Autoblog

Suzuki has brought a new kei car to the Japanese domestic market. Dubbed the Cervo, the little five-door gets a bold front end treatment dominated by oversized, teardrop-shaped headlamps that flank a chrome-trimmed trapezoidal grille. The lower fascia's grille opening extends to the corner foglight mounts, giving Cervo a smiling visage. The car's slab-sided profile is nicely interrupted by an upward-angled accent line. Drivers who select the sportier TX trim (above) see the car dressed up with alloys, additional skirting, and a rear decklid spoiler that caps a tidy rear end. The car's styling is such that if you covered the "S" logo and replaced it with, say, a Peugeot badge, you wouldn't bat an eyelash. This is a nice-looking kei.

In total, three trim levels -- G, T, and TX -- will be offered. G and T sport less aggressive bodywork (seen at right) than the TX. G models receive the normally aspirated 54-horse 660cc engine, while T and TX get the more powerful 60HP turbocharged variant. All cars receive a 4-speed automatic, and a choce of 2WD or 4WD is available for all trim levels. As for the interior, the two-tone buckets in front (on the TX at least) are joined by a split rear bench that flips down for extra cargo storage. Bluetooth, keyless entry/start, and iPod integration are all optional. Full pricing info for all grades is in the linked press release.

As an added bonus, the G model meets Japan's 4-star emissions standard and exceeds the 2010 fuel economy standards by an additional 10-percent. Economical, quirky, and practical -- the Cervo looks like another hit for Suzuki in Japan, where the consumer appetite for new kei cars is nothing short of voracious. We wouldn't be the least bit surprised to learn that initial orders smash the first month's sales projections to bits. Such has been the case with many new kei launches this year so far. Why should this one be any different?

(Additional photos after the jump)

[Source: Suzuki]

SUZUKI CERVO: