1988 - Suzuki Samurai on 2040-cars

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Volkswagen drops "GTi" lawsuit against Suzuki

Way back in 2004, Volkswagen took umbrage with Suzuki being granted permission to use the nameplate "SWIFT GTi" for a performance variant of its small-car offering (2012 equivalent seen here). Now, eight years and surely some very steep legal bills later, VW has finally dropped its claim against Suzuki.
The General Court of the European Union stated, back in March of this year, that Suzuki's GTi registration could not be confused with VW's "Golf GTI." Volkswagen had appealed that ruling, though has now reportedly called off the dogs. In fact, Germany's Die Welt reports that the appeal has been dead for several weeks now.
This news comes amongst continued arbitration acrimony between the two automakers, all revolving around VW's forced divestiture of nearly 20-percent stake it purchased in Suzuki some two years ago.

Suzuki Hayabusa's return is teased in video

Hang on to your kidneys, the planet's fastest production motorcycle is on its way back. Suzuki has released a teaser video for a new Hayabusa on its global and UK social media channels. Only a few glimpses of the superbike can be seen, but it's enough to get our adrenal glands pumping. Debuting in 1999 during Japan's motorcycle speed wars, the Suzuki Hayabusa immediately rocketed to the forefront, nabbing the world record for fastest street bike. Not only has it been clocked at speeds as high as 194 mph, it's held on to that title for for two decades. Notably, the Hayabusa, named after a peregrine falcon known for reaching 200 mph during its hunting dives, did not compromise everyday comfort and handling in pursuit of all-out speed. However, Suzuki had to dump the bike from its U.S. lineup in 2021, and in Europe it's been absent since 2018 due to emissions regulations. It appears, though, that sabbatical was only temporary. The teaser video gives us a couple of peeks at new hardware. Its iconic five-gauge instrument pod is still there, but updated with a TFT screen in center position. The readouts indicate a number of electronic technologies will return, including S-DMS engine power modes, traction control, lift (anti-wheelie) control, and a quickshifter. An inclinometer showing the angle of lean on either side sits in the middle. Flanking the TFT are a tach and speedometer in their traditional positions on the left and right, respectively, with the latter's needle pegged at 180 mph. Fuel levels and engine temperature sit on opposite ends. Accompanying the visuals are a finely tuned roar and plenty of wind noise as the 'Busa flies around a speedway-type banked circuit. The official reveal will take place on February 5 online at 7 a.m. U.K. time — that's 2 a.m. Eastern. You can watch the unveiling on a virtual forum called the Suzuki Motorcycle Global Salon., which requires registration. Unfortunately, there's not word on whether the Hayabusa will come to the U.S.

Recharge Wrap-up: NASA's EV plane, GM and Navy partner on fuel cell drone sub

NASA is building an all-electric test aircraft called the X-57. The lightweight plane's design balances speed with efficiency. The wings house two main propellers at their tips, with twelve smaller motors with retractable prop blades dotting the wing's lead edge. This helps it get the lift it needs to take off while reducing drag in the air, a delicate balance rooted in wing design. The X-57 is part of NASA's 10-year New Aviation Horizons program to make aircraft quieter, more efficient, and less polluting. Fans of The Right Stuff are sure to be pleased to see X-designated planes back in action. Read more at Wired. Suzuki has made its Baleno hatchback more efficient with a mild hybrid system. The European model has a lithium-ion battery pack under the front passenger seat that stores energy from a regenerative braking system to supplement power from the 1.2-liter engine during acceleration. Suzuki says the system improves the Baleno's fuel economy and reduces CO2 emissions by about five percent. Read more from Automotive News Europe. The Borgward BX7 plug-in hybrid SUV has won several Plus X Awards. The revived German automaker's PHEV received awards in the categories of Design, High Quality, Ergonomics, and Functionality. Any Plus X Award winner must display added value, which the panel of judges call the "Plus X Factor." The BX7 launched in China earlier this year, with plans to go on sale in India later this year and Europe soon after that. Read more at Green Car Congress. General Motors and the US Navy are teaming up to power underwater drones with hydrogen fuel cells. The Navy's goal is to provide its large displacement unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) with 60 days of operation between refueling. "Our in-water experiments with an integrated prototype show that fuel cells can be game changers for autonomous underwater systems," says Frank Herr, head of Ocean Battlespace Sensing at the Office of Naval Research. "Reliability, high energy, and cost effectiveness – all brought to us via GM's partnering – are particularly important as Navy looks to use UUVs as force multipliers." GM says that just as on-road experience gained through its Project Driveway fuel cell test fleet is valuable, automotive customers stand to benefit from lessons learned from this naval project. Read more in the press release below. GM AND U.S.