Suzuki plans to unveil a number of new concept vehicles at the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. One of the most interesting ones from a green vehicle perspective will be the X-Lander, described by the Japanese automaker as a “real 4WD hybrid with a distinctive personality.”
The X-Lander concept, making its world debut at this event being held from November 23 to December 1 of this year, is based upon the Suzuki Jimny, which is a compact 4WD vehicle. The Jimny has been around since 1968, though those of here in the United States might know it better as the Suzuki Samurai. This SUV, back in the late 80s/mid-90s, was at the focus of a famous lawsuit by Suzuki against Consumer Reports after the latter’s report on the Samurai marked it as being “an unsafe car and prone to a rollover.”
image via Suzuki
At the heart of Suzuki’s SUV design study is a 1.3L engine and newly developed, automatically controlled manual transmission mated with “a compact lightweight hybrid system equipped with a highly-efficient motor built onto a 4WD system.” There are no specifications yet on what the X-Lander is capable of from a hybrid standpoint, but perhaps we will know more as the Tokyo auto show draws closer.
As for the rather interesting look, Suzuki says of this hybrid that its design is “loaded with full of playful touches so that the vehicle looks like a fusion of off-road power and mechanical precision.” There’s no word on whether or not it will actually ever become a production model.
