Suzuki completes a masterful 100

Suzuki's second world strategic model, the Grand Vitara was spawned in 2006. The car was an evolution of the first-generation Vitara series, with which Suzuki pioneered the market for compact sport utility vehicles 21 years ago. Since then, worldwide production of the Grand Vitara has now reached 2.6 million units. The third model was the SX4 sport crossover which proved its rally pedigree right after its launch by competing in the World Rally Championship in 2007 and 2008.

Suzuki recently launched its fourth model, the Splash also known as the Ritz in India recently. Where the, Grand Vitara, and SX4 reflect a focus on sportiness, the Splash/Ritz, reflects a focus on families and highlights the effectiveness with which a compact car can meet family needs.

March this year saw the launch of the seventh generation Alto or the A-Star as we call it in India. A car which has dominated the mini vehicle segment in Japan for 30 years. As of now as much as 10 million Alto's have been sold globally since its inception in 1979. Suzuki's Indian innings began in 1973 with the Maruti Suzuki 800, which was actually the international Alto. To put things into perspective, out of the 11 million passenger cars currently on the roads of India; more than seven and a half million are Suzukis and four million of those are Altos. That's a truly mind-numbing figure if ever there was in such a context.

Looking to the future; Suzuki plans to concentrate strongly on lowering emissions even further and presented its Stop / Start concepts as well as a new variable valve timing system at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. This technology will reduce emissions of the Alto to 95g/km and Splash to 109g/km. In the longer term, further development includes the eventual introduction of hydrogen fuel cell technology for its medium size vehicles and Suzuki recently tested an SX4 Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) on public roads in Japan. To celebrate 100 years of innovation Suzuki is showcasing its history and manufacturing prowess at Suzuki Plaza, a three storey heritage centre in front of its headquarters in Japan. The Plaza is 5,424 square metres in size and visitors can walk through ten decades of evolution of the company right up to the present day