Suzuki Fronte 800

The Suzuki Fronte 800 was a Japanese compact car produced the Suzuki from 1965 to 1969 and was then attributed to the compact class.

With the December 1965 sale starting Fronte 800, Suzuki tried in a higher segment of the market as the Suzuki Suzulight and the smaller brother Suzuki Fronte enter. The name was taken from the last-named in order to save marketing costs and since this was already known to the public. Already at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1962 a four-door 700cc prototype was shown-Another prototype was shown in 1963 at the Tokyo Motor Show and the production announced. However, another pre-production model was shown with the announcement of the market startes in the spring of the following year at the 1964 Motor Show. In fact, the production of the largely hand-built model began in August 1965.

The two-door sedan was long rumored to be designed by Giovanni Michelotti. In fact, she designed the then chief designer Sasaki Toru Suzuki. Sales, however, were low only because the car was parked in direct competition with such popular cars such as the Toyota Publica or Datsun Sunny. They had modern engines as opposed to the now outmoded with Suzuki two-stroke engine.

Thus, the Fronte 800 was developed only sparse. The biggest change was in April 1966 separate front seats instead of one bench seat, which could be first optional folded from June 1966 to lying down. Then the standard version was set in August 1966 and only the DeLuxe version (including with reclining seats) offered. Production was discontinued in April 1969 after less than 3,000 units had been built. Reasons were needed in addition to the Production capacity for the seller Suzuki Fronte also the former inability of Suzuki to place the model properly priced to compete with the major domestic manufacturers in the highly competitive Japanese market segment can. Suzuki then limited solely to kei car models until the introduction of the Cultus 1983.

The three-cylinder two-stroke 785cc petrol engine was very similar to the 796cc of the DKW Junior. The top speed was 115km/h and the power transfer was carried out by fully synchronisiertm 4-speed manual transmission, the lever was mounted on the steering wheel to the front wheels. The 5-seater sedan cost to launch 465,000 yen for the standard and ¥ 545,000 for the DeLuxe version.

A 1.1 liter version of the engine had been developed for a planned 1100 Fronte model. The engine assembly was equal to the 68hp 1175cc engine of the DKW F102, by a triple Solex carburetors was the Suzuki engine with 80hp but significantly stronger. The equipped with front disc brakes Fronte 1100 so reached a top speed of 160km/h Well be erroneously Suzuki decided to build but no production model, because the drivers wanted increasingly more Performance and the Suzuki Fronte 1100 would, at least initially able to keep up with the competing offers of the major manufacturers.

9980

Suzuki

Makes

Suzuki Fronte 800