Autoblog

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]