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Future models - Suzuki - FRONXFronx to replace Suzuki Ignis early next yearSuzuki Australia’s affordable Ignis to be dumped when Fronx arrives early 202517 Jun 2024 SUZUKI Australia is set to say goodbye to the long-serving Ignis light SUV, and hello to the all-new Fronx crossover in the first half of 2025. It might be one of those awkward farewells, though, with the Ignis expected to be sold for several months into 2025 alongside the Fronx, which is expected to be more expensive than the car it will essentially replace. For context, the current Ignis sells from $21,490 plus on-road costs, making it the most wallet-friendly option in the Suzuki Australia range. But considering this generation model launched in 2016 at $15,990 plus on-roads for a near-identical spec, price and positioning of the new Fronx will be crucial for the brand. Speaking with GoAuto at the recent launch of the new Swift Hybrid, Suzuki Australia general manager Michael Pachota said there may be some crossover between the two little crossovers as the Ignis is phased out.
“Locally, it is a new model introduction for us because it will be a light SUV,” Mr Pachota said, before confirming the Fronx will arrive “early in 2025”.
“I can't see those two models selling side by side outside of 2025,” he said. “There may be a transition, subject to, I guess, supply and sales.”
Mr Pachota did not comment on pricing for the new model, but if the trajectory of the Swift is anything to go by, Australia could see the Indian-built Fronx arrive here close to the current Ignis pricing.
Mr Pachota said that he was conscious of costs and offering what a broad range of consumers want, and that Suzuki Australia needs to be mindful of the impending influx of new brands from China in the coming six to 18 months.
“The more players in the game, subject to the segments that they compete in, create greater opportunities for segment consideration, which creates more customers in those spaces to be considered as an option.
“So for me, I see that as an opportunity to have those competitors there. Obviously, we don't want to flood the market with 100 brands in Australia, which makes it extremely competitive and difficult. But at the same time, I don't wish them any harm, and I wish them the best of luck,” he said.
Mr Pachota further backed his previous comments as reported last year, regarding the potential introduction of a Japanese-built ‘Kei’ car for Australia, though he admitted there had been no significant movement on the topic.
“I still want it,” he said. “Funnily enough, we had a survey at one stage talking about ‘what do Kei cars look like in all different countries’, you know, what would the appetite be like and so forth,” he said. “And so we responded back on that survey, and have heard nothing.
“But I'd put my hand up for five models off the bat. Which would probably amount to 15,000 to 20,000 sales a year, incremental, I believe. I see a huge opportunity for Kei cars,” he said, before – as other executives have – calling out the limitations that some arguably unnecessary Australian Design Rules place on imports of a broader range of cars that could be considerably cheaper.
“That's why we haven't done it sooner,” Mr Pachota said.
Mitsubishi Australia recently brought in an eK X electric Kei car for local evaluation and feedback, and the brand is believed to be weighing up its introduction.
Insiders at Nissan have confirmed to GoAuto that the brand would also be interested in bringing the related Nissan Sakura EV, as an entry point to the brand’s range.
Full specifications and pricing for the new Fronx range is set to be revealed late this year or early in 2025.
Suzuki’s Ignis is still selling in reasonable numbers, with 881 units registered through the first five months of 2024, which is down almost 20 per cent on the previous year’s figures.
More broadly, Suzuki Australia has seen a better start to 2024 with a tally of 8716 units compared with 7159 for the same period last year (an increase of 21.7 per cent).  Read more14th of June 2024  Assertive pricing for new Suzuki SwiftNew mild-hybrid Suzuki Swift undercuts both Toyota Yaris and MG 3 hybrid modelsAll future models Alfa Romeo Abarth Alpine Alpina Audi Aston Martin BMW Bentley Chery Brabham Chrysler Chevrolet Cupra Citroen DS Dodge Fiat Ferrari Foton Ford Great Wall FPV Haval GWM Honda Holden Hummer HSV Infiniti Hyundai Jaguar Isuzu Kia Jeep Land Rover Lamborghini Lexus LDV Mahindra Lotus Mazda Maserati Mercedes-AMG McLaren MG Mercedes-Benz Mitsubishi Mini Opel Nissan Peugeot Pagani Proton Porsche Renault Ram Rover Rolls-Royce Skoda Saab SsangYong Smart Suzuki Subaru Toyota Tesla Volvo VolkswagenMotor industry news GoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
Click to shareSuzuki modelsResearch Suzuki All future modelsAlfa RomeoAbarthAlpineAlpinaAudiAston MartinBMWBentleyCheryBrabhamChryslerChevroletCupraCitroenDSDodgeFiatFerrariFotonFordGreat WallFPVHavalGWMHondaHoldenHummerHSVInfinitiHyundaiJaguarIsuzuKiaJeepLand RoverLamborghiniLexusLDVMahindraLotusMazdaMaseratiMercedes-AMGMcLarenMGMercedes-BenzMitsubishiMiniOpelNissanPeugeotPaganiProtonPorscheRenaultRamRoverRolls-RoyceSkodaSaabSsangYongSmartSuzukiSubaruToyotaTeslaVolvoVolkswagenMotor industry newsGoAutoNews is Australia’s number one automotive industry journal covering the latest news, future and new model releases, market trends, industry personnel movements, and international events. |
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