2005 Suzuki Review

Specifications

The Not-So-Fast and the Frivolous

“From the streets of Los Angeles to blockbuster movies like “The Fast and the Furious,” Generation Y leads the trend of customizing vehicles…” zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

So begins Suzukis press release introducing a second take on the possibilities for accessorizing the 2005 Suzuki Reno for the second year running. I hate to play the spoiler, but surely Suzuki has at least a couple of guys on the payroll that can pump out enough copy to keep from recirculating the same press release over and over and over.

The car in question, the Suzuki Reno, has twice been adapted for the auto show circuit, previously as the Tuner concept and more recently as the Intruder concept. Despite my disparaging remarks about Suzukis PR department, the car itself is a winner. The Reno was designed by Ital Design in Europe, or, more specifically, Italy, the same design firm responsible for the Lotus Esprit, Lexus GS 300, Maserati 3200GT, among others.

The Reno isnt quite in the same league mechanically or aesthetically as those three, but it nevertheless is a feather in Suzukis cap to have something as attractive rounding out the bottom of its product line. Speaking of which, Suzukis product line is rounding into shape nicely, with last years addition of the Forenza and Verona and the stimulating Concept X foreshadowing good things to come when Suzuki replaces the aging XL-7 and Grand Vitara.

A little bit off track, I know, but its hard not to smile and share the enthusiasm coming from Suzukis lineup. So what if all of the new models are little more than rebadged Daewoo models, the result of a partnership with GM to take over the ailing South Korean automakers production facilities. And while the Standard Reno, known as the Chevy Optra5 in Canada, where it isnt available in Suzuki dealerships by the way, is a button of smiles and enthusiasm, the Intruder, as the name implies, is a tad more menacing… perhaps even more than a tad, say a wad. A wad more menacing? Wads more menacing even…

Anyway, the custom shades on the headlights, the wire mesh grille and lower front lip spoiler give the Intruder a nasty, snarling edge while the ground effects, rocker panels and rooftop spoiler lend it a sleeker profile. The Sport Max Chromium Black Alloy Wheels really stand out, and at 17 inches and wrapped in Yokohama performance rubber, no doubt they would help the Reno stick to corners at speeds unimaginable in stock trim.

Further aid for the cause of body control is provided by Renos front MacPherson strut suspension and independent, dual-link suspension in the rear. The Renos basic equipment, consisting of front and rear stabilizer bars, are fortified with a Tanabe “SUSTEC” Strut-tower bar that should help eliminate body roll during aggressive cornering.

But best of all is what Suzuki dubs “Firestorm Orange Pearl coat paint.” Normally I am loathe to compliment or even admire anything except an orange in orange, but this shade, along with Nissans Le Mans Sunset, really do it for me. In the dark of night it is said to take on a bloodish hue and in the bright daylight itll dance like flames with the pearl coat, creating its own sensory artistry.

On the inside, Suzuki gives the Reno a little street racer cred with APC racing seats boasting massive bolsters, carbon fiber upholstery, and custom matching floormats. Aside from the seats, not much of the interior changes from the readily available Reno. The interior is functional and edging into tasteful with faux aluminum accents and a reserved two-tone grey on grey color scheme.

Brightening things up a little is a color-keyed strip that runs horizontally along the dash, tying the interior together nicely with the flashy paint scheme. Replacing the standard stereo is an Alphasonik CD audio system hooked up to an eardrum-blasting 800-watt amplifier and two eight-inch subwoofers camped out in the rear cargo area.

Of course, while a slick paint job and a brain-rattling sound system may get you the attention of passersby and the admonition of old ladies around the block, itll also get you the same amount of respect as a Beetle convertible on the street (i.e. chicks dig it). So what has Suzuki done to kick start the efforts of nocturnally inclined amateur racers everywhere? Not much…

The Reno comes off the shelf with a 2.0L, 16-valve DOHC engine mashing out 126-horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque. Decent numbers for a kid needing a car with enough room to transport a favorite dresser to college and shuttle the odd keg back and forth from the beer store to the frat, but hardly enough to keep up with the blazing orange paint scheme.

To up the ante, Suzuki has thrown a K&N Typhoon air intake system into the mix and filled the tank up with premium unleaded. “Thanks Joe, put it on my MasterCard…” Nothing against the K&N equipment, its topnotch, but will this air filter boost horsepower by any more than you can shake a wrench at. Two, five ponies max. I know a kid down the street named Billy who can get me more power using only some duct tape, a screwdriver and a rubber chicken.

Im sorry Suzuki, but youd better come to the table with more than an intake system and a nice set of shiny wheels if you want to call yourself “Intruder.” About the only thing this Reno could intrude on is a bumper car ring at the county fair, unless you take into account the countless quiet dinners in suburbia the foundation-rattling sound system will shake up.

They should probably have called it the Reno Announcer since it is surely loud and colourful enough to let people know well ahead of time that something special is coming down the street.

Like a Toyota Corolla XRS, at 170-horsepower, or maybe a Lancer Ralliart at 162-horsepower, or even a Mazda3 in base trim at 148-horsepower, with a little more investment and perhaps a mods division like MazdaSpeed, Ralliart or TRD, Suzuki could become a player in the “stock-tuner” market, but not even willing to pump up the output of a concept and the brand will merely remain a substitute to other furious racers.

Perhaps Im being too harsh. The most commonly purchased aftermarket item is, after all, a new set of tires, and Im guessing sound systems give performance rubber a run for its money after that, so Suzuki essentially has its first and second bases covered. Take into account the wake-you-up paint scheme, very sporting seats and the custom brake rotors I neglected to mention while going off on the lack of engine mods, and the Intruder has almost everything it needs to gain respect from the import tuner crowd.

So is it a home run? Hardly, but anyone who can put together a single, a double, a bunt, a walk and some sacrifice flies will score some runs. However, were still looking at a two-way contract and some serious time on chartered buses between Omaha and Toledo, so dont go putting that down payment on the big city dream house just yet.

Then again, if youre the general manager, you look at the big picture and realize that small ball wins games day in and day out and you never find yourself hanging your hat on one swing of the bat. This general manager, General Motors, will take Suzukis sac flies day in and day out if it puts another plus in the win column.

Building cars and luring young, heavy spending import buyers is big business, and the Intruder is a clear example that Suzuki doesnt have a big league contract for doing so yet. But if it keeps playing immaculate small ball as it has over the past couple of years, it will become a major player, though, being that its paired up with General Motors and because of such will probably never be the star of the team.

Still, theres nothing wrong with a bottom rung paycheck in the major leagues, and the stock Reno, and Intruder if Suzuki ever builds anything like it, combines reasonable engine performance, nearly matching the rather anemic Honda Civic Si coupes 127-horsepower rating in modified trim, with what looks to be better than average handling capability. Its Italian styling is pretty sweet, especially when upgraded in Intruder guise, plus its interior tweaks are enticing and new paint vibrant. Yes, its time Suzuki starts building street cars as exciting as its concepts.