Suzuki returns with vengeance in Nigeria

..As CFAO goes bullish with micro Suzuki Expresso SUV,

…Stirs competition with new SLDA technology

Car freaks are in for a fresh dose of automotive luxury and re-assurance of returns on their investment following the unveiling of the the S-Presso micro SUV, a first of its kind in Nigeria on Friday penultimate weekend in Victoria Island, Lagos in a unique event tagged ‘Suzuki Is Back’ and organized by CFAO Motors, franchise owners and distributors of Suzuki vehicles in Nigeria and 30 other African countries.

The launching of the S-Presso micro SUV which also provided an opportunity to launch their latest technological advancement called the Smart Link Display Audio (SLDA) had In attendance top CFAO representatives including the chairman, Gbenga Oyebode; the managing director/country delegate Thomas Pelletier; and the general manager, CFAO Motors in charge of the Suzuki brand, Aissatou Diouf, customers and industry stakeholders.

Speaking on some of the brand’s activities since 2019, Aissatou Diouf stated, “We came into the Nigerian market with a clear plan to make Japanese cars, more accessible to Nigerians. Amidst the challenges caused by the pandemic, we have continued to improve our value proposition to our customers with the expansion of our aftersales service network across the country, while bringing more Nigerian banks on board as partners for our vehicle-financing scheme. We have just unveiled the S-Presso model, the first micro SUV in Nigeria, which will be sold for as low as N5.5million. Indeed, Suzuki is quickly becoming Naija’s ‘Way of life’’. She said.

Aissatou Diouf described the new Suzuki S-Presso as a clever urban SUV that allows the family to grow. Every day, fashion-conscious people dresses to impress and the same applies to the vehicles some of these car freaks drive. Moreover, the good thing is that, a well-designed car does not need to be expensive.

If there is one automaker in the world that is the foremost authority in practical compact vehicles, it is the Suzuki. They have proven that they don’t have to build big cars as automakers to be great, and that’s what they have been mastering since they started exploring the potential of the compact automobile in 1937.

The S-Presso stays true to that and is especially beneficial in the urban setting. It can deal with a lot of traffic and have a modest size that enables it meander right through tight spaces because the micro SUV is only 1520 millimeters wide. It has a small parking space and the driver can squeeze in the S-Presso into tight slots because it’s only 3565 millimeters long. It is the perfect size to help prospective drivers win the daily commute and the daily struggle for parking.

The Suzuki S-Presso is a small crossover that has been imbued with the stylings of a rugged SUV. The upright look, the high beltline, and a black lower bumper all combine for a vehicle built for active individuals, and it looks like a lot of fun on the road.

As a follow-up to the brand’s re-introduction in 2019, the ‘Suzuki is back’ event was a platform to showcase its latest upgrade, the SLDA which enables the driver to mirror their phone on the car display screen, place phone calls, use navigation, and play music easily among other interesting features. This technology is available in the Dzire, Ciaz, Vitara, Baleno, Ertiga and Swift models.

Newton Jibunoh, the new Suzuki brand ambassador who is known for his desert expeditions in Suzuki cars, was officially introduced to guests at the event in a documentary capturing the story behind his Suzuki choice.

Renowned TV and radio host, Oscar Oyinsan with a live graffiti painting on the new S-Presso model, later auctioned at the event, hosted the event. Guests also had an opportunity to experience an innovative Augmented Reality (AR) art exhibition. Suzuki models available in Nigeria are city cars like the new S-presso, Alto, Dzire, Swift, Baleno, Ciaz, and Ertiga, complemented with the off-road vehicles and Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) namely; Jimny and Vitara.

MIKE OCHONMA

Motoring Editor