11 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 29, 2009 Suzuki, 100 years of innovation, from looms to fuel cells Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine Suzuki celebrates its centenary this October. Back in 1909, Michio Suzuki founded the Suzuki Loom Company in Hamamatsu, Southern Japan and it was while manufacturing looms for production of plain white fabric he learned that weavers wanted looms that could produce cloth with vertical and horizontal stripes. So he developed a unique loom capable of weaving patterned cloth from dyed yarn. Suzuki's new innovation represented the start of an uncompromising focus on creating products that meet people's needs and realize new lifestyle possibilities. Suzuki expanded into production of motorcycles in 1952 with the Power Free using a 36 cc two stroke engine. The Power Free was simple in design, offered very easy maintenance and was unique at that time as it could be ridden fully motorized, partially motorized or by using the pedals without any engine assistance. Just a year later, Suzuki was building 6,000 motorcycles per month. Suzuki car production began in 1955 with pendent suspension and rack and pinion steering. Suzuki's off-road vehicle heritage began in 1970 with the launch of the LJ series lightweight 4x4. The first Marine outboard motor was introduced in 1965, then pre-fabricated houses in 1974; general-purpose engines in 1980 and its first All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) in 1982. Aggregate car production topped 10 million units in 1989, and global annual production exceeded 1 million units by 1990. Since then, Suzuki has continued to enjoy growth in demand; its annual car production breaking the two million units barrier in 2005 and total car production reaching 40 million units in 2008. Looking to the future, Suzuki plans to concentrate strongly on lowering emissions even further and presented Stop/Start concepts as well as a new variable valve timing system at the Geneva Motor show. This technology will reduce emissions of Alto to 95g/km and Splash to 109g/km. In the longer term, further development includes the eventual introduction of Hydrogen fuel cell technology for its medium size vehicles and Suzuki recently tested an SX4 Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) on public roads in Japan. Suzuki will mark 100 years of operation in October. Starting with a weaving loom, its first motorized product was the 1952 Power Free motorbike using a 36 cc two-stroke engine. the Suzulight, a compact car with a 360cc two-stroke engine. The Suzulight was one of the first cars to feature front-wheel drive, four-wheel inde- introducing the new 2010 THE CAR THAT STOPS ITSELF volvo XC60 T6 with city safety Also available XC60 3.2 FWD from $45,495 $549 bonus offer: $39,995* No-charge laminated panoramic roof at no extra cost with this introductory offer VOLVO OF OAKVILLE 770 Pacific Road, Oakville Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com *Limited time lease offer available on approved credit to qualified retail customers through Volvo Car Financial Services Canada. Lease offer example based on a 2010 XC60 T6 AWD at 5.90% lease APR and $549/month for 48 months with $5,150 down and $650 security deposit and first month's payment due at lease inception. Taxes, up to $1,995 freight and PDI and up to $75 PPSA are due at lease inception. Total lease obligation $26,352. Taxes, license, insurance and retailer charges are extra. Lease has an 80,000 km allowance ($0.16 per km on excess). Payments and security deposits may vary by choice of extra equipment. Purchase at end of lease for $21,291 plus taxes. All 2010 XC60 vehicles purchased before the offer end date are eligible for a `No-charge' Laminated Panoramic Roof, while supplies last. The $1,800 value of the Laminated Panoramic Roof is applied to reduce the down payment of the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD from $6,950 to $5,150. Front bumper bar, side scuff plates and 19" Alloy wheels are not standard features on the 2010 XC60 T6 AWD, *FWD XC60 Base. Also available from $39,995. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Volvo of Oakville may lease for less. Some terms/conditions apply. Offer subject to availability. Offer ends July 31, 2009. See Volvo of Oakville for full details. City Safety does not work in all situations. Bad weather (i.e. rain, snow, fog, etc.) can cause City Safety to become unavailable. In most cases the driver will receive a message that City Safety is not active. For further details on City Safety visit volvoofoakville.com. 9.1L per 100 kms (HWY)/13.5L per 100 kms (city). Based on 2009 fuel Consumption Guide ratings published by Natural Resources Canada. Transport Canada test methods used. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. ©2009 Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. "Volvo. for life" is a registered trademark used under license by Volvo Cars of Canada Corp. Always remember to wear your seat belt. Visit volvoofoakville.com.