Suzuki Aerio
Encyclopedia
The Suzuki Aerio is a compact car
that was built by Suzuki Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 2001 as a replacement for the Suzuki Esteem/Baleno
, with a tall 5-door SX model hatchback
(for maximum inner room efficiency) and a 4-door sedan body. It featured two different 16-valve gasoline straight-4
engines, with 1.5 L and 1.8 L, this one capable of 125 PS JIS. Production was discontinued in 2007 around the world and replaced by the Suzuki SX4
, except in China
where it is built by Changhe-Suzuki and Pakistan
where it is still being assembled by Pak Suzuki Motor.
Models in North America
got a larger and more powerful 2.0 L engine with 145 hp. A 5-speed manual transmission
was standard with a 4-speed automatic
optional. All-wheel-drive was available, but only with the automatic. American Aerios came in two trim levels: the S and GS (2002–2004), S and LX (2005), and Base and Premium (2006–2007). Key changes over the years included an upgrade to a new 2.3-liter 155 hp engine in 2004, a major styling and interior refresh in 2005 (replacing the digital instruments with conventional analog ones), and the standardization of antilock brakes in 2006. Only the Aerio sedan remained for 2007, as the hatchback had been shelved to make room for the new 2007 SX4
hatchback. Likewise, the Aerio sedan [called Baleno Next-G in Indonesia] bowed out at year's end, making way for the 2008 SX4 Sport
sedan [called Neo Baleno in Indonesia]. Throughout its run, the Aerio was distinct for being the most affordable car in America to offer all-wheel-drive.
In Europe
, where the car was called Liana (an acronym for "Life In A New Age"), it was seen as a more affordable alternative to small family cars or to mini MPV
s, introducing a new generation of Suzuki M engine
s, with 1.3 L and 1.6 L I4
engine. All wheel drive was available on the bigger engine. In 2004 the car was restyled with a look that closer resembled the Japanese version, and also received a Diesel engine
, with a 16-valve version of the 1.4 L HDi engine supplied by PSA Peugeot Citroën
, capable of 90 PS thanks to common rail
direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger
.
The Liana was best known for its appearances in the BBC
's Top Gear
s Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment, as the saloon model was used from its first show until the model's replacement by a Chevrolet Lacetti
in the show's spring 2006 season. Today, it enjoys a partial retirement, only being brought back when the guest is a Formula 1 driver.
Changhe-Suzuki in China released a new 1.4L Liana hatchback in October 2010, called Liana a+, which has been sold alongside 1.6L versions.
The Liana remains in production in Pakistan in 1.3L and 1.6L variants.
The Liana had very poor sales in most former Yugoslav countries and Hungary.
races with a bodyshell to resemble the Aerio dubbed the Suzuki Aerio P950 Pikes Peak
Special driven by its rally team manager and former rally driver, Nobuhiro Tajima
.
Tajima retired from the race, one mile (1.6 km) short of the finishing line suffering from mechanical failures, team-mate Yutaka Awazuhara took the fourth overall in a Grand Vitara.
Tajima would finish as runner up in the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship that year with the same car and won the Race to the Sky
hillclimb in 2003 before it was rebuilt as a Grand Vitara, then in 2007 as an XL7, breaking the overall course record at Pikes Peak.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
that was built by Suzuki Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 2001 as a replacement for the Suzuki Esteem/Baleno
Suzuki Esteem
The Suzuki Cultus Crescent is a compact car that was produced by Suzuki in Japan between 1995 and 2002, with South Asian production continuing until 2007. The Cultus Crescent was sold as such in Japan until May 1998, when it was renamed Suzuki Cultus due to the sales discontinuation of the previous...
, with a tall 5-door SX model hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
(for maximum inner room efficiency) and a 4-door sedan body. It featured two different 16-valve gasoline straight-4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engines, with 1.5 L and 1.8 L, this one capable of 125 PS JIS. Production was discontinued in 2007 around the world and replaced by the Suzuki SX4
Suzuki SX4
The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car developed by Japanese automaker Suzuki and sold by Suzuki and by Fiat and produced since 2006.-History:...
, except in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
where it is built by Changhe-Suzuki and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
where it is still being assembled by Pak Suzuki Motor.
Models in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
got a larger and more powerful 2.0 L engine with 145 hp. A 5-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
was standard with a 4-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
optional. All-wheel-drive was available, but only with the automatic. American Aerios came in two trim levels: the S and GS (2002–2004), S and LX (2005), and Base and Premium (2006–2007). Key changes over the years included an upgrade to a new 2.3-liter 155 hp engine in 2004, a major styling and interior refresh in 2005 (replacing the digital instruments with conventional analog ones), and the standardization of antilock brakes in 2006. Only the Aerio sedan remained for 2007, as the hatchback had been shelved to make room for the new 2007 SX4
Suzuki SX4
The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car developed by Japanese automaker Suzuki and sold by Suzuki and by Fiat and produced since 2006.-History:...
hatchback. Likewise, the Aerio sedan [called Baleno Next-G in Indonesia] bowed out at year's end, making way for the 2008 SX4 Sport
Suzuki SX4
The Suzuki SX4 is a compact car developed by Japanese automaker Suzuki and sold by Suzuki and by Fiat and produced since 2006.-History:...
sedan [called Neo Baleno in Indonesia]. Throughout its run, the Aerio was distinct for being the most affordable car in America to offer all-wheel-drive.
In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, where the car was called Liana (an acronym for "Life In A New Age"), it was seen as a more affordable alternative to small family cars or to mini MPV
Mini MPV
Mini MPV is a car classification used to describe superminis or subcompacts which have taller build, fitting below the compact MPV and large MPV classifications....
s, introducing a new generation of Suzuki M engine
Suzuki M engine
The Suzuki M engine family is a line of automobile engines from Suzuki. Ranging in displacement from 1.3 L to 1.8 L, it is a modern engine line with dual overhead cams, 16 valves, and multi-point fuel injection .-M13A:...
s, with 1.3 L and 1.6 L I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine. All wheel drive was available on the bigger engine. In 2004 the car was restyled with a look that closer resembled the Japanese version, and also received a Diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, with a 16-valve version of the 1.4 L HDi engine supplied by PSA Peugeot Citroën
PSA Peugeot Citroën
PSA Peugeot Citroën is a French manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles sold under the Peugeot and Citroën marques. Headquartered in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, PSA is the second largest automaker based in Europe and the number eight in the world.-History:In December 1974 Peugeot S.A....
, capable of 90 PS thanks to common rail
Common rail
Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors...
direct injection and a variable geometry turbocharger
Variable geometry turbocharger
Variable-geometry turbochargers are a family of turbochargers, usually designed to allow the effective aspect ratio of the turbo to be altered as conditions change. This is done because optimum aspect ratio at low engine speeds is very different from that at high engine speeds...
.
The Liana was best known for its appearances in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top Gear
Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear is a British television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars. It began in 1977 as a conventional motoring magazine show. Over time, and especially since a relaunch in 2002, it has developed a quirky, humorous style...
s Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment, as the saloon model was used from its first show until the model's replacement by a Chevrolet Lacetti
Daewoo Lacetti
The Daewoo Lacetti is a compact car made by the South Korean automaker GM Daewoo since 2002. The first-generation Lacetti was available as a four-door sedan, a five-door hatchback or a five-door station wagon. The sedan and wagon were designed by Pininfarina, and the hatchback by Giorgetto Giugiaro...
in the show's spring 2006 season. Today, it enjoys a partial retirement, only being brought back when the guest is a Formula 1 driver.
Changhe-Suzuki in China released a new 1.4L Liana hatchback in October 2010, called Liana a+, which has been sold alongside 1.6L versions.
The Liana remains in production in Pakistan in 1.3L and 1.6L variants.
The Liana had very poor sales in most former Yugoslav countries and Hungary.
Pikes Peak
In 2001, Suzuki specially built spaceframe racing car for hillclimbHillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
races with a bodyshell to resemble the Aerio dubbed the Suzuki Aerio P950 Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
Special driven by its rally team manager and former rally driver, Nobuhiro Tajima
Nobuhiro Tajima
, is a hillclimb racer, tuning shop owner, rally team manager and former rally driver who is best known for his participation in Suzuki's rallying program as well as his triumphs at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.-Racing career:...
.
Tajima retired from the race, one mile (1.6 km) short of the finishing line suffering from mechanical failures, team-mate Yutaka Awazuhara took the fourth overall in a Grand Vitara.
Tajima would finish as runner up in the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship that year with the same car and won the Race to the Sky
Race to the Sky
The Silverstone Race to the Sky is an annual automobile and motorcycle hillclimb to the summit of a mountain. The race has been held every year since 1998 on two days over the Easter weekend...
hillclimb in 2003 before it was rebuilt as a Grand Vitara, then in 2007 as an XL7, breaking the overall course record at Pikes Peak.