Suzuki, 50 years in Italia: half a century of motorbikes, cars and marine engines

Development continued in all three sectors throughout the 1990s. In marine engines, electronic fuel injection made its debut with the DT150 EFI, whilst in 1994 the first four-stroke outboard motors, rated at 15 and 9.9 cv, were launched. In motorcycling, Kevin Schwantz won the 500cc World Championship in 1993 on the RGV500, whilst the Burgman 400 made its debut in 1998. A year later, the GSX-1300R Hayabusa was launched, capable of exceeding 300 km/h, whilst in the automotive sector the Jimny joined the range, a model that strengthened Suzuki’s presence in the compact off-road vehicle market.

The 2000s: Swift, Ignis and Gsx-R

With the start of the new millennium, the range expanded further. In 2000, the DF140 and DF115 outboard motors were launched, whilst the Ignis made its debut in the car range, a model combining compact dimensions with a raised seating position. In the same year, Kenny Roberts Jr won the 500cc World Championship on the RGV Gamma 500. This was followed by the GSX-R1000 in 2001, the V-Strom 1000 in 2002 and the Burgman 650 in 2003.

The Marine division is also making technological strides. In 2004, the DF300 introduced Drive-by-Wire electronic controls, whilst at the same time Suzuki launched its ‘Renaissance’ renewal programme in the automotive sector. The second-generation Swift was one of the first models of this phase, followed by the third-generation Vitara. In 2006, the SX4 – the brand’s first crossover – was launched, whilst the S-Cross made its debut in 2013.

As for motorbikes, in 2006 the GSR600 exceeded 7,700 registrations in Italia and finished the year in first place amongst naked bikes. Three years later, Suzuki Italia hosted the brand’s first European Design Centre, dedicated to the design development of future two- and four-wheeled models and linked to the facilities in Hamamatsu, Yokohama and Maruti Suzuki in India.

From hybrid racing to a return to MotoGP

Since 2010, the development of outboard motors has continued, starting with the DF40 and subsequently with systems that allow the direction of rotation to be selected using the foot. In 2015, Suzuki returned to MotoGP with the Suzuki Ecstar Team led by Davide Brivio, with Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales riding the GSX-RR. The following year, in the automotive sector, the Baleno Hybrid marked the start of the hybridisation of the Suzuki range. In 2017, a new generation of the Swift, the updated Burgman 400 and the GSX-R1000 were launched. In 2018, the DF350A made its debut with Dual Prop technology and two counter-rotating propellers, whilst in the car sector, the Jimny returned with a new generation. The Katana was also relaunched during the same period. Two years later, Joan Mir won the MotoGP title with Suzuki, whilst the car range continued the electrification programme launched in 2016.

The Suzuki range in recent years

In the early years of the decade, Suzuki completed the transition to hybridisation across its car range. According to figures released by the manufacturer, over 240,000 customers have chosen a Suzuki Hybrid. In 2020, the Across Plug-in was launched, followed by the Swace Hybrid in 2021 (rebadged versions of the Toyota Rav4 and Corolla) and updates to the Vitara Hybrid and S-Cross Hybrid in 2022.

In the motorcycling sector, 2022 sees the launch of the V-Strom 800de and the GSX-8S, both based on the 800-centimetri cubi parallel-twin engine platform. In the same year, Suzuki extends the Micro-Plastic Collector – a microplastic filtration system integrated into the cooling circuit – to outboard motors ranging from 100 to 140 cv. In 2023, the DF250 Kuro is launched, and in 2024 the Marine range is expanded with the Stealth Line, available with power outputs ranging from 115 to 350 cv.

2024 also marks the debut of the fourth-generation Swift, a model which, in July 2025, reached 10 million units sold worldwide according to Suzuki’s internal figures. During the same period, the GSX-S1000GX with electronic suspension will be launched, alongside the return of the DR-Z4 in Enduro and Supermotard versions. The next milestone comes in 2025 with the eVitara, the brand’s first fully electric car. On the motorbike front, the GSX-8T and GSX-8TT will be unveiled, models that draw on certain stylistic elements from Suzuki’s past.