Suzuki switches on the excitement in Tokyo

Suzuki unveiled a self-driving minibus called the Hanare that features Level 5 autonomous driving technology along with Artificial Intelligence. It features a spacious interior loaded with sofas, tables and a massive display.

Suzuki Motor Corp. is switching on the excitement for its minicars at Tokyo under the theme Waku Waku Switch for Everyone: Excitement for you, excitement for everyone. The term Waku may sound familiar, as the word stands for intense excitement akin to an adrenaline rush.

At the Suzuki stand at Tokyo Big Sight are the Waku Spo, a personal plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV); the Hanare, a living room on wheels; the Hustler Concept, a mini crossover wagon; and the Gixxer SF250, an on-road sport motorcycle with new oil-cooled engine.

Retro-looking Waku Spo

The Waku Spo is a cheeky, retro-styled coupe that can reshape itself for various purposes. Essentially, it can fold down its rear roof section, landaulet-style, to change from a wagon to a coupe body shape. Suzuki says this can change the car’s nature from practical to sporty, from daily use to pleasure cruise.

The means of switching is via a Waku Waku switch on the dashboard. The body shape, front fascia, and dashboard display can be reconfigured
Waku Spo plays to Suzuki’s strengths, as it is an A-segment vehicle, with the retro styling that has served the brand well. Waku Spo aims to be a “sharable future small car.”

Given the crushing traffic situation in Manila and other major cities, traveling in your own living room is an inviting idea. This is where Hanare (Japanese for “cottage”) comes in. It’s Suzuki’s concept for a moving living room, using autonomous driving technology.

Hanare is a self-driving living room

The Hanare was designed to look and feel like a cottage to make traveling inviting and comfortable. The Hanare’s single side door swings up to reveal an expansive space contained within the car’s compact footprint.

Suzuki is also displaying its Hustler concept, a barely-legal looking boxy mini-SUV along the lines of the Jimny. It has even more playful styling the already-popular SUV, with wheels pushed to the corners. Hustler completes the SUV look with a roof rack, and squared off wheels wells with black cladding.

Also on display at Suzuki’s Tokyo stand are the Swift Sport and SX4 S-Cross hatchbacks. The Super Carry minivan, recently launched in Manila, also showed off its versatility and capability in Suzuki’s booth.

The Hustler Concept serves as a dual purpose vehicle that can be used in the city thanks to its small footprint while also packing enough punch for light off-road adventures.

For motorbikes, the Japanese company is displaying the Gixxer SF 250, a fully-faired sport motorcycle. Gixxer SF 250 has a new oil-cooled engine developed for powerful acceleration and good fuel efficiency. Its alter ego is the Gixxer 250, a naked sport motorcycle.

Visitors can also try out a simulated static ride on Suzuki’s GSX-RR MotoGP racing motorbike. Technology from the GSX-RR will be fitted to the production GSX-R1000 and other motorbikes.

Suzuki Motor Company will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020.