After all, it makes sense that the new concept would be sport-oriented. Suzuki has long supported motorsport, including pretty well every motorcycle racing series the world over to the 1600 Junior World Rally Championship, Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and other rally car events.
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| Concept S and Ignis Super 1600 rally car share the same engine. (Photo: Suzuki) |
The all-wheel drive super-tot sports a rally prepped 16-valve, DOHC, 1.6-L 4-cylinder, the same as found in the brand's Ignis Super 1600 rally car. Optimizing its power is a 6-speed sequential shifting gearbox, also rally derived. The combination would no doubt prove intimidating to the compact tuner crowd, that is unless behind the wheel.
This is a psychographic that Suzuki would be wise to attract. Never before has a generation of twenty-something adrenaline seekers spent more on cars and automotive peripherals than the current crop of import crazed youth.
Currently, in North America, the Japanese brand has nothing to entice them. The new Forenza and Verona, as nice as they are, won't even hit the radar screens of this buying group. No, Suzuki should well consider building a car along the lines of the Concept S, a halo car to create excitement around the brand.