Fiat Sedici [foto definitive a pag. 133]

[fm03]

Aaah ok è solo un PS, nulla di ufficiale (e meno male, mi faceva un po' schifo).

Ma era già stato postato?

mi ricordo che erano state scannerizzate delle pagine di quattroruote...

[bialbero]

a me sembra una Rav-4 povera...

[Regazzoni]

Aaah ok è solo un PS, nulla di ufficiale (e meno male, mi faceva un po' schifo).

Ma era già stato postato?

[Steka]

Generalmente non amo queste vetture, soprattutto quelle enormi come X5, però questa è carina.

Rimane il fatto che per il momento non la comprerei mai.

[AndreaB]

Rimane il fatto che per il momento non la comprerei mai.

Condivido....

[J-Gian]

hanno errato il ponte torcente lo ha la Suzuki a TA...le 4x4 hanno differente schema di sospensioni...

Sicuro?

Altra scommessa raga?

[carrera4]

da 4car

http://www.channel4.com/4car/feature/preview/2005/suzuki-sx4/sx4.html

Is it a hatchback? An MPV? A 4x4? All of the above? Meet Suzuki's new 'crossover' car, known within the company as New B, which mixes the attributes of all those car types into one quite novel package.

Information to date has suggested that the new car's name is Aerio, currently used on Japanese-market versions of the Liana saloon and hatchback, but although the New B will ultimately replace the Liana/Aerio, the models will run together for a time. The most likely name is now Suzuki SX4, and its role is to bridge the gap between the Swift supermini and the imminent new Grand Vitara 4x4.

Bigger than a supermini, smaller than a Focus, the SX4 (which is built on a Swift-derived platform) has a hint of Fiat Idea about its Giugiaro-penned styling. That's more than a coincidence, because Suzuki's plant in Hungary will also make Fiat-badged versions with a different nose treatment, name as yet unconfirmed. The link with Fiat is not an obligation from the former Fiat/GM partnership, even though Suzuki is itself 20 percent GM-owned. Suzuki controls its collaborative deals itself, on a project-by-project basis; another example is the Fiat 1.3 JTD diesel engine in the Swift, an engine which Suzuki will soon build itself under licence in India.

The SX4 comes with three engine choices: Suzuki's 1490cc and 1586cc units, delivering 99bhp and 107bhp in these applications, and Fiat's 1910cc JTD turbodiesel in 120bhp form (with a useful 207lb ft of torque). The latter two can be had with four-wheel drive, a system which uses an 'electronic control coupling device' (ECCD) to divert torque to the rear wheels as the front ones lose grip. It's an alternative to a viscous coupling and uses a wet multiplate clutch similar to the Haldex system used in, for example, an Audi TT.

Unlike most such systems, though, the four-wheel drive 'domain' is selectable by the driver. The normal 'economy' mode is front-wheel drive only. The 'lock' mode connects front and rear axles solidly together to get the SX4 moving on a very slippery surface, but the clutches allow some front/rear slippage once moving to prevent transmission wind-up. The third mode, 'auto', lets torque head rearwards as required just as in other systems, with front-wheel drive the dominant feature until help from the rear wheels is needed. 'Lock' automatically changes to 'auto' above 37mph.

The suspension is designed to keep body lean low despite the SX4's height and almost Grand Vitara-matching ground clearance. Normal struts are used up front, while the rear torsion beam is bent upwards in the middle to make room for the propeller shaft and rear differential, when fitted. Automatic transmission is offered only on a front-drive 1.6, incidentally.

Suzuki describes the SX4 as having an 'emphasised mouth for activity look.' That said, the SX4 doesn't exactly ooze visual toughness; it's really a tall hatchback with a wedgy stance and a three-piece wraparound rear window. It was hard to gain an impression of the interior quality of a production SX4, because the examples we drove at Suzuki's Ryuyo test track in Japan were mid-term prototypes with smooth mouldings, but there's certainly plenty of space and a great view out from the high-set driving position.

There's an opportunity missed in the cabin, though. The rear seats fold forward in a double-tumble, but they don't slide and can't be taken out. Nor is there much in the way of nets and added cupholders and extra places to put things; the interior, though clean and crisp in design with fake-aluminium 'vertical ingots' flanking its centre console, is no more versatile than that of an average hatchback. And the cheap boot floor, hardboard with flimsy fabric and exposed sound deadening on the reverse, is thoroughly nasty. It was planned to go into production like that, but the engineers may reconsider.

And so onto the curvy, undulating test track, first in a 1.6 with front-wheel drive. The five-speed gearchange is particularly slick with its short, light movements, and the engine makes a fair fist of bringing this 1130kg 2x4 up to speed (112mph maximum). As promised, the SX4 stays surprisingly level in the corners, and it gets its power down well with not much understeer. It feels, in essence, like a bigger, softer Swift, and it rides nicely.

The 1.9 JTD, with four-wheel drive, is an altogether more engaging machine. The engine is quite noisy in this application (work is continuing here), and the six-speed gearbox is less sweet than the 1.6's five-speeder, but there's much more acceleration on tap even if the top speed remains the same (opting for the front-wheel drive JTD gives you an extra 6mph). Switched to front-wheel drive mode the 1.9 feels quite inert and builds up some understeer at speed, as you'd expect from its heavier engine. But switch to 'auto' (4x4 on demand) and it undergoes a huge personality transformation.

Now, you can power through corners with all wheels biting into the road, and if you back off the line tightens decisively. The SX4 had just become entertainingly throttle-steerable and thoroughly good fun. Did Suzuki intend such a bipolar personality? "We made it easy for the ladies, who are most likely to use this car, but added some fun for when the man drives," said an engineer. Alarmed at this extraordinary sexism, I pointed out that many women are as keen to enjoy the way a car feels as many men are, given the opportunity. 'Not in Japan,' came the reply. Lost in translation? It's more than just the language.

The SX4 arrives in the UK next summer, sourced from Hungary although it's also to be built in Japan.

[Betha23]

Bari, c.so Cavour, maggio 2005.

Per chi non lo sapesse è il corso principale di Bari....... come dire via del Corso a roma........

[Granturismo]

Altra scommessa raga?

[Omphalos]

A me i photoshops di 4R riportati da Sonata_Arctica mi piacciono.... sembra un SUV poco SUV