The S-Cross goes on sale this autumn, followed by a low-CO2 city car in 2014 then a Juke-rivalling B-segment crossover in 2015 and finally a new supermini in 2016. Sales are already on the rise, growing 34% to reach 17,000 units during 2012 on the way to targeted ceiling of 30,000 sales in the UK.

Traditionally a retail-focused brand, Suzuki is to gain huge fleet opportunities with the new C-segment crossover, according to national corporate sales manager Andrew Wale. Sales are expected to initially be heavily driven by Motability, an area that has grown from 350 to 900 sales last year, but with residual values of up to 45% from Glass’s it beats segment sales leader the Nissan Qashqai and, with a price difference of around 10%, this contributes towards low monthly rental costs.

Engines include two and four-wheel drive diesels returning 110 and 114g/km respectively, and Wale is expecting a higher-than-segment-norm share to take the four-wheel drive option, helped by an £1,800 price difference and small rise in CO2 emissions. Service intervals of 12,500 miles and a fleet-specific SZT trim level, featuring larger wheels, satellite navigation and DAB radio, are expected to grow its true fleet sales as awareness improves, he said.

‘We’re looking at profitable business routes,’ said Wale. ‘I think when you’ve got attractive monthly rentals, once you’ve got residual values and SMR costs you will naturally attract those customers. We’re advertising to get customers to consider them on choice lists. If you can tick all the boxes it becomes a serious contender.’