Suzuki previews Crosshiker, X-Lander, Hustler ahead of Tokyo

Tue, 29 Oct 2013

With the Tokyo Motor Show looming on the horizon, Suzuki has revealed a trio of concept cars it will present at the expo.

First up is the Crosshiker concept, a compact crossover that looks good enough in metallic red, but in its essence reminds us of the oft-maligned X-90 convertible crossover coupe. Based on the G70/Regina concept, the Crosshiker packs a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine into a compact form that weighs just 1,785 pounds.

Next comes the X-Lander, which strikes us as a smaller take on the formula espoused by the Isuzu VX-02 or Land Rover DC100 Sport concepts. Unfortunately based on the Jimny, the white X-Lander incorporates a 1.3-liter engine with a robotized manual and four-wheel drive into a high-riding, chopped-windshield convertible sport-ute form.

Finally we have the unfortunately named Hustler concept, which, despite its handle, more closely follows the form of the Honda Element or N-One than Larry Flynt's wheelchair. Designed as a "new-genre minicar that suits the active lifestyle of people who love the nature, love the outdoors, and love sports", the Hustler will be presented as a boxy hatchback with a sloping Evoque-style roofline and the words "Green Feel" inexplicably plastered down the flank like a Tonka logo.

The concepts will be showcased alongside an array of Suzuki production vehicles, motorcycles and mobility devices, more of which you can read about in the press release below.

29 Oct 2013
Suzuki Announces Exhibits for the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013

Suzuki Motor Corporation will display the following exhibits at the 43rd Tokyo Motor Show 2013 (organizer: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association), which will be open to the public at the Tokyo Big Sight from November 23 to December 1, 2013.

The Suzuki booth's theme of the Tokyo Motor Show exhibits is: "Let's Create a Brand New Story". Suzuki recognizes that the daily life of each and every customer is a story, and by adding something to each of those stories, our desire to create different, brand new stories together with our customers, is put into the theme.

Based on the Suzuki slogan of "Small Cars for a Big Future," the concept cars to be exhibited at the show offer cars that are currently in demand, cars that should be available in the near future, and cars for the more distant future. In order to build a Brand New Story that will add excitement and passion to the daily lives of customers around the world, the cars are packed with Suzuki's attractive products and unique leading-edge technology.

In addition, the design of the Suzuki booth features an S-shaped border that depicts lightness and softness to an open construction that expresses a bright future. An ultrawide panoramic screen measuring 3.6m x 40m is set at the back of the stage. Introduction videos of the concept cars will be streamed across the main stage to show the Brand New Story of Suzuki and its customers in a beautiful image, which were produced by movie director Shunji Iwai.

MAIN EXHIBITS:

AUTOMOBILES

Crosshiker: a compact crossover that fuses fresh new styling with a dynamic weight reduction and highly-efficient power train.

By Noah Joseph