vehicle launch
| by Howard Keeg
Swift on Steroids
Suzuki Auto South Africa has upped the stakes in the MPV segment of the South African automotive market,
with the introduction of the spacious, versatile and stylish Ertiga.
S
uzuki has made its name with its
family of compact vehicles, and
the Ertiga is a welcome addition
to the clan. Based on the Swift platform,
the Suzuki engineers have made some
clever adaptations in creating an awardwinning global life utility vehicle (LUV),
which whilst providing a seven-seater via
three seating rows, also offers versatility for
passengers, luggage and cargo via its seating
configuration. It is a Swift on steroids, which
means that you have an MPV that drives like
a car, delivers fuel efficiency, offers options
to the family man, the taxi mom, the small
businessman, and can even double as a
commuter vehicle, at an extremely affordable
price.
The test drive around the winding roads of the
Eastern Cape confirmed the characteristics
of the vehicle, and left us in no doubt that
the Ertiga should not only do well in its small
market segment, but that it will effectively
redefine this segment of the market, and
should attract a wider range of buyers, as up
to now the choice of vehicle has been limited,
and the Ertiga has now upped the stakes.
The Ertiga model range comprises five
models, with a choice of three specification
levels – GA, GL, and GLX – and either a
five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic
gearbox in the GL and GLX versions.
All five models are supported by a threeyear/100 000 km warranty, a four-year/
60 000 km service plan, and a one-year
roadside assistance package.
Prices range from R159 900 for the
base model, to R207 900 for the
GLX automatic.
Plastic Power
➲ Suzuki executives
from around the globe
turn the sod for the
Bulugha Farm School
classroom
T
o mark the launch of the Ertiga, Suzuki Auto South Africa has embarked
on an imaginative CSI initiative, by building a classroom in the Eastern
Cape using recycled plastic bottles in a steel frame, as a sponsor of the
Bottle2Build project. “It will be a fitting tribute to our new vehicle, the 7-seater
Suzuki Ertiga. The Bulugha Farm School has 174 pupils and is in desperate need of
more classrooms, and we have opted to build just such a classroom” says Suzuki
Auto South Africa MD Yukio Sato. Bottle2Build is an initiative aimed at tackling two
of South Africa’s huge challenges – a shortage of classrooms, and the challenge of
disposing of 400 million plastic bottles each month. Several corporates are involved
by selling the Bottle2Build products in their canteens and then collecting the
empties. Beverages in these bottles are also sold in certain supermarkets and other
outlets, who also collect the empty bottles in their stores.
| words in action
48
july 2014