2013 Suzuki iV-4 Concept

'iV-4' – Suzuki's New Compact SUV Concept Model

- Suzuki reveals the 'iV-4'
- Central development theme, 'Grab your field'
- A new proposal from the compact SÚV pioneer
Suzuki is pleased to announce that the world premiere of its new compact SÚV concept model, the iV-4, will take place at the 65th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2013.




Development concept
Únder the 'Grab your field' concept, iV-4 is heir to Suzuki's DNA in sports utility vehicles (SÚV). It's set apart by its powerful exterior design, which taps into the tradition of Suzuki's compact SÚVs. And it's every bit as tough and rugged as an SÚV should be, truly empowering its user to 'Grab your field'. This concept model is designed to be personalised, so that customers can turn it into a car which is just right for them and their lifestyle. 'i' stands for 'individuality', 'V' for 'vehicle', and '4' for '4 wheel-drive'.

Design features
• Faithful to Suzuki's traditional SÚV design – straight, sleek lines, clamshell hood, five-slotted front grille – yet with a futuristic feel imparted by touches such as the distinctive kicked-up character lines on the sides, the fog light with built-in laser sensor on the roof, and the illuminated grille.
• Large-diameter tyres and wheel design give a foretaste of the powerful road performance of an SÚV.
• Can be personalised through customers' individual choice of exterior parts, colour, texture, etc.
• The specially created exterior colour is Brilliant Turquoise Metallic, evocative of the sky reflected in a skyscraper. It makes a striking impression with its intense gleam and brightness.



Plans for production model
The production model based on the iV-4 aims to be an SÚV for the present day: light in weight and boasting among the lowest CO2 emissions in its class. And besides being eco-friendly, the four-wheel drive model will come equipped with ALLGRIP, the next generation of 4WD technology, in order to deliver the powerful drive the user expect of an SÚV. It will thus offer a combination of design and off-road performance that goes beyond a typical city SÚV.

Suzuki will start launching the production model, based on this iV-4 concept model, at Magyar Suzuki in 2015 and will be releasing it in Europe.

Suzuki history on the SÚV market
Suzuki is the pioneer of the compact SÚV. Since launching the LJ in 1970 and the SJ series in the 1980s, the company has put a great deal of effort into developing off-road models such as the Vitara, the Jimny and the Grand Vitara.

Back in 1970, the off-road market was dominated by vehicles with huge engines, but Suzuki challenged them with a mini car that delivered the ultimate in off-road performance by combining a high reduction ratio with a lightweight body. Weighing in at just 600 kilograms, it achieved a gradeability of 27.5 degrees – and then evolved steadily. Tolerance during continuous high-load off-road driving was boosted by replacing the air-cooled engine with a water-cooled engine for enhanced cooling performance. Engine displacement was increased. The treads were broadened.
With the launch of the SJ series, which with its elegant straight lines heralded the arrival of the stylish-looking four-wheel drive model, Suzuki also succeeded in winning over female drivers.

In 1988 the Vitara came out, combining a sturdy ladder frame with a classy-looking European-style body characterised by straight lines. It manoeuvred beautifully thanks to its elegantly simple suspension with struts at the front and a centre wishbone at the back.

Then, in 1998, a complete overhaul was made of the LJ and SJ series to create a more modern look – and the Jimny was born. It was a truly revolutionary model, featuring a longer wheelbase and a redesigned ladder frame, and incorporating an air locking hub for the first time.

The Jimny continues to sell well even today, years later, thanks to its many devoted fans ranging from female city dwellers to hunting aficionados.
The Vitara, for its part, was reincarnated as the Grand Vitara, the harbinger of the coming crossover era, which offered great on-road performance without sacrificing off-road capability.

In 2005 the Grand Vitara underwent a full model change. The performance of the suspension was maximised by using a built-in ladder frame, and both on- and off-road capabilities were boosted. In addition, a four-wheel drive system with four modes was adopted from this model.

Suzuki's SÚV expertise, developed through long years of tradition in the field, has been harnessed in our crossover models as well. It has ensured the success of the SX4 and is evident everywhere in the new SX4 S-CROSS, which is about to go on sale.

And when the production model based on the iV-4 comes out in the near future, Suzuki will be introducing completely new possibilities into the SÚV segment.

Source - Suzuki