New Suzuki shows pace, economy during tests

Press, 9 April 1981, Page 13

New Suzuki shows pace, economy during tests

A new 24-hour enduro, 'record and a road economy Hal in excess of 60 miles *oer gallon were the highlights of recent tests of a 'brand new four-door hatch?, back car to the New Zealand motor market. • ’■ The car, a Suzuki SSBO triiich was making its world lebut, should help provide an answer to the New Zealand fuel problem. The four-door family car will sell for $7496 "and should prove a popular addition to the small car market. The car, which is assembled in Wanganui by ■South Pacific Suzuki Vehicle Assemblers, Ltd, broke the \.Z. 24-hour small car eniuro record at Manfeild recently. It broke the previous record, set by a 13 litre Chevette in 1978, with half an tour to spare. The 800 cu cm Suzuki hasi four-stroke, water-cooled

three cylinder engine, and was driven by. a team of eight racing drivers. It finished 24 hours of racing around the demanding Manfeild circuit with a record : 7371aps (old record 720 laps), covering 2233.11 kilometres (old mark 2180.60) at an average speed of 93.05 km/h (previous record 90.9). The record attempt was staged in mixed weather conditions with six hours of rain or wet roads during the period.. The car chosen for the endpro trial was the very . first one off the Castlecliff (Wanganui) assembly line and had not been tuned or “hotted up” in any way. The only problem experienced during the trial came after the first 12 hours when a few drops of water accidentally got into the petrol when the vehicle was being re-fuelled in ,pouring rain. Jhe result was slower lap times for almost an hour

until the problem was diagnosed and a 10 minutej,pit stop remedied the trouble with the carburettor dried out If it had not been for the water problem the new record would have almost certainly have been up around the 750-lap mark. The fastest single lap time came from Manfeild track specialist, Rob Lester, the track promoter, who whipped the SSBO around in Imin 47.55. Driver changes were made every three hours. The economy trial was staged under normal road rules on a 264 kilometre circuit from Manfeild to Waipukurau and return, including the Manawatu Gorge. The cars were not nursed along by any of the drivers with the road trial, like the enduro test, which was done in wet and fine weather. Drivers were changed each

four hours and this gave a wide range of driving skills. The two cars travelled a total distance of 3043.7 kilometres, used a total of 143.59 litres of petrol for an average consumption of 21197 km/1 (60.295 m.p.g.). The best individual fuel consumption came from Ivan Marinovich, a rally driver who has raced on the French Le Mans circuit, who returned 23.48 km/1 (66.81 m.p.g.) for his round trip. There were also returns of 22.64 km/1 (64.65 m.p.g.); 21.69 km/1 (61.75 m.p.g.) and 21.08 km/1 (61.75 m.p.g.) although the lowest was 19.37 km/1 (5525 m.p.g.). The/fuel'tests were in the hands of Manawatu Car Club officials with Ralph Watson the chief scrutineer. In attendance was Minister of Lands (Mr Venn Young) and Japanese Suzuld officials. Mr Young also inspected the Wanganui assembly plant, at Castlecliff. _ He told officials and workers that the 24rhour trials had proved the reliability and economy of the vehicle, and the price sounded attractive. 'He complimented the 80 workers at the South Pacific Suzuki plant and said that at was obvious when strolling around the assembly chain that the staff was right behind management in the assembly of a top-class small car. He also announced that the Government had approved a special regional development grant for the Wanganui company, which is at present assembling six cars a day.