| Suzuki Aerio | |
|---|---|
 2002–2004 Suzuki Aerio sedan (pre-facelift, US) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Suzuki |
| Also called | Suzuki Baleno (sedan, Indonesia) Suzuki Liana |
| Production | 2001–2007 (international) 2005–2019 (China) 2006–2014 (Pakistan) |
| Assembly | Japan:Kosai, Shizuoka Sagara,Shizuoka China:Chongqing (Changhe-Suzuki) Pakistan:Karachi (Pak Suzuki Motor) Indonesia:Bekasi (ISI) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Subcompact car Mini MPV (hatchback) |
| Body style | 4-doorsedan 5-doorhatchback |
| Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive /four-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 5-speedmanual 4-speedautomatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,480 mm (97.6 in) |
| Length | 4,230 mm (166.5 in) (hatchback) 4,350 mm (171.3 in) (sedan) |
| Width | 1,690 mm (66.5 in) |
| Height | 1,550 mm (61.0 in) (hatchback) 1,535 mm (60.4 in) (sedan) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Suzuki Cultus Suzuki Cultus Crescent (sedan/wagon) |
| Successor | Suzuki SX4 Changhe A6 (China) |
TheSuzuki Aerio (also called theLiana –Life In A New Age – in China, Pakistan, Europe, Israel, South Asia, Taiwan and Australia orBaleno for sedan version in Indonesia) is asubcompact car that was built bySuzuki. It was introduced in 2001 as a replacement for theSuzuki Esteem/Baleno, with a tall 5-door SX modelhatchback (for maximum inner room efficiency) and a 4-doorsedan body. It featured two different 16-valve gasolineinline-four engines, with 1.5-litre and 1.8-litre, this one capable of 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp)JIS. Production was discontinued in 2007 around the world and replaced by theSuzuki SX4, except in Pakistan (2006 to 2014) andChina where production was continued byChanghe-Suzuki until 2019.[1]
Models inNorth America got a larger and more powerful 2.0-litre engine with 145 hp (108 kW). A 5-speedmanual transmission was standard with a 4-speedautomatic 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 SX (2005), and Base and Premium (2006–2007). Key changes over the years included an upgrade to a new 2.3-liter 155 hp (116 kW; 157 PS) 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 2007SX4 hatchback. Likewise, the Aerio sedan bowed out at year's end, making way for the 2008SX4 Sport sedan. Throughout its run, the Aerio was distinct for being the most affordable car in America to offerall-wheel drive.
InEurope, where the car was called Liana (an acronym forLife In A New Age), it was seen as a more affordable alternative tosmall family cars or tomini MPVs, introducing a new generation ofSuzuki M engines, with 1.3-litre and 1.6-litreI4 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 aDiesel engine, with a 16-valve version of the 1.4-litre HDi engine supplied byPSA Peugeot Citroën, capable of 92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp) thanks tocommon rail direct injection and avariable geometry turbocharger.
The Liana remained in production in Pakistan in 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre variants until 2014.
The Liana was best known[2] for its appearances as the Reasonably Priced Car inTop Gear's "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment. Celebrity guests would appear on the show every week to be interviewed and to set a lap time in asaloon model Suzuki Liana. The primary car, along with spare cars, were kept stock except for a roll cage and racing seats which were added as safety measures. In its three-year tenure on Top Gear, the Liana covered 1,600 laps of the circuit; its tires and brakes were changed 100 times; and it required six new clutches, two new hubs, driveshafts, wishbones, struts and gear linkages and a replacement wing mirror.[3] The Liana was used from its first show until its replacement by aChevrolet Lacetti in the show's spring 2006 season. Until 2015, it enjoyed a partial retirement, and was still brought back when the guest was aFormula 1 driver.
In 2001, Suzuki specially built spaceframe racing cars forhillclimb races with a bodyshell to resemble the Aerio dubbed theSuzuki Aerio P950Pikes 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,[4] teammate Yutaka Awazuhara took the fourth overall in a Grand Vitara.[5]
Tajima would finish as runner up in the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship that year with the same car and won theRace to the Sky hillclimb in 2003,[4] before it was rebuilt as a Grand Vitara, then in 2007 as an XL7, breaking the overall course record at Pikes Peak.[6]
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Changhe-Suzuki in China released a new 1.4-litre Liana hatchback in October 2010, called the Liana a+, which has been sold alongside 1.6-litre versions.[1] Prior to 2013, the Liana retained the same styling as the international version. The Liana was facelifted for sedan and hatchback models with styling unique to China in April 2013.
Media related toSuzuki Aerio at Wikimedia Commons