1986 Suzuki Samurai Jx Sport Utility 2-door 1.6l Conversion on 2040-cars

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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.

Toyota, Suzuki partner on hybrids, EVs, building cars for each other

NAGOYA, Japan — Toyota and Suzuki on Wednesday said they planned to produce electric vehicles and compact cars for each other to better compete with fast-changing technologies in the global auto industry. The agreement follows an initial R&D tie-up announced by Japan's No. 1 and No. 4 automakers in 2017, and will see more vehicles produced by Suzuki for Toyota, one of the world's biggest carmakers. Although Suzuki is far smaller, it is a dominant force in the fast-growing Indian market. The two automakers have been pooling their strengths. Toyota is a leader in hybrid technology and is investing heavily in automated driving, while Suzuki specializes in affordable compact cars — as many automakers struggle to keep pace with ballooning investment in EVs and self-driving cars. Under the latest agreement, Suzuki will source gasoline hybrid systems for cars it sells worldwide from Toyota, which pioneered hybrid vehicles with the Prius more than 20 years ago, the companies said in a joint statement. In return, Suzuki will produce two compact models for Toyota in India based on its Ciaz and Ertiga models. Further cooperation with Suzuki will help Toyota expand its presence in India, the world's fifth-largest passenger car market where it has struggled to grow sales due to lean demand for its lower-cost models. The deepening partnership between the two automakers will enable cost-conscious Suzuki to tap into Toyota's R&D firepower to develop lower-emission vehicles and self-driving cars — areas which Suzuki has admitted it is struggling to keep up. "We believe that the expansion of our business partnership with Suzuki ... will help give us the competitive edge we will need to survive this once-in-a-century period of profound transformation," Toyota President Akio Toyoda said in a statement. The two automakers will deepen their cooperation in India, where Suzuki's hybrid vehicles will be made using engines and batteries locally produced by Toyota. They will also join forces in Europe, where Toyota will produce electric vehicles based on its RAV4 SUV crossover and Corolla wagon for Suzuki, while Suzuki will supply Toyota with gasoline engines for compact vehicle models sold in the region. Suzuki will also produce its Baleno, Vitara Brezza, Ciaz, and Ertiga models for Toyota which will be rebranded and renamed as Toyota models for the African market.

This is the facelifted Suzuki SX4 that we won't get

The car you see above is, according to China Car Times, the facelifted Suzuki SX4 crossover. We've always had a soft spot for the SX4, so the fact that it's finally getting a significant update makes us a wee bit sad - after all, Suzuki just announced late last year that it's leaving the US market, so we'll never get this upgraded little 'ute on our shores.
Changes we can see include aggressively resculpted lighting units, interesting mold lines on the front bumper cap, redesigned air intakes and unique trim fillets on the doors.
At least we can take solace in the fact that there apparently aren't any significant alterations under the new bodywork, so our crop of used SX4s should be just as capable out on the road. In China, Suzuki's 1.6- and 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines are expected to carry over to the new year, along with the current model's CVT and manual drivelines.