2009 Suzuki Equator

To bolster its versatile and dynamic product line, enhance the company’s bold and adventurous brand identity and further expand the growing line of products marketed by approximately 500 Suzuki dealers nationwide, American Suzuki Motor Corp. debuts its all-new 2009 Equator midsize pickup truck at this year’s Chicago Auto Show. The introduction of the Equator marks Suzuki’s first entry into the midsize pickup truck market and expands the company’s offering of activity-oriented cars and trucks.

Leveraging Suzuki’s credibility as a maker of lifestyle-oriented, fun-to-use products, the Equator offers the perfect blend of style, utility and off-road capability that truck buyers – many of whom are current Suzuki motorcycle, ATV and marine product owners, loyalists and ambassadors – demand and enjoy. Developed as a joint effort with Nissan North America, Inc., and based on the Nissan Frontier, the 2009 Equator will be available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles and rear-wheel and four-wheel-drive configurations. The all-new 2009 Suzuki Equator pickup truck is scheduled to go on sale in the Únited States in the fourth quarter of 2008. Pricing has not yet been announced.

‘Since Suzuki has continued to strengthen its brand equity among outdoor enthusiasts, we thought now was the right time to produce a vehicle that meets the additional needs many of these people have,’ said Mark Harano, president American Suzuki Automotive Operations. ‘Truck buyers are a particularly good fit for Suzuki since they’re likely to participate in motorcycle riding, power boating and other lifestyle-oriented activities that fit with our brand identity and our product portfolio. The Equator provides Suzuki with an opportunity to build an authentic connection with a group of consumers who are familiar with our brand and, in many circumstances, own other Suzuki products.’

To introduce the Equator, Suzuki is unveiling three separate representations of the truck during its Chicago Auto Show press conference. The three concepts, coined the RMZ-4 for off-road enthusiasts, Quad for outdoor adventurers and Quay for boating and watersports aficionados, showcase Suzuki’s diverse brand spirit, while illustrating the capability and flexibility of the all-new Suzuki Equator.

In addition to Chicago’s global reveal of the all-new Equator, Suzuki will showcase the SXForce, a sportbike-inspired concept reinforcing the link between the company’s rich motorcycle heritage and versatile line of fun-to-drive automobiles, as well as a range of outdoor and performance-oriented motorcycles and ATVs, including the KingQuad 450, LT-R450 QuadRacer and all-new Hayabusa sportbike, to name a few.

2009 Suzuki Equator Performance and Functionality

Built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn., the 2009 Equator features a fuel efficient 2.5-liter DOHC inline four with 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque or an optional 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine producing a class-leading 261 hp with 281 lb.-ft. of torque. Designed for outstanding performance and durability, the Equator’s V6 engine incorporates an aluminum block with cast iron cylinder liners, forged steel crankshaft, microfinished crankshaft and camshafts, Teflon®-coated pistons, variable valve timing and a silent two-stage timing chain.

Vital Stats:

Engine : 2.5 L., 4-cylinder
Power: 152 hp
Torque: 171 ft-lbs

Engine : 4.0 L., 6-cylinder
Power: 261 hp
Torque: 281 ft-lbs

The Equator is matched to either a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission (I4 and V6) or five-speed manual transmission (I4), and offers an available shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system with an electronically controlled part-time two-speed transfer case. For enhanced off-road capability, the rugged Equator offers a comprehensive off-road traction system, including four-wheel limited slip, electronic locking rear differential, Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), hill descent control and hill start assist.

The Equator’s strong, fully boxed frame anchors a long 125.9-inch wheelbase (Extended Cab or Crew Cab/regular bed), enhancing driver and passenger comfort and stability, while its overall length of 205.5 inches (Extended Cab or Crew Cab/regular bed) provides the perfect balance of utility, maneuverability and composure for a midsize pickup truck. The 2009 Equator features an all-steel double-wishbone front suspension and solid axle rear suspension with overslung leaf springs and a long suspension stroke for optimized off-road dynamics. Maximum towing capacity is rated at 6,500 pounds. EPA fuel economy estimates are still preliminary.

Other Equator powertrain components include engine-speed-sensitive power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering for responsiveness and good on-center feel and standard four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD). Equator also features a variety of available wheel and tire packages, including 16-inch off-road style wheels with rugged 265/75R16 tires and 17-inch wheels with 265/65R17 tires.

Styling and Utility

The all-new Equator features a contemporary exterior design with a number of unique Suzuki elements, including hood, front fenders, grille, bumpers, front fascia and tailgate. Both Equator Extended Cab and Crew Cab models offer an available high-utility bed that includes a factory-applied spray-on bedliner and an extensive tie-down system with adjustable tracks, providing ultimate cargo hauling flexibility through the use of five special ‘C’ cross-section rails mounted in the bed (two channels in the bed floor and one each on the bed side rails and the bed header panel). Removable utility cleats slide into the channels, providing a wide range of attachment points for securing cargo – including Suzuki motorcycles or ATVs. Suzuki also will offer specialized bed accessories that make loading, securing and transporting a motorcycle or ATV easier than in many competitive trucks. To further satisfy the needs of active lifestyles, Suzuki will offer its customers a full range of more traditional accessories for use with the channel system, including bed dividers, sliding cargo trays and modular storage units. Crew Cab models will offer an available roof rack.

Interior

The Suzuki Equator offers the driver and up to four passengers a functional interior that combines versatility, cargo utility, comfort and convenience. Both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles feature flip-up rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat and removable storage boxes tucked beneath the rear seats to provide additional cargo capacity. The Equator offers additional convenience features such as a dual glove box with lock, damper and lamp, center console storage and one-liter bottle storage integrated into the front doors. A host of cupholders and power points are standard throughout the truck. Equator Crew Cab also will offer available leather-appointed seats, including a power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated seats, heated mirrors and a factory-installed moonroof. Additional available interior amenities include a Bluetooth® hands-free phone system, Rockford Fosgate-powered audio system with six-disc in-dash CD audio system, optional satellite radio and MP3 capability and MP3 player aux-in jack.

Safety and Packages

The all-new Equator includes a comprehensive list of standard safety equipment, including zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones, dual-stage front supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors and a front occupant classification sensor, three-point front seat belts with pretensioners and load limiters and Tire Pressure Monitoring System. To make the safety story even stronger, the Equator comes equipped with supplemental front seat side-impact air bags and supplemental curtain air bags for side impact and rollover protection for front and rear outboard passengers. Additionally, Extended Cab and Crew Cab models provide three-point seat belts for all rear seat occupants, including the center position for the Crew Cab. The LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat anchor system is provided in the rear seat of the Crew Cab model.

Equator RMZ-4, Quay and Quad Concept Vehicles

Designed to match Suzuki’s performance-oriented motocross motorcycles, the RMZ-4 concept offers rugged off-road performance in a Crew Cab. This Equator-based concept, built by the Carlab of Orange, Calif., features a number of exterior modifications, including a bed extender provided by Amp Research, an eye-catching graphic treatment, 18-inch black chrome wheels and specialty Luzlab headlights. The truck’s striking exterior is matched by an equally stunning sound system that includes an Alpine HD-Radio unit connected to Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components.

Another Carlab creation to debut in Chicago, the Quay concept is built to suit recreational boating and watersports lifestyles, with a customized paint job that reflects the look of Suzuki’s line of marine engines. With an Extended Cab, long bed and hefty towing capabilities, the truck also is equipped with a state-of-the-art Visteon nav-control head unit that provides satellite radio, MP3 and navigation capabilities, in addition to Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components. The Quay also sports special 20-inch wheels and a matching locking hard tonneau cover.

Built to resemble the Suzuki QuadRunner ATV, and to accommodate a recreational outdoor lifestyle, the Quad concept was developed by Torrance, Calif.-based Andry Specialty Vehicles and comes outfitted with a Crew Cab and military ‘look and feel.’ In addition to a custom paint job and a two-and-a-half inch front end lift, the exterior of the truck has been modified with a set of 500 series fog lamps, a safari-style front bumper, front skid plate and tubular rocker guards. To enhance the vehicle’s overall appearance and performance, the Quad is equipped with Yokohama Geolander tires that ride on 17-inch custom aluminum wheels and features Rockford Fosgate amp and speaker components.

Suzuki Announces Pricing For Award Winning Equator

American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) today announced pricing for its all-new Equator pickup truck, 4-Wheel & Off-Road’s ‘4X4 of the Year,’ and freshened Grand Vitara compact SÚV. The Grand Vitara now offers a standard, all-new four-cylinder engine, providing drivers with better mileage, along with a new, significantly more powerful V6 delivering both better fuel economy and lower emissions than the V6 it replaces. Both the rugged Equator and right-sized Grand Vitara are scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms this month.

‘Suzuki offers a range of highly capable, value-packed vehicles that combine attractive exterior and interior styling with the performance and functionality requirements to meet some of the most demanding needs of American car buyers,’ said Mark Harano, executive vice president, American Suzuki Automotive Operations. ‘With the arrival of the all-new Equator pickup truck, a natural fit with Suzuki’s off-road heritage and lifestyle-driven DNA, we’re extremely excited about the forthcoming 2009 model year.’

2009 Suzuki Equator developed as a joint effort with Nissan North America, Inc., the 2009 Equator is available in both Extended Cab and Crew Cab body styles with rear-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive (4WD). To accommodate loads ranging from ATVs to motorcycles, Suzuki offers Crew Cab variants in both Short Bed (5′) and Long Bed (6′) configurations and a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds (V6 2WD Extended Cab). Equator also incorporates class-leading standard safety features into the truck, including roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental airbags and seat-mounted side-impact supplemental airbags, standard.

Built at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tenn., the 2009 Equator offers a standard 2.5-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with 152 horsepower and 171 lb.-ft. of torque or an available 4.0-liter, V6 DOHC engine producing an unsurpassed 261 horsepower with 281 lb.-ft. of torque.

The Equator comes equipped with either a five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission or five-speed manual transmission (available only on four-cylinder models), and offers an available shift-on-the-fly 4WD system that features an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case. For enhanced off-road capability, the rugged Equator offers a comprehensive off-road system, including four-wheel active limited slip traction control, electronic locking rear differential, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control and Hill Hold Control.

Equator Extended Cab models, which start as low as $17,995 (including the $775 destination and handling charges), are available with a four-cylinder engine and 2WD in Base, Comfort and Premium trim lines, with Base and Comfort receiving a five-speed manual transmission and Premium a five-speed automatic, plus additional amenities. The Sport trim line adds the 4.0-liter V6 with five-speed automatic transmission and either 2WD or 4WD along with a number of additional features and amenities.

The Equator Crew Cab offers three trim lines, all powered by the V6 with five-speed automatic transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The Crew Cab Base model with 2WD starts at $23,985, while the Crew Cab Sport, which adds aluminum alloy wheels, cruise control and power windows and door locks, carries starting MSRPs of $25,150 for 2WD and $28,095 for 4WD models. Prices listed include the $775 destination and handling charges. All Crew Cab models also include a factory-applied spray-on bedliner for outstanding durability, along with a five-channel tie-down system to assist customers in securing a Suzuki motorcycle, Suzuki ATV, or any other load.

Suzuki also offers an RMZ-4 Off-Road version of the all-new Equator, which comes fully equipped with Dana 44 axles, electric rear locking differential, Bilstein high-performance shocks, skid plates, BFGoodrich Rugged Trail P265/75R16 tires, fog lamps, chrome mirrors and door handles, unique RMZ-4 seat material with red contrast stitching, chrome instrument cluster and vent trim and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Equator Crew Cab RMZ-4 carries a starting MSRP of $29,325 (includes $775 destination and handling charges) and offers an optional moto-style bed extender.

An optional Sport Package for $2,050 on RMZ-4 models adds a factory-installed moonroof, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Descent Control, Hill Hold Control, 380-watt Rockford-Fosgate® AM/FM/6CD/XM Satellite Radio with eight high-performance speakers and subwoofer, an auxiliary input jack and Bluetooth hands-free phone system.

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara four-cylinder model is offered in four trim levels: Base, Premium, XSport and Luxury. The base model is a four-cylinder RWD trim, with a list of standard equipment that is far from basic and includes: air conditioning with automatic climate control and micron air filtration system, trip computer, power windows, mirrors and door locks, remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel, automatic on/off headlamps, four-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/XM Satellite Radio®-capable audio system and 16-inch wheels. The Base model Grand Vitara carries a starting MSRP of just $19,249. All prices listed include the $750 destination and handling charges.

With a starting MSRP of $19,649, the Premium model (four-cylinder only) adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel with illuminated audio controls, cruise control, privacy glass, full-size spare tire cover, cargo cover, and, when equipped with the optional Single-Mode four-wheel drive, heated exterior mirrors.

The XSport, available with RWD or Four-Mode four-wheel drive, adds both functional and luxury features, including power tilt-and-slide sunroof, the SmartPass™ keyless entry and start system, six-disc CD changer, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, roof rack rails and fog lamps. With the available V6, XSport 4WD also gains Hill Descent Control and Hill Hold Control, 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels, eight-speaker audio system with subwoofer and center channel speaker and door-mounted courtesy lights. In addition, the XSport deletes the full-size spare tire cover and replaces the standard steel spare wheel with a handsome matching alloy that makes a strong off-road capability statement. Grand Vitara XSport models with 2WD start at $22,499.

The top-of-the-line Luxury, with starting MSRPs of $23,999 for 2WD and $25,649 for 4WD, builds on the XSport equipment and adds larger wheels and tires, leather seating surfaces, heated front seats, eight-speaker audio with subwoofer and center channel speaker black wood grain trim accents and full-size spare tire cover (with steel spare). With the V6, the Grand Vitara Luxury trim line also receives a HomeLink® wireless control system. In all Grand Vitara models, standard and optional audio systems are XM Satellite Radio®-capable, and an accessory iPod® interface is available.
About Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.,-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the Únited States through a network of approximately 400 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2007, SMC sold more than two million new cars and trucks and more than three million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 193 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzuki.com.