Suzuki Needs a Miata Fighter to Draw Attention to the Brand
Of the Japanese manufacturers, Suzuki has developed the fewest mass produced sports cars aside from Isuzu, which is now a light duty sport utility manufacturer. Sure there have been a small number of prototype racers such as the C2 that debuted in 1997 and the GSX-R/4 Concept that showed up in 2001, but actual production sports cars have been scarce.
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| Suzuki first enjoyed sports car success with its popular early '90s Cappuccino 2-door sports convertible. (Photo: Suzuki Canada) |
In the early '90s when the Kei laws were first put in place, Suzuki entered the market with its Cappuccino 2-door sports convertible. It was tiny, it wasn't very powerful, but its low ride, tidy handling and cute appearance made it an immediate success; a car that is still sought after in Japan's used car market. Discounting the Ignis Sport, a Junior World Rally Championship special model, that's been about it with regards to sports models.
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| Suzuki has announced that its next production sports car would be based off of the Concept S. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
But that may be changing. Recently the Japanese manufacturer announced that it would put a small sports car into production. Just what is Suzuki talking about? It may surprise you that the S2 concept car, first shown at the IAA in Frankfurt, Germany, is the car it has chosen.
Looking much like a convertible version of Concept S, a sporty little hatch that Suzuki brought to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last year, the S2 fits its target market to a T. While full details of the production model are not yet available, the proportions and the general styling should remain about the same once available.
As for other details, such as whether or not a soft top or retractable hardtop will be part of the package, whether it will have four seats or just two, exactly what its drivetrain and layout will be like and what it will be powered by are unknown. It also appears that Suzuki had the intention of putting this car into production from day one, as it is nearly set for a world debut at the Paris Auto Salon this September. More information will follow, as will the news of possible North American availability.