1994 Suzuki Cara on 2040-cars

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Suzuki teases iK-2 and iM-4 concepts set to debut at Geneva

While it may be true that Suzuki no longer sells its models in the US, the Japanese brand is still motoring along and quite popular in the rest of the world, including Europe. The Japanese company just teased two concepts to premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, but hasn't revealed much about them yet. First up is the iM-4 concept (pictured above), which Suzuki describes as an "iconic mini 4x4." Given that the next-gen Jimny (better known in the US as the Samurai) is supposed to go on sale in 2017, this vehicle might be the first future glimpse of the little offroader. The company reportedly wants to keep the new model close in spirit to the current one, while updating its aging design. The iK-2 concept (right inset) is a bit more mysterious. Suzuki calls it "an ideal compact sized car." Based on the brand's European range, it could preview a look for a future version of the Swift. We should know much more about both of them when the Geneva show begins in March. SUZUKI UNVEILS iK-2 AND iM-4 CONCEPT MODELS AT THE 85TH GENEVA MOTOR SHOW 06/02/15 Suzuki Motor Corporation will display two world-premiere concept models at the 85th Geneva Motor Show next month. iK-2 The iK-2 is an ideal compact sized car, developed with an innovative theme of "Harmonised Force". By combining all of the key elements expected in a car of this size the new model raises compact car values to the limit. iM-4 The iM-4 is an iconic mini 4x4 developed with a concept theme of "Shape the Inspiration". It is an all-new proposal from Suzuki, packed with its compact 4x4 DNA and new technologies as well as distinctive styling that will give real inspiration to drivers. Detailed information will be disclosed at the Suzuki press conference, scheduled on Tuesday, 3rd March 2015 at 11:15 am , On stand 4251, in hall 4 A special website is available on http://www.globalsuzuki.com/geneva2015/

Kei van campers are miracles of space utilization

In the tight streets of Japan, tiny cars make a lot of sense, particularly the government-restricted kei class of cars. They're especially small with similarly small engines, and besides being easier to maneuver and park, they're also cheaper to own and run. But surely camping in one would be a somewhat cramped, unpleasant experience, right? Think again. YouTuber Tokyo Lens, someone who creates a variety of interesting videos about places, people and things in Japan, went on a camping trip with what seems to be a pop-top Suzuki Every kei van. He details his experience and highlights all the neat features crammed into the little space. It really is remarkable how much there is. We were particularly taken by the nice looking cabinetry, the fact that a person can pretty much fully stretch out in the pop top and that there's actually a microwave and a tiny sink with a water-tank-supplied faucet. Check out the whole video for a look at how much you can do with a small space, as well as some nice shots of the Japanese countryside. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: YouTube / Tokyo Lens Suzuki Minivan/Van

Junkyard Gem: 1996 Suzuki Swift SLOKYO DRIFT Edition

General Motors sold plenty of rebadged Suzukis over the decades in the United States, starting with the Chevy Sprint in 1985 and continuing with various Geo- and Chevrolet-badged machines into our current century. The one we remember best remains the fuel-sipping Metro, successor to the Sprint and available here through the 2001 model year. The Sprint and Metro were based on the Japanese-market Cultus, and Suzuki put its own badges on this car in the United States for the 1989 through 2001 model years. That was the Suzuki Swift, a car we know best today for its factory-hot-rod version, the Swift GT. Normally, I wouldn't bother to document an ordinary Canadian-built Swift found in a boneyard, but today's Colorado-found Junkyard Gem boasts some interesting custom touches that make it worth our attention. Get ready for… SLOKYO DRIFT! While countless American owners of Integras and Lancers and 240SXs went nuts with JDM-influenced car decor following the release of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006, drivers of the tiny and miserably underpowered Metro/Swift econo-commuters felt left out of the party. The owner of this car knew what to do, though: buy some stick-on mailbox letters and slap them on this Swift's hatch. Junkyard-acquired badges adorn every surface of the SLOKYO DRIFT Swift, because why not? It turns out that many Reddit regulars in Colorado spied this car on the street, and so you'll find many references to it on that site. Since any 24-year-old econobox with a manual transmission and a salvage title will be nearly impossible to sell, we can assume this car spent its last few years just one broken part away from The Crusher. Once it needed an expensive repair, it wasn't worth fixing. The original owner's manual and documentation remained in this Swift until the end. It appears that Colorado TV-advertising legend Dealin' Doug moved this iron off his Cherry Creek Dodge lot when it had a mere 5,920 miles on the clock, based on this "Phoney Monroney" I found in the glovebox. 168,925 hard miles later, here it is. At some point, it got totaled, put back together, and stamped with this REBUILT FROM SALVAGE lettering on the door jamb. We think of the Metro/Swift as a three-cylinder car, but many of the later versions got this 1.3-liter "big-block" four-banger under the hood. That's 70 raging horsepower right here. The 5-speed made it more efficient and fun to drive, but killed whatever resale value it may have had.