Suzuki Cervo

Suzuki Cervo
Production period:	1977-2010
Class :	Microcar
Body versions :	Station wagon , station wagon coupe , pickup
Previous model:	Suzuki Fronte Coupe

The Suzuki Cervo is a kei car from the Japanese vehicle manufacturer Suzuki Motor Corporation . The Cervo was originally produced as a coupé and was the successor model to the Suzuki Fronte Coupé .

Since 1990, the Cervo is but a very small cars in hatchback construction method that the Suzuki Alto is derived. The name "Cervo" comes from the Italian word for deer . After Suzuki ceased production of the Cervo HG in 2010, no successor model was introduced. In 2014, the production of the Cervo HG was resumed in India by the Suzuki subsidiary Maruti Suzuki . There it serves as an entry-level model and replacement for the Maruti 800 .

Cervo SS20 1977-1982

SS20
Suzuki Cervo SS20
Production period:	1977-1982
Body versions :	Combi coupe
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.54–1.0 liters
Length:	3190 mm
Width:	1395 mm
Height:	1210-1230 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	535-625 kg

Suzuki was the first Japanese manufacturer to offer a kei car with the Suzuki Suzulight in 1955 . An interesting deviation from other Kei cars was the Suzuki Fronte Coupé introduced in 1971. This 2 + 2 or 2-seater designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro was only 2995 mm long and only used a 359 cc two-stroke engine with a 31, 34 or 37 engine PS (35 in later models), depending on the equipment. The Fronte Coupé was discontinued in June 1976 because it no longer complied with the new Kei-Car safety and stricter emissions regulations.

After a break of more than a year, Suzuki brought a successor model with the new Cervo in October 1977. The Cervo SS20 was designed primarily for the domestic market, but was also exported to Chile . The chassis was based on the Suzuki Fronte launched in 1976 . The Cervo got the larger Suzuki engine T5A from the Suzuki LJ 80 which was also installed in the Suzuki Fronte Hatch. According to the new regulations, this was now a 539 cm³ three-cylinder two-stroke engine, again installed as a rear engine.

The body was based on the Fronte Coupé, but with a modified front and larger bumpers due to the new safety regulations. Instead of square headlights, the Cervo was given round headlights, and an enlarged rear window was installed, which was now also electrically heated.

Despite the larger 539 cm³ displacement, the engine only developed 28 HP in contrast to the 360 cm³ version in the previous model with 37 HP. The reason was, on the one hand, the stricter emissions regulations and the increased weight of 55–80 kg. So that the acceleration was acceptable, the characteristics of the engine were designed with the result of a low top speed of 120 km / h. Thanks to less air resistance, this was still ten more than the Fronte sedan with the same engine with 111.8 km / h. The Cervo completed a test of the car in 1977 from 0–400 m in under 23 seconds. Suzuki was aware that, unlike its predecessor, the Cervo was no longer considered a small sports car, and was now promoting it specifically for women.

The standard model CX cost 608,000 yen in 1977 and the top version CX-G ¥ 698,000. The CX-G had disc brakes at the front while the others had drum brakes all around. In 1978 the CX-L was added to the range, with lighter colors and seat fabrics, to target female customers. For Chile, the Cervo was equipped with the four-cylinder Suzuki F8A 797 cm³, which was only available as an option in the domestic market. Because of the little noticeable additional performance, but the significantly higher tax and insurance costs, this was hardly ordered in the home market. 1979 this engine variant was discontinued, and the Cervo for Chile received the 1-liter F10A of the Cervo SC100.

SC100

Suzuki SC100 "Whizzkid" GX in Iceland Blue Metallic

In April 1978, Suzuki introduced the SC100 specifically for export. This one became known in the UK under the nickname Whizzkid . The three-cylinder engine in this Cervo model has been replaced by a Suzuki F10A 970 cm³ four-cylinder petrol engine with 47 HP output, in some markets also with 49 or 50 HP. The top speed was 142.8 km / h in a contemporary test. The handling of the Cervo was, as usual with a rear engine, a little more nervous than with a front engine. Therefore, in the SC100 with a heavier four-cylinder engine, a counterweight in the front bumper was countered. The body of the SC100 differed from the Cervo in that the windshield was not as steep, which gave it different door frames and side windows. Depending on the market, round or square headlights were installed, in European markets only square ones. In the square versions, larger gaps remained which were filled with plastic grids. In the European versions, the bulky turn signal lenses, which were usually positioned below the bumper, were incorporated here.

In Great Britain only a richly equipped SC100 GX was on offer, while in other export countries a basic version CX or a more luxuriously equipped version CX-G was also offered. The British GX version with former luxury amenities such as cigarette lighter and front reclining seats cost 2400 pounds sterling in 1979. The introduction almost simultaneously introduced slightly larger Suzuki Alto , however, cost £ 3375. Other larger export markets were the Netherlands , Hong Kong , South Africa and New Zealand, as well as several Latin American countries.

The relatively low price meant that the SC100 was in greater demand than Suzuki could offer. The model, which was sold in Europe from 1979 to 1982, was sold 4696 times by the British importer Heron Suzuki and around 3400 times by NIMAG in the Netherlands.

Technical data Suzuki SC100 with F10A engine

OHC four-cylinder petrol engine

Displacement 970 cm³
35–37 kW (47–50 hp) at 5000 rpm
83 Nm at 2500 rpm
4-speed manual transmission

Cervo SS40 1982-1988

SS40
Suzuki Cervo SS40
Production period:	1982-1988
Body versions :	Combi coupé , pickup
Engines:	Otto engines : 0.55 liters (21–29 kW)
Length:	3195 mm
Width:	1395 mm
Height:	1290 mm
Wheelbase :	2150 mm
Empty weight :	530-550 kg

In June 1982 a whole new generation was introduced. The basis was the recently modernized Suzuki Alto (still marketed as Suzuki Fronte in the home market). The Cervo now had front-wheel drive with a transverse four-stroke engine. The Suzuki F5A petrol engine with 29 HP and four-speed manual transmission was also taken over from the Alto / Fronte. The Cervo was now the sporty coupé version of the Alto / Fronte sister models, but higher than this. The top speed was the same at 115 km / h. A novelty in the kei car class was the Cervo-derived pickup Suzuki Mighty Boy .

Suzuki Mighty Boy

The new aerodynamic shape of the Cervo was now angular than its predecessor with the hatchback shape, but based on the original Giugiaro design. New headlights produced significantly more light than the Cervo SS20 and a larger rear window provided better access to the naturally larger trunk. The back seat could now also be split to two thirds, and a two- speed automatic transmission was available for the first time. This was never very popular because there were only two gear ratios, with significantly poor acceleration and higher fuel consumption, along with a higher purchase price.

Suzuki positioned the Cervo SS40 even more clearly than before as a comfortable vehicle than a sports car. The CS (four-speed manual transmission) for 580,000 ¥ and CS-Q (automatic transmission) for 620,000 ¥, which were offered for the first time, were followed a few months later by the more upscale CS-L (5-speed manual transmission) and CS-QL (automatic transmission) at an entry-level price from ¥ 687,000. This had, among other things, a radio, wiper interval control and a sunroof.

In May 1983, less than a year after its introduction, the Cervo received a slight facelift. In addition to minor changes due to new regulations in the positioning of the exterior mirrors and the holes on the fenders, the mechanical changes with a modified camshaft , a modified compression ratio to 9.7: 1 (previously 9.5) and the introduction of a catalytic converter were more extensive. In addition, the engine has now been equipped with an automatic starter. Also new was a CS-G as a sport version with a five-speed manual gearbox, rev counter, 12-inch instead of 10-inch wheels and front disc brakes for ¥ 730,000.

An even sportier version appeared in November 1983 with the CT and CT-G Turbo versions. The F5A received a turbocharger for this and was Suzuki's first supercharged engine. The power was 40 hp. It had an electronic carburetor and a lower compression ratio of 8.6: 1. Five-speed manual transmission and front disc brakes were standard. The CT weighed 560, and the prices were ¥ 748,000 and ¥ 898,000, respectively. A two-tone red and black interior gave the Turbo a sporty look, and the CT-G also featured a tachometer in addition to sports seats as standard. The top speed was 135 km / h.

In January 1985, the Cervo received another slight facelift with new, more comfortable seats and a new grille. New fabric covers moved in, and the CT-G received a half-covered leather steering wheel and leather gear knob. The side mirrors were now attached to the corner between the door and the A-pillar instead of the door itself. The CT-G has now been equipped with bumpers and exterior mirrors painted in the vehicle color, optional for the other versions. A new carburetor increased the output of the basic model to 31 hp, and the top speed increased by five to 120 km / h.

In the mid-1980s, kei car sales in Japan began to shrink overall, which is why the Cervo lost market share and sales figures fell. In February 1987 the Cervo received a new revision, which mostly consisted of a reduction in the range of models for cheaper production. The turbo model was discontinued and only two models were still on offer: the sporty version CS-G with five-speed manual transmission or the basic model CS-D with either four-speed manual or automatic transmission. All models now had front disc brakes and air conditioning .

Shortly after the introduction of the new Cervo in January 1988, the Cervo SS40 was discontinued. Because of the poorer sales figures, the Cervo SS40 never received as many technical improvements as its sister models Alto / Fonte. Historically in Suzuki history, however, the introduction of the turbo engine with fuel injection and more power with lower consumption, which was later adopted in the Alto / Forte. However, strangely enough, it was there with more power than in the actual Cervo sports model with 40 hp. In the 1990s, many Cervo SS40 owners therefore switched to installing turbo engines from later Altos.

Cervo CG72V / CH72V 1988-1990

Cervo CG72V / CH72V
Suzuki Cervo CG72V
Production period:	1988-1990
Body versions :	Combi coupe
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.55 liters (29 kW)
Length:	3195 mm
Width:	1395 mm
Height:	1330-1350 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	590-640 kg

On January 22nd, 1988 the Cervo CG72V / CH72V was presented. The new generation produced from February 1988 was designed for more cargo volume with a squat, box-shaped rear end. This created a bizarre look in combination with the front and doors of the Suzuki Alto / Fronte CB71. The C-pillar was very wide, the front part of the roof made of glass and a small circumferential rear spoiler and a rear spoiler at the top of the tailgate. A nickname in Japan was hollow brick , while others referred to it as Komachi Yokocho 横丁小町, Japanese for back alley beauty - alluding to the continuing popularity of the cervo with stylish young women. The interior was no less unusual with a large gray and bright yellow diagonal pattern on the seats and white instrument panels. There were numerous storage compartments, especially in the thick C-pillars and a large central console. Standard high-quality was Mitsubishi DIATONE - sound system installed.

From the Alto / Fronte came the Suzuki F5B SOHC 12-valve, three-cylinder petrol engine with 40 hp and a maximum of 7,500 rpm with 547 cm³. Three well-equipped models were available:

CGXF front-wheel drive 5-speed manual transmission ¥ 698,000 (CG72V)
CGXL front wheel drive 3 speed automatic transmission ¥ 750,000 (CG72V)
CGXJ all-wheel drive 5-speed manual transmission ¥ 770,000 (CH72V)

In March 1988, three models with the world's first electric power steering (CGPF / CGPL / CGPJ) were added at an additional cost of ¥ 150,000 . Japanese actress and pop idol Yuka Onishi (大西结花) starred in a major advertising campaign and an all- female motorcycle racing team (Team Angela) drove a Cervo Turbo on the Safari Rally . The success of the series remained low because the new rivals Daihatsu Leeza and Mazda Carol sold much better. In addition, certain tax breaks for small commercial vehicles were omitted when the series was also offered in slimmed-down versions. As a result, the Cervo CG72V / CH72V only achieved a small market share and sales. New regulations for kei cars were planned for 1990, larger dimensions and engines up to 660 cm³, and Suzuki therefore decided to develop a new model instead of investing money in a vehicle that was difficult to sell. As a result, production of this generation of models ended in May 1990 after a little over two years.

Cervo Mode 1990–1998

Cervo mode
Image does not exist
Production period:	1990-1998
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.66 liters (31–47 kW)
Length:	3295 mm
Width:	1395 mm
Height:	1370-1410 mm
Wheelbase :
Empty weight :	620-750 kg

Suzuki Cervo Mode 5-door

In order not to lose the numerous female customers of the Cervo series, a new generation was introduced in July 1990. But now the new Kei-Car regulations brought an engine 110 cm² larger and a 100 mm longer body. However, the new series was no longer a coupé or a similar two-box design model, but an initially three-door hatchback . Actually, the Cervo was now the replacement of the Suzuki Fronte, which was marketed in the home market as a high-quality, identical model of the Suzuki Alto. The Cervo mode also corresponded to the contemporary Suzuki Alto sold in Europe and was marketed as Maruti Zen by the subsidiary Maruti Suzuki . According to the desired clientele, it was advertised intensively with women. Initially, the Cervo mode was only offered with supercharged 660 cm³ petrol engines with three or four cylinders.

In November 1990 a five-door version followed along with smaller engines. The Cervo was a bit sportier than it first appeared. The sportiest version, the SR-Four, was the first kei-car with a four-cylinder 16-valve DOHC turbo intercooler engine and had all-wheel drive as standard. An anti-lock braking system was available as an option for the first time .

In November 1990, the Suzuki F6A EPI 52/55 hp three-cylinder four-valve engine was introduced. In addition to the standard 5-speed manual transmission, optionally also with 3-speed automatic transmission and optionally also with all-wheel drive. In September 1991 the series was revised and received side impact protection and a third brake light. The SR-Four now had disc brakes all around.

Another facelift took place in October 1995 with the introduction of a two-cylinder version with 42 hp. At the same time, the DOHC four-cylinder turbo engine lost two valves per cylinder, but received a charge air cooler, which means that the output remained the same at 64 hp.

In May 1997 the turbo versions were discontinued in favor of the Suzuki Wagon R + based on the Cervo Mode . New regulations for 1998 finally brought the production of the Cervo Mode to an end in October 1998.

Suzuki Cervo C (Classic)

Cervo C (Classic)

In August 1996, Suzuki launched the Cervo C (Classic) in response to the Vivio Bistro and other retro mobiles. The Cervo C came as a well-equipped five-door with the 52 HP F6A engine (55 HP with automatic + 4WD). A high-quality AM / FM stereo cassette radio was standard equipment, as were electric windows, central locking and wood decor on the dashboard and steering wheel. Automatic transmission and all-wheel drive were available as options. The Classic differed from the Cervo Mode with a retro-style radiator grille, chrome-plated bumpers, exterior mirrors and door handles. As of May 1997 there was also a three-door hatchback joined the lineup. The production also ended in October 1998 like the Cervo Mode. It was also offered as a Zen Classic in India , but there was a flop.

Cervo HG 2006-2010

Cervo HG
Suzuki Cervo HG
Production period:	2006-2010
Body versions :	Station wagon
Engines:	Otto engines : 0.66 liters (40–47 kW)
Length:	3395 mm
Width:	1475 mm
Height:	1535-1545 mm
Wheelbase :	2360 mm
Empty weight :	790-870 kg

In November 2006, Suzuki introduced a new generation of Cervos. Again, this was based on the contemporary Suzuki Alto, but much more luxuriously equipped. The Suzuki K6A 658 cm³ naturally aspirated engine with variable valve control with 54 hp and 60 hp with turbo was used. Only a four-speed automatic transmission with manual mode was available in the turbo versions. The only body version was a five-door hatchback. The equipment included a Keyless Go system and Bluetooth connection.

In October 2007 the Cervo received the Japanese Good Design Award . In the same year an SR version was introduced with a new 64 HP turbo engine with gasoline direct injection and 7 -speed CVT transmission . Supplemented in May 2008 with xenon light . In March 2010, Suzuki stopped production of the Cervo without a successor.

Maruti Cervo

Maruti Suzuki, the Indian subsidiary of Suzuki, launched a reduced version of the Suzuki Cervo in 2014 to compete with the Tata Nano . With the Maruti Cervo, Maruti Suzuki replaces the long-built entry-level model Maruti 800 .

Web links

Commons : Suzuki Cervo - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files