Suzuki resurrects Ignis nameplate

SUZUKI will continue its retro name revival by reintroducing the Ignis nameplate to the production version of the iM-4 crossover that is due to launch globally next year.

The Ignis nameplate was last seen on a Suzuki-badged model in the early noughties when the Japanese car-maker, in a partnership with General Motors, produced the tiny city crossover that lasted just two generations internationally.

The unusual hatch was sold in Australian Suzuki showrooms for five years from early 2000 to early 2005 alongside Holden’s version of the same car, which constituted the first-generation Cruze.

While Suzuki is yet to officially announce the return of the decade-old nameplate, GoAuto understands that it is confirmed for the production-ready version of the quirky iM-4.

That concept was revealed at this year’s Geneva motor show, sharing a stand with the iK-2 hatch that will be officially revealed in production guise next week at the Frankfurt motor show as the Baleno small hatch.

Baleno is another nameplate that Suzuki has recently brought back from the dead it was a small hatch and sedan model that was sold in Australia from 1995 to 2001 before being discontinued, though it was offered in some South-East Asian markets for some years afterwards.

This week marks the launch of Suzuki’s all-important Vitara compact SUV. Though the company has also resurrected this nameplate, it is not as retro as the other two monikers as Suzuki still offers the larger Grand Vitara in Australia.

Suzuki is no doubt hoping that there is nostalgia and goodwill attached to reintroducing a series of long-gone nameplates, which will translate to traffic in dealerships and more sales.

The company has already stated that it will launch 20 new models by the end of the decade, with the Vitara, Baleno and Ignis the latest to be confirmed.

It won’t, however, attempt to re-enter any passenger car segments larger than C-segment, preferring to concentrate on small cars and SUVs.

The Ignis will give Suzuki yet another entrant in the compact SUV space, with the company already offering the rugged but elderly Jimny, the S-Cross and the Vitara.

More details on the Ignis will be revealed at the Tokyo motor show in October this year.