It is based upon the Suzuki SX4 road car, and was debuted at the 2007 Tour de Corse.

[3] However, due to WRC calendar changes Suzuki officially debuted in 2008, using the season of 2007 as further development time for the SX4.

[4] In the first event of 2008, the Rallye Monte Carlo, Suzuki driver Per-Gunnar Andersson finished eighth.

It was a specially adapted Suzuki SX4, with a twin turbocharged 3.1 litre V6 engine producing 910 hp (679 kW; 923 PS) and 890 N⋅m (660 lb⋅ft) of torque.

Driver Nobuhiro Tajima won the event in Suzukis for six years running, the last three of which were in the SX4 HCS, and set the track record time of 9:51.278.