Suzuki announced that the Forenza sedan and Reno hatchback will no longer be available in the U.S. market after the 2008 model year. The Forenza and Reno, Suzuki’s top two selling cars in the United States, are departing to create more room for the SX4.
The SX4 all-wheel-drive hatchback has been on the market here in the U.S. since 2006 and Suzuki officials feel it can better satisfy the market than the two cars it replaces. A sedan version of the SX4 goes on sale this October as a 2008 model, with a front-drive hatchback following for 2009.
According to Automotive News, this year, Suzuki dealers have sold 28,259 units of the Forenza and Reno through July, down 6.8% from last year. In the same period, the SX4 has sold 9,246 examples, up 35.1% from 2006. Capacity constraints have limited SX4 availability for U.S. dealers, something Suzuki hopes to alleviate with the opening of a new SX4 plant in Japan next year.
