More milestones for Suzuki Auto SA

Date: 19 Aug 2009	Author Type: Press Release
Author: Suzuki Auto South Africa
Source: Suzuki Auto South Africa

Buyers at the budget end of the market typically have to make do without the majority of modern safety features – but not so in the case of Suzuki's innovative new Alto.

In the unfortunate event of an accident, the new Alto’s body relies on Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept. This consists of crushable structures that absorb impact energy, frame members that disperse impact energy away from occupants, and a strong cabin structure.

In terms of headline safety features, even at the overtly affordable end of the scale, the entry-level Alto GL is fitted with dual front airbags as standard equipment, which is the exception rather than the norm in this price category.

This is complemented by three-point front seatbelts equipped with pre-tensioners and force limiters.

The pre-tensioners almost instantaneously tighten the belts at the beginning of a frontal collision to maximise occupant restraint, while the force limiters then loosen the belts in a controlled manner to minimise the impact on the chests of occupants.

Catering specifically for family owners, the Alto boasts dual ISOFIX child seat anchorages with associated top tethers at the rear, as well as childproof door locks.

Side impact beams are integrated into the front and rear doors, and are supplemented by energy-absorbing trim on the pillars to provide further head protection.

In the active safety department, the junior Suzuki model relies on large-diameter front ventilated brake discs and rear drums.

Additionally, the high-spec GLS derivative boasts four-channel ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, thereby guaranteeing fail-safe emergency stopping performance

As one of the few cars to have undergone the latest 2009 European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP), the Alto has been credited with an overall three-star rating.

However, it is important to note that the new rating scheme is far more stringent than the system used previously, and thus the Alto performed well, considering its budget status.

By comparison, most of its direct competitors were previously appraised under the former Euro NCAP rating system, making direct comparisons difficult.

In the interests of anti-theft security, the Alto’s features list includes an integrated factory-fitted immobiliser, as well as visible VIN numbers for easy identification.

The Alto GLS also features remote-operated central locking for maximum convenience and security.

Veilig en seker, selfs op intreevlak

Kopers aan die bekostigbare punt van die mark moet gewoonlik sonder die meeste moderne veiligheidskenmerke klaarkom – maar dit is beslis nie die geval wat Suzuki se vernuftige nuwe Alto betref nie.

Indien ’n ongeluk sou plaasvind, maak die Alto staat op Suzuki se sogenaamde Algeheel Effektiewe Beheer-Tegnologie. Dié konsep bestaan uit frommelbare strukture wat die botsingsenergie absorbeer, raambene wat die energie van die insittendes wegvoer, en ’n sterk kajuitstruktuur.

Ondanks sy bekostigbaarheid bied die intreevlak-Alto steeds die belangrikste veiligheidskenmerke.

Selfs die Alto GL bied twee lugsakke voor as standaardtoerusting, wat in hierdie pryskategorie as uitsonderlik beskou kan word. Die lugsakke word voor deur driepunt-sitplekgordels met voorspanners en lasbeperkers bygestaan.

Die voorspanners sorg dat die sitplekgordels omtrent onmiddellik vastrek wanneer ’n botsing van voor plaasvind, om sodoende die insittendes so doeltreffend moontlik vas te gord.

Die lasbeperkers ontspan daarna die gordels geleidelik om die drukking op die borskaste van die insittendes te beperk.

Omdat die Alto spesifiek ook op gesinne gemik is, bied die Alto twee ISOFIX-monteerpunte vir kindersitplekke agter, wat met boonste hegpunte toegerus is. Kinderslotte vir die deure is ook standaard.

Sy-impakwerende balke is in die voor- en agterdeure ingebou, en werk saam met energie-absorberende afwerkings op die pilare om verdere beskerming teen kopbeserings te bied.

Wat aktiewe veiligheid betref, maak die junior-Suzuki op groot, geventileerde skyfremme voor, en remtrommels agter staat.

Die GLS-weergawe spog bykomend met vierkanaal-ABS-sluitweerremme, wat met elektroniese remkragverspreiding en noodrembystand toegerus is, en dus betroubare noodremverrigting waarborg.

As een van net ’n handvol motors wat reeds aan die jongste 2009 Euro NCAP-veiligheidstoetse onderwerp is, het die Alto ’n algehele telling van drie sterre behaal.

Dit is egter belangrik om kennis te neem dat die nuwe toetsprosedure aansienlik strenger is as die stelsel wat voorheen toegepas is, en dat die Alto dus betreklik goed gevaar het, veral as sy intreevlakstatus in ag geneem word.

Die meeste van die Alto se regstreekse mededingers is onder die vorige Euro NCAP-toetsstelsel geevalueer, wat direkte vergelykings moeilik maak.

Om die Alto teen diefstal te beskerm, sluit die Alto se lys kenmerke ’n geïntegreerde, fabrieksgemonteerde immobiliseerder in, terwyl die voertuig se VIN-nommer ook duidelik sigbaar is om uitkenning te vergemaklik.

Die Alto GLS is ook ter wille van maksimum sekerheid en gerief met ’n afstandbeheerde sentrale sluitstelsel toegerus.