on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Car-crazy 5-year-old boy writes automakers for treasures, gets big response

Part of the beauty of children is that they can find worth in something adults might deem unworthy or overlook entirely. Five-year-old Patch Hurty didn't see garbage or a broken piece of a car when he spotted a Ford badge lying on the side of a road. He saw an artifact, a souvenir, a start to a collection he could only dream of. Ezra Dyer of Popular Mechanics tells the story of Patch and his quest to turn that one lost badge into a museum of manufacturer logos. According to the article, Hurty is a car fanatic through and through, even using car names as a way of learning to read. After finding the Ford badge near his Connecticut home, he and his mom put together a plan to reach out to dozens of automakers, confessing his love of things on four wheels. In each letter, Patch assembled a picture of himself standing next to one of the cars, and a penny to pay for whatever he hoped was sent his way. The response was unexpectedly and overwhelmingly positive. Of the more than 50 letters he sent out, including to obscure or defunct companies such as Bugatti, Suzuki, and Saturn, a majority responded with warm notes and some type of souvenir. Two of the coolest responses came from Lincoln and Bentley. Lincoln sent a sketch of a Continental (all car lovers enjoy drawing cars, right?), and Bentley sent a wheel center cap. How awesome is that? The story reminds us of something that can easily be lost in all of the negativity involved with the auto industry: Everybody is in this because of a common infatuation with automobiles. For more details on the souvenirs Patch received and accompanying photos, read the rest of the story. Related Video: News Source: Popular Mechanics Read This Bentley Bugatti Ford Lincoln Saturn Suzuki

Next Suzuki SX4 spotted again

Thanks to a sketch of the Suzuki S-Cross concept, we can already see the styling direction that the next-generation SX4 will take, and Suzuki is still hard at work on the production version of the car as evidenced by this latest batch of spy shots. These photos look almost identical to those captured back in July, but we see a little more detail at the rear of the car and get a better idea of the next SX4's proportions.
With the baggy camouflage lifted up at the rear of this prototype, we can see that the SX4 replacement has a very Mazda-chic look to it with downward-angled taillights that stretch into the liftgate. Aside from this, the big news is that we're finally getting a sense of the new SX4's size. Suzuki's press release attached to the Paris-bound S-Cross sketch said that the SX4 replacement would be growing to the compact segment rather than being a subcompact like the current car. Recent reports indicate that the next version of this car will be sized closer to the Grand Vitara, and in these pictures, you can definitely see how much the car has grown.
Still unknown is when we can expect to see the production version of the new SX4, or what will be inside it (available turbo power?), but hopefully Suzuki will not delay things like it did with the Kizashi and its numerous concepts.

Suzuki brings basket of forbidden cute to Tokyo

Suzuki looks to be celebrating its newly independent status from Volkswagen with quite a slate of debuts at this year's Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October. While it's often a putdown to call a car cute, the company has some models going on display that are totally adorable. Unless you wait around a couple decades to import one, they're also never going to see the roads here. With its big eyes and compact, chunky looks, the Ignis might be the new definition of cute 'ute. Clearly based on the iK-2 concept from this year's Geneva Motor Show, the latest interpretation softens the angular lines a little bit. The Ignis Trail Concept tries to make the standard version look a little more off-road ready with black fender flares and larger wheels. Meanwhile, the Mighty Deck concept looks like a toy car with its black roof, yellow body, and dark blue bumper. The model offers some interesting functionality with a small cargo bed in the back, complete with a tiny tailgate. The opening canvas top could make for a fun drive, too. Suzuki is also giving the incredibly cool Air Triser concept a world premiere in Tokyo. The compact, three-row minivan sports a retro-futuristic design. On the outside, glass wraps around nearly the whole thing, except for a thick pillar where the sliding doors come together. However, the interior has a wood floor, and the seats can be reconfigured to form a couch. There's even a screen in the B-pillar for everyone to watch together. We look forward to seeing if these models are as quirky in real life in just a few weeks. SUZUKI EXHIBITS AT THE 44TH TOKYO MOTOR SHOW Suzuki Motor Corporation has announced its exhibits for the 44th Tokyo Motor Show 2015 (organised by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association), which will open to the public on 30 October until 8 November. The theme for Suzuki's booth is "SUZUKI NEXT 100". Suzuki will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, so the exhibits represent proposals for products and technologies that give a sense of the company's preparations for ongoing success in the next 100 years. A range of concept models will show how Suzuki can deliver wonder and enjoyment to drivers and riders. The concept cars will include the IGNIS, which gives shape to Suzuki's foray into the new compact crossover genre; and the MIGHTY DECK, which offers new kinds of fun in the minicar segment.