This year’s edition of the Thailand International Motor Expo (November 30 – December 10) hosted the world premiere of the Suzuki A:Wind concept, a study that previews a global production city car.
Although Suzuki doesn’t say it directly, the A:Wind most likely previews the next-generation Alto (marketed as the Maruti A-Star in India). The Japanese carmaker explains the concept’s name by its desire “to bring a fresh wind to the A-segment as a global compact car.”
At 3,600mm (141.7in) long, 1,600mm (63in) wide and 1,540mm tall, the A:Wind is 100mm (3.94in) longer and 70mm (2.75in) taller than the Suzuki Alto currently sold in Europe. It also has a longer wheelbase at 2,425mm (95.5in) compared to the Alto's 2,360mm (92.9in).
According to Suzuki , the A:Wind’s highlights include the "elegant-looking exterior and interior, the spacious, user-friendly cabin, as well as the excellent fuel economy.”
The car’s front end is dominated by the imposing front grille with integrated headlights and the character lines that extend along the sides.
On the inside, the distance between the front and rear seats have been extended – we have to guess that is compared to the Alto, since the carmaker doesn’t say it specifically. The A:Wind offers "class leading luggage space and wide opening doors"– always according to the carmaker. The interior features a bi-color layout matching the exterior paint (Energy Yellow or Panoramic Blue) and has a modern looking dashboard that includes digital instruments and a touchscreen in the center console.
The (toned-down) A:Wind is powered by a 1.0-liter engine mated to a CVT. The production version of the study will be built in Thailand starting next year and will be sold worldwide.
By Dan Mihalascu
