Autoblog

click above to view high-res gallery of the Suzuki Equator

Suzuki's Gene Brown showed the automaker's rebadged Nissan Frontier named the Equator today at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show. The Suzuki Equator is set to go into production by the end of this year and should deliver a decent truck experience, seeing as how it is based on the already proven Frontier and will be built alongside it in Smyrna, Tennessee. Acknowledging that many people will probably be asking themselves, "Why a truck and why now?" Brown shared that trucks are not dead, despite rumors to the contrary. He also explained that most Americans think of motorcycles when they think of Suzuki. And with more than a million bikes sold over the past five years, that makes a pretty sizable market for customers who might like a truck with a matching badge. But thinking a little beyond just motorcycle owners, Suzuki developed three different concepts that represent a truck that matches the capability of an RMZ-4 sport bike, another that captures the backwoods spirit of a Quad, and a third that would make a great boat towing vehicle down at the Quay. And so it was also fitting that the three concepts were called the RMZ-4, Quad and Quay.

The truck actually looked fairly handsome in all three forms, but the black Quay (shown) really looked rather classy. While the RMZ-4 and Quad featured some concept-like styling add-ons, the Quay looked completely ready for prime time. The Equator will come with a choice of a 152-hp inline-four or an optional 4.0L DOHC V6 delivering 261 hp and 281 lb.-ft. of torque. Those will be matched to the buyer's choice of a five-speed automatic, a five-speed stick for the I4 or six-speed manual with the V6. You can read the rest of the details after the jump.

click above image to enlarge

After this rendering of the Suzuki Equator pickup was published a bit early in the March/April issue of Truck Trend magazine and then scanned and published all over the internet, Suzuki decided it might as well let the public have a good luck at the truck instead of staring at a crappy scan. Thus, it has released the official rendering of the Equator we showed you yesterday. Based on the Frontier and to be built at the same factor, the Equator will likely cost a little less that its sibling from Nissan when it goes on sale in the U.S. We'll have to wait until next week when we're reporting from the 2008 Chicago Auto Show to bring you more details. But for now, click the pic above to enlarge.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Truck Trend is quickly becoming a thorn in the side of a couple automakers, first by spilling the beans about the 2009 HUMMER H3T in its March/April issue, and now by revealing details about the new Suzuki Equator in the same issue. The rebadged Nissan Frontier is set to make its official debut next week at the Chicago Auto Show, and the illustration provided by Truck Trend is apparently a dead-ringer for the production model. We'll have to wait until next week for all the details, but Jalopnik was kind enough to post a scan of the yet-to-be-released pickup. You're looking at it.

[Source: Truck Trends via Jalopnik]

The Chicago Auto Show -- assumed by at least one journalist to be Detroit's greatest threat -- is a scant two-and-a-half weeks away. That means it's time for the first bits of info on the vehicles that will be showcased in the million-plus square feet of McCormick Hall.

The not-so-sexy debuts will include the Chevrolet Traverse (or whatever it ends up being called) doing its CUV thing on GM's Lambda platform. Also on deck for its first at-bat will be Suzuki's nipped and tucked version of the Nissan Frontier, possibly called the Suzuki Equator. The party at VW will be all about its new US-market minivan, the Routan -- which we know is a made-up word, but sounds to us like some sort of primate, or maybe an equatorial vegetable.

So far, the top spot for debut hotness is held by the Dodge Challenger, which has lately been photographed running around naked just about everywhere. There's a rumor -- or a guess, whichever you prefer -- that the also recently-naked Camaro could make an appearance in an attempt to put a beatdown on the Challenger. Other rumors have the debut of the production Camaro still a year away. Either way, Autoblog will be there to give you the steady feed. Stay tuned.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Nissan is all about collaboration with its competitors, as evident by the rumor today that it could enter into an agreement with Chrysler to co-develop cars, trucks and engines. Japan's third largest automaker partnered up with Suzuki in 2006, and as Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com figured out, one big collaboration that has resulted is a new mid-size Suzuki pickup that will be based off of Nissan's Frontier platform and be built by Nissan at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant. Both automakers have now officially confirmed that they're working on the truck together, and the only thing left to wonder is when it will debut and what it will be called. Mike Levine again provided us with an educated guess that the truck will show up at the Chicago Auto Show, and based on recent trademark filings by Suzuki, will be called the Equator. We feel compelled to reiterate our initial concern that entering the mid-size truck market is not the best way for Suzuki to continue increasing its sales in North America, as the segment is shrinking at fast pace. Isn't there a small three-door hatch you'd rather sell in the U.S., Suzuki?

[Source: Suzuki, Nissan]

Suzuki Grand Vitara Pickup Concept from 2000 Tokyo Motor Show

Suzuki is the little automaker with pluck, having galantly reached its ambitious goal of selling 100,000 vehicles in the U.S. last year. Soon another model with join Suzuki's lineup, and it's probably not what you think. Pickuptruck.com is reporting that the Japanese automaker will likely debut a new mid-size truck called the Equator at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show in February. The Equator name, while not confirmed or denied by Suzuki, has been registered as a trademark by the company. Suzuki will be getting help from Nissan to build its pickup, as the Equator will be produced on the same platform as the Frontier pickup and share that truck's assembly line in Smyrna, Tennessee. Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com points out that Suzuki has definitely expressed interest in pickups before, having debuted the Grand Vitara Pickup Concept (shown above) at the 2000 Tokyo Motor Show. Let's not forget the excellent X-Head Concept that debuted at this year's show in Tokyo. Still, the mid-size pickup market in the U.S. is in even worse shape than the full-size pickup market, and is hardly stable enough to provide Suzuki with very many sales. If done well, however, the Equator could be the exception and give folks who own all manner of Suzuki hardware like bikes and ATVs a truck with which to tow their toys.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]