1987 Suzuki Samurai Lifted 4x4 on 2040-cars

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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: 1993 Suzuki Swift GT

General Motors sold rebaged versions of the Suzuki Cultus in the United States, first as the 1984-1988 Chevrolet Sprint, then as the 1989-1997 Geo Metro, and finally as the 1998-2001 Chevrolet Metro. Meanwhile, Suzuki sold the Cultus on these shores as the Swift. Three-cylinder Metros were miserably slow and admirably fuel-efficient, but it was possible to buy the same car with a yowling 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine making 100 horsepower: the Swift GT. Here's a very rare example, found in a Colorado self-service wrecking yard. These cars weighed only about 1,800 pounds, so they were nearly as quick as the more powerful but heavier Honda Del Sol Si and Nissan Sentra SE-R ... and much cheaper. At $10,149 (about $17,400 in inflation-adjusted 2017 dollars), the Swift GT looked like a steal next to the $12,455 Sentra SE-R and the $16,070 Del Sol Si. However, the Hyundai Scoupe Turbo, priced at a mere $10,999, looked like the best deal of all in 1993. This one has lived a hard life, with body damage, faded interior, and rust in the usual spots. 175,303 miles, most of them probably spent above 5,000 rpm. Perhaps some Metro owner will grab the running gear and seats, in order to create a Geo sleeper... but we doubt it. Another piece of obscure automotive history, bound for the crusher. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Suzuki USA wasn't pushing Swift advertising very hard in 1993, so we'll go to the car's homeland for a TV ad for the regular Cultus hatchback. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. The earlier version of the Cultus GTi (factory-hot-rod counterpart to the U.S.-market Chevrolet Sprint) got some ads full of fire and Pet Shop Boys in its homeland.

Autoblog Minute: Highlights from the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show

The 44th Tokyo Motor Show is here with plenty of exciting new car reveals, like the stunning Mazda RX-Vision concept and the wild Nissan Concept 2020 Vision Gran Turismo. Autoblog's Chris McGraw reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute, with commentary from Autoblog's Managing editor, Steven Ewing. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] The 44th Tokyo Motor Show is here with plenty of exciting new car reveals and lots of tech-heavy concept vehicles. I'm Chris McGraw and this is your Autoblog Minute. The Tokyo Motor Show opens to the public but for those unable to make it to Japan Autoblog is on hand to report. For more we go on location to Tokyo and Autoblog's Managing editor, Steven Ewing. [00:00:30] - [00:01:00] [Steven Ewing Interview] And that's your recap of the 44th Tokyo Motor Show, for our detailed coverage of the event be sure to head to Autoblo.com/tokyo-motor-show. For Autoblog, I'm Chris McGraw. [00:01:30] [Outro] Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive. Each segment offers a quick and clear picture of what's happening in the automotive industry from the perspective of Autoblog's expert editorial staff, auto executives, and industry professionals. Green Tokyo Motor Show Mazda Subaru Suzuki Coupe Concept Cars Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video Tokyo 2015