Suzuki’s FUTURE plans revealed by the big boss!

Toshihiro Suzuki, president of the Japanese giant, has opened up about its future in a hugely important and revealing interview.

In an interview with a french journalist, Suzuki didn't so much let slip, as openly reveal some key elements about what we're going to see from the manufacturer in the near – and not so near – future.

One area of development that is currently under scrutiny is the lack of any modern-retro style motorcycle in the range. While all the other major Japanese manufacturers have at least pointed towards a modern-retro style bike in their range, Suzuki has yet to go down the route.

President Suzuki was keen to point out, however, that there are changes in the pipeline: “We realise that this is what some of our customers want and it will be coming from us. I can’t tell you when it’ll be or what type of bike we are working on though."

Suzuki was also frank and forthright about the company’s plans for supercharged machines. Focusing on the Recursion prototype (pictured, top left) that was first shown three years ago – and last year's subsequent patent for the production version of the bike (also pictured) – in particular, he said this: “The project has not been abandoned and there has always been the plan to launch a supercharged motorcycle in our range. However, this is not for this coming year. One of the specifics we are looking at is exactly how much putting this sort of technology into production for the mass market will cost. For now, we have not defined anything specific about it."

The factory’s top man was pressed about the potential cost of a supercharged bike that made around 100bhp and would be running a medium-sized motor, and when it was suggested that such a motorcycle would cost around £9500 he replied with: “That is a view that is not completely fanciful."

He also went on to outline exactly why Suzuki is going down the supercharger or turbocharger route, and it's far more exciting than anyone first thought. Suzuki added: “We do not think that fuel consumption is a major concern for motorcyclists. Nor do they want to lower displacement. Our idea of using a turbo is more about the pleasure that we seek on a motorcycle. A motorcycle with a turbo is a pleasure motorcycle that we develop, not a two-wheeled utility motorcycle."

Another bike that's come up for plenty of discussion is the Hayabusa. The acclaimed hyperbike is long overdue a new model and has started to fall behind ultra-quick competition like the H2R Kawasaki. But, fans of the big bike will be overjoyed at what Suzuki had to say on the matter: “The Hayabusa will have a descendant that will not go too far from the family. Our engineers are working on it right now. It will be along the familiar lines of the Hayabusa and it will have a lot of electronic assistance for riding fast."