Autoblog

Suzuki readying next-gen Jimny/Samurai?

Zach Bowman — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Budget, SUV, Japan, Suzuki, India

Suzuki has dropped a few teasers of a new concept vehicle headed to this year's Delhi Auto Expo, and the sneaky shots may hint at a successor to the well-worn Jimny/Samurai throne. Right now, the automaker doesn't have a known replacement lined up for the pint-sized SUV.

The Samurai may have exited North America long ago, but its direct descendant, the Jimny, is still very much alive elsewhere. In fact, it has cultivated a decades-old reputation for being a tough-as-nails bruiser that's as reliable as it is capable. We think Suzuki would do well to keep the model in its portfolio in the future, and now, new reports suggest the company could lift parts from the Swift drivetrain to build a low-cost Jimny successor.

Even so, assuming the teasers indicate a concept vehicle, it would likely be some time before we saw a production model frolicking about in the light of day. Early estimates would put a next-generation Samurai on stage at the Delhi Auto Expo in two years or so. Does that mean the U.S. will see the Samurai name return to its soil? With Suzuki's floundering presence here in the states, that seems unlikely, but we would welcome a capable, low-dollar off roader to our shores any day. Head over to the Maruti Suzuki page for a closer look.

Suzuki readying next-gen Jimny/Samurai? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki considering (another) small pickup for U.S.

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Truck, Suzuki

The compact pickup market in the U.S. has been languishing for more than a decade, but that doesn't mean that a fuel-efficient truck with a small footprint doesn't have a place in the States. Suzuki has been watching the market closely and thinks that it could make a case for bringing a pint-sized pickup to North America.

When asked what could be coming down the pipeline in the next few years, a senior exec at Suzuki told Autoblog that the automaker could import a compact truck to the U.S. based on the next generation Suzuki Jimny. The Jimny - also known as the Samurai in the States - has continued to chug along outside of North America, and with the next iteration due to arrive in three years' time, Suzuki could bring the body-on-frame SUV to the U.S. with a truck bed.

But the problem with compact pickups is cost. The Ford Ranger might make a compelling case for itself, but when it's only a few grand less than a larger, more practical full-sizer, buyers tend to go big and go home with an F-150.

So to bring a pickup to the States, Suzuki would have to not only have get the pricing right, but nail both fuel economy and equipment - all while turning a profit in the process. Let's hope that if they pull the trigger, they decide to have some fun with it and make it look like the X-Head concept shown above. After all, the Nissan Frontier-based Equator pickup has been on the market since 2009, and it hasn't exactly made a splash.

Suzuki considering (another) small pickup for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Burnt Chevrolet Volt mysteriously catches fire again

Zach Bowman — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Electric

Chevrolet Volt owners Storm and Dee Connors were reportedly woken up by the sound of fire alarms in their Barkhamsted, Connecticut home for the second time in a week. As you may recall, the Connors family escaped injury when a garage fire consumed both their new Volt and a home-converted electric Suzuki Samurai on April 14. Now, local news outlets are reporting that the remains of the Volt reignited while still in the charred remains of the garage. The vehicle was not plugged in at the time of the second burning.

Local authorities are currently investigating the source of the re-ignition, though some members of the media-at-large have been quick to single out the Volt as the cause of the first fire, even though fire investigators have yet to speak up with their findings.

General Motors, meanwhile, is sending its own experts to investigate both incidents. The automaker originally issued a statement urging the public to refrain from leaping to conclusions about the first fire, asking everyone to allow local authorities and the automaker's own engineers time to uncover the origin of the trouble. You can find the full statement here. Thanks for the tips, Kris and Phil!

[Sources: WTNH, WFSB]

Report: Burnt Chevrolet Volt mysteriously catches fire again originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV *UPDATE

Sebastian Blanco — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos, Chevrolet

Chevrolet Volt garage fire - Click above to watch video after the jump

No one was hurt - but two plug-in vehicles were destroyed - in a fire in a home in the Connecticut town of Barkhamsted last night. The cars were a brand-new 2011 Chevrolet Volt with just 2,000 miles on the odometer and a converted all-electric Suzuki Samurai that the homeowner, Storm Connors, converted himself years ago. At this early stage, it is impossible to tell if one or the other vehicles was the cause of the blaze - or if it was one of the charging systems or the garage's electrical system - but firemen who responded to the 911 call said that this is one angle that the investigators will look in to. Local news channel WTNH reports that Connors, "likes his cars too much to think having them charging in the garage started the fire." Another news channel, WFSB, says that, "fire officials suspect an electric hybrid car may have sparked" the blaze.

You can watch a video news report of the aftermath after the jump. Interestingly, Connors himself has commented on AutoblogGreen stories in the past, so our thoughts go out to a reader who is dealing with a terrible loss. Hat tip to Pete!

UPDATE: Official statement from GM's, Doug Parks, Global Electric Vehicle Executive, is available on ChevroletVoltage.com. Check it out here.

[Sources: WFSB, WTNH]

Continue reading Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV *UPDATE

Video: Garage fire claims Chevy Volt and homebuilt EV *UPDATE originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars

Chris Tutor — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety

What do the 1980 Chevy Monza and the 1973 VW Microbus have in common? They are among Car Talk hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi's Top 10 Scariest Cars list. Of the Monza they say, " Whenever one of these beauties reared its ugly grille in front of the garage, every mechanic with more than six weeks' experience would go running for the men's room and lock the door." Another car on the list, the 1987 Ford Festiva, gets this derision from the brothers: "We once got in trouble for saying this car came right from the factory with a funeral wreath on the grille."

If these cars aren't scary enough, submit your own nomination.

The whole list after the jump.

[Source: cartalk.com]

Continue reading Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars

Cartalk names Top 10 Scariest Cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jimny Cricket! Dutton's amphibious Commander S2

Chris Paukert — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, SUV, Etc., Suzuki

At some point during our formative years, we were afforded the chance to take a ride in a mid-1960's Amphicar, the German automotive equivalent of a platypus-- neither fish nor fowl. The little cruiser was in truth never made for a particularly good car or boat, but that didn't stop nearly 4,000 of the tailfinned buggers from finding homes... it certainly didn't keep owners from having a ball in theirs, if a little slowly.

More recently, the Miata-aping Gibbs Aquada has made waves as a better car/boat compromise, but at an absurdly high price. For those looking for something in an under triple-digit amphibious car, UK firm Dutton has quietly been making examples for more than a decade, most of them based on the ancient Suzuki Samurai.

But now Dutton has gone and upgraded, creating their new Commander S2 out of Jimny bits, including its 1.3-liter four-cylinder, a modified transfer case, and dashboard, among other things. Of course, all of the little offroader's parts have been lashed to GRP hull in order to facilitate water landings. Interestingly, the firm maintains that none of the 'Zuki's off-road prowess has been sacrificed (and those buggers have always been able to climb deceptively well). Given its exceedingly modest top nautical clip of 6 mph, it could easily be argued that Dutton's latest remains more accomplished on land than on water.

Still, it's hard not to be fascinated or amused by these types of propositions, even when they aren't terribly well resolved or are prohibitively expensive. About that: the Commander S2 starts at just under £30k (roughly $56,000 USD), and for that, owners get a basic model without any protection from the elements. Fortunately, an excellent SMG rating (smiles-per-gallon) come standard.

Click on the link for official company website.

[Sources: Dutton; AutoExpress]

Jimny Cricket! Dutton's amphibious Commander S2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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