It is an open secret that Suzuki Philippines will bring the all-new Celerio to the local market after we reported that some units arrived at the Batangas Port earlier this year. Now, the company has officially set the launch date of the next-gen subcompact hatchback which will happen this week.
All-new Suzuki Celerio
Suzuki Philippines remains mum about the specs Filipino car buyers can expect from the all-new model. It does get a new design that exudes a more contemporary approach with updates such as revamped headlights, a reworked grille, and reshaped body. Moreover, the leaked photos suggest that the new set of blacked-out wheels will be made available locally.
Looking at the Indian-spec Celerio where it first debuted, the new version is now larger. In turn, the cargo area has been expanded by as much as 40 percent, according to Suzuki. This improves the practicality of the Japanese subcompact hatchback, a vital characteristic for the market it will be competing in.
Redesigned interior [Note: Photo shows Indian-spec Celerio]
A new 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, is a feature that we can expect to see in the upcoming launch. It can keep passengers connected even when they are on the road. Safety-wise, the all-new model could be equipped with dual front airbags, a rear camera, reverse parking sensors, and hill-hold assist.
Under the hood, the upcoming Suzuki hatch could bring the next-gen 1.0-liter K10C 3-cylinder gasoline engine that puts out 66 horsepower and 89 Nm of torque. It makes less power than the outgoing 1.0-liter K10B engine but Suzuki said that the new engine has better thermal management and improved fuel efficiency assisted by the start-stop technology.
In terms of transmission, the Indian-spec version discontinued the continuously variable transmission (CVT) in favor of a 5-speed automated manual transmission, or AGS (Auto Gear Shift). It is still unclear whether Suzuki Philippines will continue offering the CVT or introduce the AGS which is also seen in the Suzuki Dzire. Additionally, a 5-speed manual transmission is still available in the range.
The all-new Suzuki Celerio will make its Philippine debut on May 7, 2022, at 3:45 p.m. Suzuki Philippines will hold a live broadcast via its official Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok accounts.
Don’t miss the latest car releases at Philkotse.com.