29 Sep 06 11:48
The Splash is the "first tangible step towards a production model" - a concept car designed to test consumer reaction to a small MPV-style vehicle based on the Swift/SX4 platform. It'll drive like a Swift, but its taller body, with glass roof and airy interior, has added practicality.
Developed to appeal to a wide variety of buyers in different countries - it's a car that could go to the States, as the "sub-compact" market is growing there - and suitable for family usage, the Splash is also modern-looking and sporty. It's detailed with LED headlights and taillights, side mirrors with rear-view cameras and indicators, chrome trim, flared wheel arches, 18-inch wheels and twin exhaust tailpipes, and painted in a shade called Lagoon Blue Pearl Metallic.
The simply laid-out five-seater cabin has a blue instrument panel, a high-mounted gearshift and leather steering wheel with audio controls, leather upholstery and a blue colour scheme. Suzuki says the Splash is fitted out with a full complement of side airbags, seatbelt pretensioners, stability control and so on, as well as a new 1.2-litre 16v petrol engine and four-speed automatic gearbox. This powertrain is likely to appear shortly in Suzuki's models already in production, or imminently upcoming, but actually, the whole Splash looks near-ready to roll.
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