"These cars are so cute! What a great booth!" young women could be heard crying delightedly to their boyfriends as they left the Suzuki booth in the back of the West Hall. This year's theme picks up the same thread as Suzuki's booth at last year's commercial vehicle show: "Small Cars, - for a Big Future." On display is a series of unique concept cars that achieve the fun and satisfaction of which only small cars are capable.
Suzuki divides its exhibit of market vehicles including the new "Wagon R" into minicars and compacts. It also organizes its concept cars by size. This, combined with the clean whiteboard floor, gives the booth a tidy image and makes it easy to view regardless of the angle.
In the area next to the wall, Suzuki uses four stages to present its concept cars. The first to catch your eye is the "CONCEPT-S2" convertible with its bright yellow body. The car is a convertible version of the highly-regarded "CONCEPT-S" series which debuted at the 2002 Paris Motor Show. Its 1.6 liter DOHC engine and six-speed transmission make this a full-fledged sports car with enough room to seat four people. It also comes with a newly developed "3-piece electrically rotating/retracting roof," that divides the roof into front, back and rear window, and uses an electric motor to rotate the parts and retract them into the rear trunk space. With the "CONCEPT-S2" Suzuki has produced a fun-to-drive four-seater compact.
Fashion, Fuel Cells and Fun
The stage near the central aisle displays two very cute vehicles, the "S-RIDE" and the "LANDBREEZE." The "S-RIDE" combines motorcycle-like driving enjoyment with the practicality of an automobile. Suzuki bills it has an "urban commuter," giving it two seats, front and back, in a minicar size that is perfect for urban transportation. The "Landbreeze" is a compact SUV built with environmentfriendly materials such as easily-recycled aluminum and tires made entirely of natural resorces not based on petroleum Popular with the ladies is the fashionable "Twin My Style," a one-seater based on the "Twin" minicar. The "Mobile Terrace" represents the future of Suzuki fuel cell vehicles, packing a generous three rows of seats into a compact, four-meter body. Suzuki also shows its minicarsized fuel cell vehicle, which it developed in collaboration with partner GM. The car is notable for the compactness it has achieved in the fuel cell unit. |
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| The "Landbreeze" compact SUV and the "S-Ride" urban commuter. |
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| The "Concept-S2" seats four comfortably in spite of its compact size. |
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| "Mobile Terrace" shows the future of fuel cell vehicles. |
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| "MR wagon FCV" brings fuel cell technology to minicars. |
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