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Suzuki’s new Celerio entry-level model will arrive in showrooms in February 2015, at prices starting at £7,999.
The new city car will be a key model for Suzuki dealers, replacing both the best-selling Alto and the Splash.
As a result the price entry point to the Suzuki range will rise by some £2,000 and Suzuki sales and marketing director Dale Wyatt admitted this will be a challenge, and he is not expecting the same volume levels from Celerio as was achieved with Alto and Splash.
He hopes that dealers will be able to migrate Alto buyers, who traditionally previously bought used and were attracted to new by the £5,999 starting price, into the Celerio.
“Our challenge is to move these buyers up the new car ladder,” he said.
Wyatt expects buyers to be attracted to the Celerio’s compact dimensions combined with interior space above most rivals and a claimed class-leading luggage capacity of 254 litres.
While only 3,600mm long and 1,600mm wide, the car boasts a 2,425mm long wheelbase and height of 1,540mm with a non-slanting roofline, freeing up plentiful interior space particularly in the rear.
The car’s elevated driving position and turning circle of only 9.4 metres will also be selling points.
Initially the car will only be available with a 1.0-litre three cylinder 67bhp petrol engine with CO2 emissions of 99g/km and 65.7mpg combined cycle fuel consumption.
In summer 2015 the Dualjet petrol engine, with stop-start, will be added to the range, boosting official economy to 78.4mpg and cutting CO2 emissions to 84g/km.
Celerios will be sold in two trim levels. Standard equipment on SZ3 models will include six airbags (driver, passenger, side and curtain), ESP, air conditioning, alloy wheels, a DAB Radio, CD Tuner, USB and Bluetooth connectivity and remote central locking.
SZ4 versions cost £1,000 more and gain polished alloy wheels, rear electric windows, front fog lamps, body-coloured door mirrors and a chrome front grille.
