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The Suzuki Alto is a very small car (kei car) designed by Suzuki. Its selling points include low price and good fuel economy. The model was introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide.
The first Alto (SS40) was a 3-door version of the 4-door Fronte. The Alto used a 543-cc 3-cylinder engine producing 28 hp (21 kW). In addition to the Alto and Fronte, a 3-door coupe (Cervo) and a 2-door pick-up (MightyBoy) were also available.
The 2nd-generation Alto (CA71/72) (see 1st photograph in this page) was introduced in 1984. It continued with the SS40’s engine, but was also available with turbocharged and multi-valve engines. A 5-door body (identical to the Fronte’s) became avaiable in 1985. A Cervo on the SS71 base was introduced in 1988, with a new 547-cc engine.
The 3rd-generation Alto (CL11/21/22) replaced the CA71 in 1988. It had strikingly angular styling, with an unusual glazed C-pillar on the 5-door. Initially it used the SS71 Cervo’s engine, but when the kei-car standards were changed in 1990 the capacity was increased to 657 cc. This was the last generation of Alto to have an associated Fronte model. An unusual feature of this generation was the availability of a version with sliding doors, the Slide Slim, intended to make it easier to enter and exit in tight spaces. Suzuki also produced a version (the Hustle) with a high roof behind the front seats, which was unusual in that it used a modification of the Alto’s body rather than a completely new body; this made it possible to link the Hustle with the Alto, but made the styling rather unharmonious.
The 4th-generation Alto (HA11) appeared in 1994. The 657-cc engines were joined by a new high-performance 658-cc. The styling displays an interesting blend of features: the tailgate and rear doors are still fairly angular, but the front is beginning to be more rounded - a trend which would be continued in later years.
The 5th-generation Alto (HA12/22) was introduced in 1998. The styling was generally more rounded, the shape of the cabin showing the Alto’s relationship with the new Kei. The 658-cc engine was produced in a version without a turbocharger, joining the turbocharged version and the 657-cc engines. Several derivatives were produced from this generation. Suzuki produced two “classic-style” versions: the Alto C with a deep chrome grille and a curious headlamp arrangement by which circular main lamps were joined with ovoid sidelights and indicators, which was shared with the Alto Works; and the Alto C2 which had separate headlamps and sidelights and a wider grille. Mazda also sold the standard Alto as the Carol, and Mitsuoka used the Carol as a basis for their Ray.
The 6th generation was introduced in 2005. The bonnet and headlamps curved down at the front, giving a similar effect to the Toyota WiLL Vi or the Citroen C2. The Alto was re-aligned within the range to accommodate new models such as the Cervo and Alto Lapin.
Performance versions of the Alto started to appear in 1985 when a turbocharged engine was made available. The CA71 gradually acquired more performance-related modifications until the Works version was introduced in 1987. The Alto Works was the first kei-car to reach the legal limit of 64 hp (48 kW). It acquired considerable popularity, and models of it are still made by Fujimi.
The performance models continued in the Alto’s later versions; as technology and the kei car regulations changed more performance became available. By 1999 the top engine was a light-alloy 658-cc with turbocharger, DOHC and 4 valves per cylinder, which produced 64 hp (48 kW) and 80 ft·lbf (110 N·m).
As Suzuki introduced new models into the kei car class, it began to spread the performance engines to other models and designate the Alto as a less costly model. The current Alto is only available with 54hp in Japan; the 64hp engine is now provided in models such as the Kei Works and the Alto Lapin SS.
Early Altos were exported with few changes apart from enlarged engines and bodywork and different nomenclature. So the SS40 became the SS80 with a 796-cc engine. (Some Fronte models were also called Alto in Europe.) However, as Suzuki made agreements with companies such as Maruti to build their models, it began to be possible to sell different models to different areas:
Thus the European Suzuki Altos are really:
The locally-made versions of the various Altos have had long production lives, and have sometimes won great popularity, as with the Maruti 800. In particular the CA71 generation has been produced in many countries, and can frequently be seen being offered as a cheap city car among several more newly-designed products.

The Suzuki Ignis is a mini crossover SUV manufactured by the Suzuki Motor Corporation. It was introduced in 2000 as progressive replacement for the aging Swift.
The Ignis was originally manufactured as a five-door hatchback, powered by a new generation of Suzuki straight-4 gasoline engines, the M family. This family featured DOHC, four valves per cylinder and variable valve timing. Displacement ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 L, and power going from 89 to 110 PS JIS (65 to 81 kW). Only the 1.3 L, detuned to 83 PS (61 kW) was available in export markets. The standard transmission is the usual five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle is available with either front or four-wheel drive, although the 4WD/auto combination was limited to the Japanese market, as it was incompatible with European emissions regulations.
The Suzuki Ignis was sold in Japan as the Swift SE-Z, as well as the badge-engineered Chevrolet Cruze. This commercial designation is used in most of South Asia, while in Australia the car sold by General Motors as the Holden Cruze, only with the 1.5 L and standard 4WD. In Europe, due to an agreement with Subaru, the car was also sold as the Subaru Justy, as happened previously with the Swift. Like the Holden version, the Justy is available with standard 4WD only.
A shorter three-door version, with redesigned bumpers, was introduced in 2003, named Swift Sport in Japan and Ignis Sport in Europe. The Ignis Sport used the same 1.5 L as the regular Ignis, but with power increased to 115 PS (85 kW). The engine was slightly detuned for the European market, to 109 PS (80 kW). The car featured a number of modifications, including lowered chassis, firmer suspension, close ratio gear box and tuned exhaust. The Ignis Sport has the roof bars removed which were standard on the normal Ignis. Recaro sport seats are included in the cabin, as well as metallic pedals, white instrument dials with blue illumination and carbon effect panels to increase its sporty appeal. The Ignis Sport can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 seconds and has a topspeed of 185 km/h (115 mph). It went out of production in 2005.
In 2002 Holden of Australia introduced the Holden Cruze. The engine for the Cruze was a 1.5 litre 75 kW DOHC, up from the 1.3 litre 60 kW DOHC in the original Suzuki Ignis. This Cruze was available in both automatic and manual transmissions. The main rivals in the Australian market were the Suzuki Jimny and Daihatsu Terios. The Holden Cruze is an SUV designed primarily for on-road use. The Cruze was discontinued in 2006 after the aging 1.5 litre engine did not meet Euro III emission standards and would have been too costly to replace. The Chevrolet Cruze continues to be assembled and sold in Japan.
Chevrolet badged models, known as the Chevrolet Cruze in Japan retained the original Ignis’ dimensions, look and powerplants, but the European Subaru Justy is now built on the new model’s platform.
In 2003, Suzuki Europe introduced the second generation of the Ignis. This version is manufactured by Suzuki’s Hungarian plant Magyar Suzuki specifically for the European market. The Ignis Mk. II was enlarged by 150 mm (6 in) in length, to improve interior room and luggage space. It was also restyled, adopting a crossover look between a tall hatchback and a sport utility vehicle, and the three-door body was dropped. The 1.3 L is now more powerful, 92 PS (68 kW), while the 1.5 L was detuned to 99 PS (73 kW). 4WD is only available on the bigger engine. In 2005, a Diesel version became available, powered by Fiat’s Multijet engine. The 1.3L version comes as manual FWD while the 1.5L can be available with automatic tranmission or 4WD via viscous coupling.

The Suzuki Jimny is a small four wheel drive built by the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki. Three body styles are available: a metal top, a hard top and soft top. The Jimny replaced the popular Sierra/Samurai model in most markets in 1999, though its predecessor remains in production. The Jimny is equipped with the same 1.3 L 16-valve four-cylinder electronically fuel injected engine as its predecessor. A ladder type chassis and a dual ratio transfer case is standard, unlike many competing compact 4WDs which lack a low range, and are strictly in the crossover category.
The Jimny’s vacuum-locking hubs allow the vehicle to be shifted from 2WD to 4WD while travelling at up to 100 km/h (62 mph). Shifting to low range requires the vehicle to be stopped, but there is no need to exit the vehicle. Newer Jimnys feature electronic “push-button” selectable four-wheel drive.
The Jimny features large windows, giving excellent visibility, apart from a rather serious blind spot caused by the oversized “B” pillar. The large amount of glass also creates a greenhouse effect, and the Jimny comes with air conditioning as a standard feature.
Two models of the Jimny are available in some markets, the standard hard top, and a canvas roofed “Cabrio” version. Both models come in JX and JLX specifications. These are fairly standard designations across the Suzuki off road range, with the JLX being the fully-optioned “luxury” version. In the case of the Jimny, the JLX adds roof rails, power steering, power windows, electronically adjustable exterior mirrors, and several interior comfort improvements. Both models are available in 5 speed manual or 4 speed automatic gearbox. There is also a 2WD option, only available in 5 speed manual.
The history of Suzuki four wheel drive cars goes back to 1969. Suzuki bought out Hope Motor Company and produced 15 vehicles called the HopeStar ON360. Then in 1970, they produced the first “real” Suzuki 4×4. It was called the LJ10, and it had an air cooled, 359 cc straight 2, two stroke engine. 1972 saw the introduction of the LJ20. The cooling was changed from air cooling to water cooling but was not enlarged or increased in power. In 1974, Suzuki replaced the LJ20 with the LJ50, which had a larger 537 cc straight 3, two stroke engine and bigger differentials.
The LJ80 was an updated version of the LJ50 with a 800 cc straight 4, 4 stroke engine, followed by the SJ410 and SJ413. A version of the SJ413 known as the Samurai was released in the US. The series from SJ410 to SJ413 was known as the Sierra in Australia, and remained the Jimny in some markets.
The new Jimny was released in 1998, and now bears the same name in all markets. The 1998 release used the G13BB EFI engine, replaced by the M13AA VVT engine in 2005, in conjunction with some interior redesign.
Jimny ( 360 cc l2 air-cooled )
Jimny ( 360 cc l2 water-cooled )
Jimny 55 ( 550 cc l3 )
Jimny 8 ( 800 )
Jimny 550
Jimny 1000 / SJ410
Jimny 550
Jimny 1300
Jimny 550 Turbo
Jimny 660
Jimny SIELLA ( 1300 )
Jimny 660
Jimny SIERRA ( 1300 )
Jimny 660
Jimny Wide ( 1300 : G13B)
Jimny Wide / SIERRA ( 1300 : M13A )

The Suzuki Wagon R is a mini MPV, first introduced as a kei car in Japan in 1993. The R stands for recreation. It is one of the first cars to use the “tall wagon” design in which the car is designed to be unusually tall with a short bonnet and almost vertical hatchback and sides in order to maximise cabin space while staying within the kei car dimension restrictions. The first generation Wagon R is 1640 mm (64.6 in) high, or 255 mm (10 in) taller (170 mm (6.7 in) internally) than the JDM Suzuki Alto sold at the same time (which was the exact same length and width).
The Wagon R Wide, introduced in 1997, is a slightly larger car, exceeding the kei car specifications, with larger 1.0 and 1.3 litre engines - this is what was sold as the “Wagon R+” in the European market (also introduced in the same year). The only other tall wagon style car sold in Europe around the time of its introduction was the Daihatsu Move.
1998 saw the introduction of the second-generation Wagon R in Japan, with the Wagon R+ replacing the Wagon R Wide in 1999 - this was brought to Europe in 2000. This is also produced in Esztergom in Hungary and Gurgaon, India. The Opel Agila is a badge engineered version of the Suzuki Wagon R+, also introduced in summer 2000.
A third generation Wagon R was launched in Japan in September 2003 for their 10th Anniversary, but only as a K-car - no oversized version (like the previous Wide and +) was developed in either Japan or Europe. The third generation was facelifted in September 2005.
The Hungarian-built Wagon R+ is still being produced for the European market, albeit with limited range and availability (it is no longer for sale in Ireland, for example). As of 2006 in the UK, only one model is available - the GL, with a 1.2 litre 4-cylinder petrol engine delivering 59 kW (80.2 PS), ABS with EBD and air conditioning. The current model is 3540 mm (139.4 in) x 1620 mm (63.8 in) x 1695 mm (66.7 in) (length x width x height), with a claimed 597 litres of cargo space.
In India, the WagonR is sold as “Maruti Suzuki WagonR”, having Suzuki’s 1.1 L F10D petrol engine producing 64 bhp (48 kW). Also, a new LPG version called DUO has been introduced lately, which runs both on Petrol and LPG.
In Indonesia, the car is called Suzuki Karimun and offered with a 1000 cc petrol engine, whilst in China it forms the base for both the Changhe-Suzuki Beidouxing and Changhe-Suzuki F-MPV.
2nd generation
3rd generation
WagonR-Wide