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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday November 7, 2007 - 23 Suzuki at the Tokyo Motor Show 2007 This is Tokyo. Home of the heavyweights - Honda, Toyota and Nissan. And also home for one up-and-coming David among the Goliaths ­ Suzuki, a company aiming for a major impact at one of the industry's most important auto shows with a collective showing themed "Small Cars For A Big Future". That's called playing to your strengths. And although it may seem easy for Canadians to shrug off a company still striving for just a one percent market share in this country, Suzuki has become a major player in the rest of the world with its small car specialization a natural fit for developing countries and new world markets in India and the rest of Asia. Even in Japan, Suzuki has led small car sales for the past six years, marketing its boxy WagonR at the rate of over 20,000 purchases per month with exports of the same model increasingly taking hold of European markets. But while Suzuki success may be based on a broad offering of econo models and practicality, it doesn't mean they can't have bigger dreams, incorporating everything from flights of fancy to real world, near future models. After wowing the car world with the Concept Kizashi at the recent 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, Suzuki unveiled the Concept Kizashi 2 here at the Tokyo Motor Show. Suzuki labels this crossover sports wagon as a "premonition of dynamism and beauty" and while it ethereal qualities caught the eye of all automotive journalists, under the hood, a very real 3.6-litre V6 engine, the highest-displacement engine ever used by Suzuki, is mated to a six-speed automatic for gritty competitive performance. Suzuki is also looking into hybrid/diesel possibilities and we will continue to see this design evolve with a Kizashi 3 sedan concept slated for reveal in Detroit or New York next year. I would expect a production version of this vehicle sometime in 2010 or 2011. Playing with a concept called Sustainable Mobility, Suzuki blends a very futuristic pair of one-person low-speed PIXY transport devices with the SSC (Suzuki Sharing Coach) base vehicle. Don't hold your breath on this one but it should be noted that many of the manufacturers have turned their attention to one-person transportation technologies that can pay off with at least improved electric wheelchair solutions for aging societies. The X-HEAD cross-utility vehicle offers big rig machismo with compact maneuverability, combined with the very real off-road abilities inherited from Jimny and Grand Vitara (Escudo). Presented at the show in four load variations ranging from a camper box to rescue packaging complete with hydraulic claw/crane, the X-HEAD features forehead-slapping innovations such as folddown pickup side shelving and storage. Other manufacturers will either adopt this feature or spend the next few years kicking themselves. I've seen some internet mocking of its Tonka toy looks but, hey, most pickup truck owners I know are just overgrown kids anyways. Ship over a boat load of X-HEADs as-is and they'd sell out in no time. The PALETTE takes the basics of the squarish minicar concept to a further evolution but the Splash is the real world, Euro replacement for the popular WagonR cube wagon, to be built in Hungary and scheduled for a spring 2008 release. We recently saw the SX4 sedan debut in Canada and at the Tokyo Motor Show, Suzuki unveiled the ultimate SX4 sedan derivative, the SX4 WRC rally car, ready for its debut in the Rallye de France, where it made its first run under real competition conditions. The SX4 WRC will also run in the Wales Rally GB later in the year, its last test before Suzuki begins its first full World Rally Championship season in January 2008. And, although not shown at this show, I can tell you that Suzuki will soon be bringing a pickup truck to Canada, as well. In Japan, Suzuki builds a mini-car (the Moco, based on their MR Wagon) for Nissan. Keeping their end of the bargain, Nissan's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee will soon be building a 2009 Suzuki-badged version of their Frontier pickup for sale in Canada and the U.S. Expect its debut at the Chicago Auto Show next spring. With this range of six world premiere reveals, ranging from the fantastic to near future at one of the world's most important automotive shows, and with a present lineup already broadening and slated towards growing ecological and fuel economy concerns, Suzuki is well-positioned for future growth in sales and stature. Available AWD / 3.6 litre, V6 engine / Front and side curtain airbags / Seating for seven / Climate control A/C / ESP with traction control / ABS with EBD / 5-speed automatic / Cruise control / Power steering, windows, mirrors and door locks / Remote keyless entry / Tire Pressure Monitoring System / Engine immobilizer / AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers. Towing capacity: 3,500 lbs / Fuel economy: City -- 12.9 L/100 km (22 mpg); Hwy -- 9.0 L/100 km (31 mpg) AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with 4 speakers / 1.6 litre, 4 cylinder engine / Seating for five / Tachometer / Digital clock / Tilt steering / Power steering / Rear window wiper and washer / Rear window defroster / Dual front and side airbags / Split-folding rear seatbacks / Engine block heater / Child-proof rear door locks. Fuel economy: City -- 8.9 L/100 km (32 mpg); Hwy -- 5.9 L/100 km (48 mpg) Standard 4WD / 2.7 litre, V6 engine / ABS with EBD / 6 standard airbags / Climate control A/C / ESP with traction control / AM/FM/CD/ MP3/WMA player with 4 speakers / Information display (clock, outside temperature, fuel consumption & range) / Remote keyless entry / Power steering, windows, mirrors and door locks / Towing capacity: 3,000 lbs. Fuel economy: City -- 13.0 L/100 km (22 mpg); Hwy --9.5 L/100 km (30 mpg) Suzuki of Oakville 2219 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, ON L6L 5L7 905-469-2429 · Toll Free 1-866-229-3897 fax 905-469-4562 CONSUMERS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING: Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. *MSRP for the 2007 XL7 with automatic transmission (model 6E1D8A7) / the 2007 Swift+ with manual transmission (model H5MS5A7) / the 2007 Grand Vitara with manual transmission (model LLN81S7). Destination and Delivery ($1,395 / $1,195 / $1,395) not included in MSRP. Registration fee, license, insurance, administration fees and applicable taxes are not included. **Limited time offer to qualifi ed retail customers on approved credit (O.A.C.) available through FinanciaLinx to lease a new 2007 XL7 with automatic transmission (model 6E1D8A7) / 2007 Swift+ with manual transmission (model H5MS5A7) / 2007 Grand Vitara with manual transmission (model LLN81S7) for 60 months. Total lease obligation of $25,101.44 / $11,251.68 / $22,128.15 including down payment of $2,365 / $0 / $4,190, or equivalent trade-in, with 100,000 km total mileage allowance ($0.10/km for excess mileage). $0 security deposit. First month's lease payment is required at lease inception. Lease payments include Destination and Delivery ($1,395 / $1,195 / $1,395). This offer does not include license, insurance, acquisition fees of $350, administration fees, PPSA of $60 + taxes and any applicable taxes which are due at lease inception. ***0% purchase fi nancing is available for 48 months on 2007 Grand Vitara and on 60 months for 2007 XL7 and 2007 Swift+. Finance example: $10,000 at 0% APR for a 60 / 48 month term; the monthly payment is $166.67 / $208.33; cost of borrowing is $0; total obligation is $10,000. Down payment may be required. Bi-weekly payment for 2007 Swift+ with manual transmission (model H5MS5A7) is $92 for 60 months, amortized over an 84-month period with $0 down payment and includes Destination and Delivery of $1,195. Estimated remaining principal balance of $4,529 plus applicable taxes due at end of 60-month period and total payout is $4,531.10. Total interest and principal is $12,017.84. This offer is based on MSRP of $13,895 plus destination and delivery ($1,195). ****These offers cannot be combined with any other offer except for the Suzuki Graduate Program. With the Suzuki Graduate Program, recent university or college graduates may be eligible for an allowance on the purchase or lease of certain models. Fuel economy based on Transport Canada ratings. ESP is a registered trademark of Daimler-Chrysler AG. Dealers may lease or sell for less. See participating dealers for details.