Suzuki Cooks Up New Alto SZ-L Special Edition for UK Buyers

A new special edition version of the Suzuki Alto has been released in Britain. Featuring various cosmetic and equipment upgrades, the SZ-L model is available in a limited number of 500 units, priced at £8,170 a piece.

Offered in either Superior White or Bright Red non metallic colours, the Alto SZ-L is based on the SZ3 mid grade model with air conditioning, pollen filter and side airbags fitted as standard equipment. Exterior upgrades include unique wheel caps, black fog lamp surrounds and black 'B' pillar trims as well as SZ-L embossed tailgate trim and black side mouldings.

Inside, the SZ-L gains carpet mats and silver coloured trim for gearshift knob, side ventilation louvres and door openers, plus body-colored surrounds for the heater controls, gear lever and door handles.

The small city car is powered by a 1.0-liter gasoline engine delivering 60HP and 90Nm / 66 lb-ft of peak torque, which returns a combined fuel economy of 64.2mpg UK and tailpipe emissions of 103g/km.

Mazda Introduces 4WD GS4 Model to JDM Carol Range

Mazda is enhancing its Carol range of micro-minis in Japan with a new four-wheel drive model called the GS4. The new version of the Carol, which is more or less a JDM Suzuki Alto with Mazda's badges and five-point lower grille, is powered by a tiny 660cc three-cylinder engine matted to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

The new grade also adds several equipment features such as keyless entry & keyless push button start system, an immobilizer, split folding rear seats, heated door mirrors and driver seat.

The Mazda Carol GS4 AWD is on sale now in Japan with prices starting from 1,120,350 Yen, which comes to around €9,500 or US$12,000 at today's exchange rates.

Suzuki Alto Dresses Like a Fish for International Green Week Fair in Berlin

Being the only car manufacturer that will participate at the forthcoming International Green Week in Berlin, Suzuki wants to make a splash at the fair with a custom made Alto. The Japanese automaker covered its mini car in a vinyl wrap (or at least it looks like a wrap) with a design that imitates fish scales and to top it off, they also added a... tail fin. Billed as the world's largest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture, the International Green Week runs from January 15 to 24 in Berlin.

Tokyo '09: New Suzuki Alto Concept Points to Production Model

Strangely enough, and even though the latest generation Suzuki Alto, which is also marketed in some regions including Europe as the Nissan Pixo with a different nose job, was introduced only last year at the 2008 Paris show, the Japanese firm has announced that it will display a near-production concept model of the next generation Alto at the forthcoming Tokyo Motor Show in late October.

The only reasonable explanation (since Suzuki did not bother to clear things up for us in its press release...) is that the production model of the "concept Alto" is destined for markets other than the ones that the current Alto is offered including of course Japan.