A petrol/electric hybrid concept version of New Zealand’s best selling small car is going on display in Japan.
Hinting at a possible production version within two years, the five-door Suzuki Swift EV Hybrid is featured at the 42nd Tokyo International Motor Show in early December.
Many Japanese motorists typically drive between 20 and 30 kilometers each day, so the Swift EV has been designed to cover such distances on battery power alone.
If this distance is exceeded and the battery runs low, a petrol engine kicks in, driving a generator. However, during most commuting the Suzuki will operate entirely on electric power.
Compared with a conventional electric vehicle that depends entirely on battery power, the Swift EV Hybrid has a smaller battery that is quicker to charge, weighs less, uses fewer resources and costs less.
This latest hybrid looks essentially the same as the current production petrol-engined Swift, but has an enclosed front grille, LED lighting, covered wheels and bespoke headlights and tail lamps. A unique instrument cluster is also fitted to the car.
To achieve good weight distribution, the battery is located in the cargo or load area behind the seating.
Development of the hybrid Swift is in line with Suzuki’s reputation for having one of the cleanest, most fuel-efficient vehicle fleets in the world.
Two years ago Suzuki unveiled a Swift “plug-in” concept that featured a 658 cc, 40 kW engine working in tandem with a 55 kW electric motor, powered by lithium-ion batteries.
A fuel-cell Suzuki SX4 hatchback was one of the first cars in the world to achieve zero emissions. Suzuki was the first manufacturer in Japan to produce vehicles with 70MPa hydrogen tanks.
At the Tokyo show, Suzuki is highlighting the fact that with their excellent fuel economy, user-friendliness and brisk performance, small cars have a big future.
In addition the Japanese company believes small cars can be innovative, offer exciting styling, and that upcoming designs will realise huge possibilities.
Suzuki is providing a glimpse of the next generation of global compact cars with the Regina concept car on display in Tokyo. Weighing just 730 kg, it is as light as micro cars and with its streamlined shape has a drag coefficient at least 10 per cent lower than current production cars.
The petrol-engined Regina consumes 3.2 litres/100 km (88 miles per gallon) and emissions as low as 70g/km (measured in the new European driving cycle).
Regina boasts partially covered rear wheels, flat-sided aerodynamic alloy wheels and integrated front and rear bumpers.
Also on display at the Tokyo show is the Suzuki Q-concept, a two-seater electrically powered micro mobility vehicle that is a cross between a motorcycle and a car.
The 2.5-metre long vehicle has two seats in tandem, doubling as a delivery vehicle with a single seat at the front and rear load area or a vehicle with single adult seat up front and a two-person child rear seat at the rear.
