Hybrid News in Brief – Ignis
September 12, 2019
In line with plans to further reduce CO2 emissions across its range of vehicles, Suzuki GB PLC is pleased to announce the introduction of two further Hybrid grades for the Ignis range. Suzuki’s system is now available across all manual transmission 1.2-litre Dualjet models which are SZ3, SZ-T, SZ5 two-wheel drive and SZ5 ALLGRIP 4X4.
Suzuki is the pioneer of the compact low cost 12V Hybrid system which is ideally suited to a small car; its components add just 6.2kg to the overall kerb weight of 865kg for the SZ3 whilst reducing CO2emissions by an average of eight per cent.
The SHVS system (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) is a compact and lightweight unit that incorporates an Integrated Starter Generator (known as ISG) which acts as both a generator and starter motor, the ISG is belt driven and assists the engine during vehicle take off and acceleration and also generates electricity through regenerative braking.
The system also uses a compact high performance lithium-ion battery placed under the front passenger seat to store energy and incorporates an idle stop function operated via the Integrated Start Generator. This in turn helps all Ignis manual two wheel drive models attain CO2 emissions of 98g/km (NEDC) and achieve a combined fuel consumption figure of 54.1mpg on the WLTP combined cycle. The SZ5 ALLGRIP is only just behind at 105g/km and 48.6mpg on the combined cycle.
Suzuki voted number 1 in 2018 What Car? Reliability Survey
September 6, 2018
Suzuki is celebrating some very good news from the results of the 2018 What Car? Reliability Survey in which readers report on their ownership experience after the first year and up to four years old. Of the 31 car brands measured, Suzuki is at the top of the league table with a score of 97.7 per cent and even when measured at over four years old Suzuki remained in the top five with a score of 88.4 per cent. The sample size of Suzuki owners for this year’s survey was 193 and What Car? measured 159 different models across the industry.
The good news continued for the popular S-Cross model too as owners reported 100 per cent reliability during their ownership with no faults recorded whatsoever. Editor of What Car? magazine Steve Huntingford comments: “Not a single S-Cross caused its owner any trouble, making this not only one of our favourite budget small SUV’s but also the class’s most reliable car. Many owners told us the thing they like best about their S-Cross is its durability”
The S-Cross is available with either 1.0-litre or 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol engines and has low rate PCP and HP agreements on offer until the end of September. This is in addition to a £2,500 customer saving for SZ4 models and a £3,000 customer saving for SZ-T and SZ5 also in place until the end of September.
Taking a 1.0-litre SZ4 model as an example on Personal Contract Purchase (PCP), a deposit of just £2,104 is required followed by 48 monthly payments of £199 and a final optional payment of £5,534 to keep the car. The representative APR for the PCP agreement is 5.9 per cent.
Read the full verdict here: https://goo.gl/vBddAe
Why does WLTP make it a good time to buy a new car?
July 20, 2018
We’re often asked by customers “When is the best time to buy a new car?” It’s usually when you need or want one, but every now and then there are good reasons, sometimes driven by currency, sometimes by legislation, or sometimes supply.
Between now and the end of August is definitely one of those times, and it’s all driven by WLTP or ‘Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure’ – a real mouthful, we know!
WLTP is a new way of testing a vehicle’s fuel economy and emissions, and aims to provide a much more accurate measure of a vehicle’s environmental impact.
Manufacturers must register most of their stock of non-WLTP approved models by 31st August 2018 ahead of the implementation of new legislation on 1st September, so the deals between now and then for an 18-plate car will be the best for a long time – and much better than in September!
With WLTP we’ll also see the introduction of new economy figures which dictates how much VED (road tax) and, if applicable, company car tax you pay. Road tax will soon be calculated based on WLTP emissions and may be higher for new cars under the new tests, meaning the exact same car would cost more in September than in the preceding months.
It’s also very important to know that new stock is becoming in short supply as production of non-WLTP approved models has ended and the phasing into production of new tested models has only recently begun, with the earliest possible sales introduction for new models between late October and December.
So, this isn’t a sales pitch, it’s just us trying to help you save money and avoid any disappointment when buying your next new car. If you take our advice, you’ll buy the new car you’ve been thinking about soon, because trust us, they will sell out and new stock will only be available much later in the year – at a higher price and with higher tax!
Got a question or want to know more about WLTP? Please contact our sales team on 01392 421333 (Exeter) or 01823 421606 (Taunton) or click the link below.
New VED changes – Suzuki has the answer
April 4, 2017
In response to the latest Government VED reform now in place whereby a customer registering a new car after April 1st will pay a higher vehicle tax rate based on CO2 emissions, Suzuki is pleased to announce its customer campaign to pay three years of this increased charge for them.
Suzuki is offering its customers a cash discount equivalent to three years VED from the On The Road price of their new car. With this discount given at point of purchase, the owner would then be responsible for paying the annual VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) in the normal way.
Taking a Celerio SZ3 Dualjet at 84g/km as an example with a first year charge of £100 under the new regulation and then the new applied standard rate of £140 from year two this would have levied a charge of £380 including VAT over the first three years of ownership. Moving up the range to a Vitara 1.6-litre SZ5 ALLGRIP with automatic transmission and a CO2 emissions figure of 131g/km this figure would increase to £480.
This offer is available for private customer registrations only and can also be used in conjunction with Suzuki’s latest private retail offers in place until the end of June 2017.
The campaign is applicable to all models in the Suzuki range with the exception of current Swift (including Sport) and the new Swift model that will be launched on June 1st.
Time is running out… Beat the road tax increase from April 1st
March 7, 2017
This year the government will implement a new system of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and we think it’s important that you’re aware of the changes because it might have a big impact on you.
The new way in which road tax will be calculated won’t affect your existing car, but if you’re planning on buying a new car after 1st April 2017, then you could face a significant additional tax payment, hence it might be advantageous to change your car now rather than wait a couple of months to do so.
To help you avoid any costly surprises, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you understand how VED works at present and how it will work from April 2017 onwards.
How does the system work at present?
All cars registered before 1st March 2001 are taxed according to their engine size, with those below 1,549cc charged an annual rate of £140 and those above, £230.
Since March 2001, all new cars have been taxed based on their CO2 emissions, measured in grams per kilometre. The levels of CO2 are split into 13 bands, ranging from A (up to 100g/km) to M (over 255g/km), with each band attracting a different VED charge, calculated on a sliding scale.
There are also two rates per band, a first year rate that’s applied to the car the year it’s registered, and a standard rate that’s applied thereafter. For cars that emit low levels of CO2 both rates are the same, but for cars from Band H upwards the first year rate is significantly higher in an attempt to alert buyers to a cars high CO2 emissions.
In short, the point of the current system is to encourage the purchase of less polluting cars.
Why does the current system have to change?
As car manufacturers have reduced CO2 emissions, an increasing number of small and medium-sized cars now fall into tax bands A, B and C or £0, £20 and £30 VED per annum, which has become unworkable for the government. As a result, the government has devised a new system which, it claims, will make the whole system more sustainable.
How will the new system work?
As is already the case, the incoming VED system is designed to favour buyers of less polluting cars, although they’ll now be an even stronger weighting towards zero-emission or very low emission cars. Only zero-emission cars will remain fully exempt from VED and even these are subject to certain conditions.
From 1st April 2017, all new cars registered will still be subject to the 13 tax bands linked to their CO2 emissions, however, new bands have been created for cars emitting less than 100g/km CO2. The lowest first year rate will start at 1-50g/km with a charge of £10, rising in bands to £120 for a car emitting 91-100g/km. Compare this with the present system where cars under 100g/km pay nothing and the new VED rates are clear.
At present, the Suzuki Celerio SZ3 at 99g/km attracts no VED, but from April 2017 the same car will be liable for a first year tax rate of £120 then £140 each year thereafter.
Similarly, the new Suzuki Ignis SZ-T at 104g/km will increase from zero to £140 in its first year and £20 to £140 from then on.
In the above examples, you might have noticed that both cars face a standard rate VED charge of £140 under the new system? That’s because from April 2017, the CO2 determined bands will be replaced by a flat-rate charge of £140 from the second year and beyond – regardless of the cars emissions. On top of that, cars costing more than £40,000 to buy will be subject to an additional £310 annual taxation for five years.
To find out the new VED rates for the Suzuki range, click here.
Will my current car be taxed under the new system?
No – that’s the good news and that’s why it might be beneficial to buy yourself a new car before April 2017 so that you can continue to be taxed under the current system.
Inevitably, the changes to VED brings both good and bad news.
The good:
- If you buy a car before the end of March 2017, you’ll pay less road tax than if you delay your decision and buy after the system changes.
- If you buy a car before the end of March 2017, you’ll pay less road tax than if you delay your decision and buy after the system changes.
- If you buy a car emitting less than 100g/km CO2, you’ll be even better off since such cars attract no VED under the current system.
- The new standard flat-rate is simpler than the current emissions-based one.
- All cars over 40 years old will be considered classic vehicles and aren’t liable for VED.
The bad:
- Cars that attract no road tax today will do so under the new system regardless of which band they fall into, with £140 VED every year from their second year.
- The new system may discourage people from buying low-emitting cars – the AA reports 59% of its members say there’ll be no incentive to buy low CO2 emission cars under the new system.
- Only expensive, pure electric and hydrogen cars will pay no road tax.
- There’ll be a huge new car demand spike before April 2017 that might not benefit consumers.
We hope you’ve found this guide helpful, please get in touch if you have any questions regarding the reforms to VED.
