Suzuki Shuns The Alternator, Ignores Stevenson

Mark Stevenson steadfastly remains on his Suzuki Death Watch. "Pfft," says the company run by the world's youngest octogenarian Osamu Suzuki, and brings out yet another car Americans can't have. . Suzuki will bring out a new version of its best selling kei car, the Wagon R. According to The Nikkei [sub], Suzuki's new midgetmobile will upset the other midgetmobiles with a "best-in-class 28.8km per liter, up around 22% from the current version of the wagon-type minivehicle." In a straight line km/liter to mpg conversion (courtesy of Google,) this would translate into 70.3 mpg. Of course, the EPA number would be totally different, but also of course, we'll never know because the Wagon R kei will never make it to these shores. The new Wagon R improves on its current 23.6km per liter with a better engine, a lighter body and a regenerative braking system. "Ah, a hybrid kei," you will say. Nope. The regenerative braking system will send the regenerated electricity into a lithium ion battery. That juice is then used to power the vehicle's electrical components, no power-robbing alternator needed, domo arigato gozaimasu. They call that system ENE-CHARGE. The accompanying air conditioner is called "ECO-COOL" In July, Suzuki's Wagon R was in place 6 of Japan's best seller list. The tricked-out successor will be at dealer showrooms in Japan starting next month. Just be careful and don't trip over them. In the meantime, an informant overheard in a Hamamatsu Izakaya: "Let's deal with the Indians first. We'll get to that Stevenson guy in due time." from The Truth About Cars http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com

Put the internet to work for you. via Personal Recipe 680102