Suzuki Twin

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The Suzuki Twin is a small car produced by the Japanese car manufacturer Suzuki . Due to its small dimensions and engine power, it is known in Japan as a so-called K-Car and is therefore subject to tax breaks. The vehicle was first presented as a design study at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1999, and the production model was presented three years later at the same fair. From January 2003 to October 2005 around 10,000 copies were sold.

Technical specifications

Front view of the Suzuki Twin

Designed as a front - wheel drive two - seater, the Suzuki Twin is 2.74 meters long, 1.48 meters wide and 1.45 meters high and has a turning circle of around eight meters. It is around 24 centimeters longer, three centimeters narrower and four centimeters lower than the Smart Fortwo from the manufacturer Smart, which is comparable in terms of design and space . The curb weight is around 560 to 590 kilograms for the model with gasoline engine and around 700 kilograms for the version with hybrid drive , with a maximum payload of 150 kilograms.

The gasoline engine of the Suzuki Twin has three cylinders with a total displacement of 660 cubic centimeters. The maximum output is 32 kilowatts (44 hp) and the top speed is around 130 kilometers per hour. From a standing start, the car accelerates to a speed of 100 kilometers per hour in around 32 seconds. The petrol variant is equipped either with a manual 5-speed gearshift or with an automatic gearshift, the hybrid variant only with automatic.

An automatic start-stop system switches the engine off when the vehicle is idling for a long time and starts it again by pressing the accelerator pedal . The average fuel consumption is around 4.5 liters per 100 kilometers for the version with a normal gasoline engine and less than three liters per 100 kilometers for the hybrid model, which is also equipped with a five kilowatt (seven hp) electric motor.

Market relevance

Rear view of the Suzuki Twin

After Toyota and Honda, Suzuki was the third manufacturer to develop a series vehicle with hybrid drive, the Suzuki Twin, which it brought onto the market and sold to end customers in large numbers. The Twin is the first and so far only K-Car with hybrid drive and the smallest hybrid model ever sold. It is therefore considered a demonstration of the possibilities for downsizing hybrid technology. The disadvantage, measured against the size of the vehicle, was the high price of around 9,500 euros, compared to 3,500 to 6,200 euros for the variant with a petrol engine.

The main target group were customers whose driving volume consists exclusively or predominantly of inner-city journeys, since the fuel consumption advantage of the hybrid drive is greatest on short distances and at low speeds. The small size of the Suzuki Twin also makes it easier to find a parking space and drive in narrow traffic areas. For these reasons, it was mainly sold to authorities and service companies.

Web links

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