The Future of Suzuki to be Shown at Tokyo
Kizashi Photos
Over the years at motor shows around the world, if you would have strolled past the Suzuki exhibit you might have caught a glimpse of a couple of anonymous looking cars, some small SUVs and maybe a tricked out car or two. That was then and it’s a very different situation of what’s happening now. Suzuki wants to expand into a mainstream automaker, just like Mitsubishi or Mazda. It is surely proud to be one of the predominant kei-car manufacturers (and suppliers), but it has bigger sights and goals in mind. We saw the first of these goals not too long ago in Frankfurt, a concept dubbed Kizashi. Suzuki is following up with a crop of new concept cars that will be debuting in Tokyo shortly.
Since we’re on the topic of the Kizashi, we’ll start with the Kizashi 2, the follow up. It’s primarily the same size as the original midsize red sedan, but it’s more of a wagon, fastback crossover type vehicle with a jacked up ride and knobbly tires for extra grip. That said, it’s a nicely styled car that delivers the sort of look most people couldn’t fathom being carried by a Suzuki. More details have emerged about the Kizashi 2 in that it features a fully independent front and rear suspension, and a 3.6-liter V6 engine plus six-speed automatic that’s been hitched up to a hybrid drivetrain system. Sounds like Suzuki has a formula for success on its hands.
Then there’s the X-HEAD, a transformable, durable urban truck-like concept vehicle. Standing beside the Grand Vitara and the tiny Jimny mini-compact SUV that it shares its DNA with, the X-HEAD looks like a giant, larger than life Tonka truck. It features durable ladder frame construction, and in the back it has a live rear axle with three links to hold it in place, just like a big and rough three-quarter ton pickup, but the engine the X-HEAD is powered by is a meager 1.4-liter four-cylinder mated to a 6-speed twin-clutch gearbox, both of which are unusually mounted in the midship position. If this isn’t interesting enough, the X-HEAD Concept has various caps for the truck area to meet the needs of its consumers, such as hauling ATVs and dirt bikes, doing some search and rescue activities and even taking care of camping duties.
Finally, Suzuki’s display at Tokyo wouldn’t be complete if it weren’t for something truly wacky and left of center – the next generation of inner city transportation. The system is comprised of several components, all centered around a pod-like personal transporter called PIXY. PIXY is electrically powered, and is designed to be used outdoors and indoors in large areas like shopping centers, etc.
In addition, there is the SSC, a two-PIXY transportation device used to take the PIXY to areas where it might not go on battery range alone. There are also vehicle modules that the PIXY can be coupled to including a sports car body / chassis called the SSF, and a speedboat-like body / chassis called the SSJ.