaction.

J.D. Power has named Suzuki as the second highest ranked volume brand for overall customer service satisfaction in their 2015 UK Customer Service Index Study^SM. Suzuki and Toyota tie second with a score of 759 points out of a possible 1,000, significantly above the volume brand average of 737.

The inaugural study measures UK customer satisfaction with their service experience at a franchised dealer facility for maintenance and repair work. 

The study explores customer satisfaction with their service dealer by examining five measures (listed in order of importance): service quality (26%); service initiation (23%); service advisor (19%); vehicle pick-up (17%); and service facility (16%). Satisfaction is calculated on a 1,000-point scale.

The CSI Study is a comprehensive analysis of the vehicle service experience and is conducted by J.D. Power in 16 countries worldwide, providing detailed after-sales solutions for automakers and dealerships. The 2015 UK Customer Service Index Study is based on 9,091 respondents who purchased their new vehicle between April 2012 and March 2014. The study was fielded between March and May 2015.

Dr Axel Sprenger, senior director of European automotive operations at J.D Power, comments: “The common perception is that the luxury brands are able to deliver a more satisfying customer experience, but the study shows this is not the case,” “Any brand and any dealership can provide a consistently positive customer experience if they make it a priority and have the people and processes in place.  When they do, they likely will see an increase in revenue and will be able to build customer loyalty.”

The 2015 UK CSI Study finds that satisfaction with dealer service leads to customer loyalty and advocacy.

Key findings across all brands in the study include:

• Satisfaction among the 93 percent of customers who are able to get an appointment on the day they desire averages 768, compared with 576 when an appointment is not available on their desired day.
• While 25 percent of customers would prefer to schedule a service appointment over the Internet, only 15 percent actually do. The Internet as a method to schedule an appointment is expected to increase with the emergence of mobile apps, which make the process faster and easier.
• The No. 1 reason for choosing a dealer for service is prior experience with the service department (35%), followed by location (34%) and prior experience with the sales department (32%). Fewer than 3 percent of customers indicate selecting their service facility due to advertising or promotions/coupons.
• Though only 31 percent of dealers recommend additional service work to their customers, when they do, 62 percent of customers have the recommended work done. Satisfaction is substantially higher among the 78 percent of customers who are recommended service and have it done, compared with those who do not have the recommended work done (760 vs. 693, respectively).
• Amenities offered at the dealership are key drivers of satisfaction with the service facility, as 24 percent of customers stay at the dealership while service is performed on their vehicle.

SUZUKI announces its financial results for the FY 2015 Q1 (April 2015 - June 2015).

• Increased sales and operating/ordinary income
• Decreased net income (attributable to owners of the parent)

1. Outline of the Financial Results for FY2015 First Quarter (April 2015 to June 2015)

The consolidated net sales of this first quarter (April 2015 to June 2015) increased by ¥62.5 billion (8.8%) to ¥772.9 billion compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The Japanese domestic net sales decreased by ¥8.7 billion (3.4%) to ¥247.3 billion year-on-year owing to the decrease in the OEM sales. The overseas net sales increased by ¥71.2 billion (15.7%) to ¥525.6 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the automobile sales in India.

In terms of the consolidated income, the operating income increased by ¥4.3 billion (8.3%) to ¥55.2 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the income in India. 

The ordinary income increased by ¥3.0 billion (5.1%) to ¥62.3 billion year-on-year. However, the net income attributable to owners of the parent decreased by ¥5.8 billion (15.5%) to ¥31.7 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the adjustment of profit attributable to non-controlling interests.

2. The Operating Results by Segment

In the automobile business, the Company made efforts to expand its sales by strengthening its products such as by launching the all-new Alto Lapin minicar and enhancing fuel efficiency of models including the Hustler and the Spacia minicars. 

However, owing to the decrease in the OEM sales, the Japanese domestic net sales decreased year-on-year. The overseas net sales increased year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in India and Pakistan. 

Consequently, the net sales of the automobile business increased by ¥62.9 billion (10.0%) to ¥691.9 billion year-on-year. The operating income increased by ¥6.3 billion (13.2%) to ¥53.6 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the income in India.

In the motorcycle business, the net sales decreased by ¥4.7 billion (7.2%) to ¥60.9 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the decrease in the sales in North America and Asia. 

The operating income of ¥1.0 billion in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year became an operating loss of ¥2.6 billion.

In the marine and power products, etc. business, the net sales increased by ¥4.3 billion (27.3%) to ¥20.1 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the sales of the outboard motors in the US. The operating income increased by ¥1.6 billion (63.8%) to ¥4.2 billion year-on-year.

As for the operating income by geographical areas, Japan decreased by ¥6.6 billion (19.7%) to ¥27.2 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in research and development expenses and depreciation. 

However, Asia increased by ¥14.0 billion (93.2%) to ¥29.1 billion year-on-year mainly owing to the increase in the automobile sales in India and Pakistan.

3. Forecasts for the Consolidated Operating Results-Full Year

As for the forecasts for the consolidated operating results, they remain unchanged from the previous forecasts. The Group will work as one to reform in every field to accomplish the below forecasts for the consolidated operation by pursuing the business activity.

(Forecasts for the consolidated operating results-Full Year)

Net Sales	¥3,100.0 billion (up 2.8% year-on-year)
Operating Income	¥190.0 billion (up 5.9% year-on-year)
Ordinary Income	¥200.0 billion (up 2.9% year-on-year)
Net Income attributable to owners of the parent	¥110.0 billion (up 13.6% year-on-year)
(Foreign Exchange Rate)	¥115/US$
	¥125/Euro
	¥1.85/Indian Rupee
	¥0.90/100 Indonesian Rupiah
	¥3.50/Thai Baht

Suzuki to consolidate sales gains with some great offers to keep the momentum flowing.

• Even stronger value for Q3 2015 with PCP schemes on offer across the Suzuki range of cars.
• Celerio SZ2 available from just £79 per month payable over 42 months with a deposit of £1,816.
• Swift SZ3 three and five door models (2 wheel drive) include free satellite navigation upgrade and 0% APR PCP finance with £0 deposit.
• Vitara SZ4 available from £179 per month over 42 months.
• S-Cross 1.6 SZ3 available from £159 per month over 48 months.

Suzuki have launched their summer offers across the range, including the new Celerio and Vitara models, and the ever-popular Swift and S-Cross. A PCP (Personal Contract Purchase) agreement is ideal for customers who want to purchase a new Suzuki at a low monthly cost.

The recently introduced Celerio SZ2 is priced at £6,999 and is available for £79 per month over 42 months, with a deposit of £1,816 and optional final payment of £2,685. Celerio SZ2 is well equipped with a DAB digital radio, CD tuner, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and daytime running lights all included as standard specification.

Swift is one of Suzuki’s world strategic models and makes strong statements in styling, impact safety, driving performance, handling as well as offering low fuel consumption and low CO₂ emissions. Swift is also Suzuki’s largest selling model in the UK, accounting for 40% of sales, and a target of 15,000 units for 2015.

Swift SZ3 is available on PCP with 0% APR and £0 deposit, at a cost of £172 per month over 42 months with a final payment of £3,375 for a three door model, or £182 per month with a £3,438 final payment for a five door model.

In addition, all Swift customers purchasing an SZ3 specification car will receive a free satellite navigation upgrade until the end of September. This is in addition to air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps and Bluetooth connectivity which are all included as standard.

S-Cross SZ3 is also available on PCP with 2.9% APR and 48 monthly payments of £159. A £2,090 deposit is required and the optional final payment is £5,275. SZ3 models are equipped with air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, USB and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.

The all-new Vitara is also included in the summer offers, with a 42 month PCP at £179 per month with a deposit of £2,600 for the Vitara 1.6 SZ4 model, which is priced at £13,999. The optional final payment for those customers who want to keep their car is £5,665.

The all-new Vitara is designed meet contemporary needs and incorporates Suzuki’s cutting-edge ALLGRIP four wheel drive system as an option. Advanced safety and connectivity equipment is available and Vitara also enables owners to express themselves through various personalisation options.

Standard equipment specification for the SZ4 model includes seven airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB Radio with USB and Bluetooth connectivity, Cruise control with speed limiter, auto air conditioning, front and rear electric windows and projector headlamps.