Suzuki introduced the Equator midsize pickup truck at the Chicago autoshow in 3 different versions specialized for different outdoor sports, the Quad for the ATV market, the Quay for the fishing and watersports crowd and the RMZ-4, aimed at the motorcycle enthusiast. It looks like a nice truck but I keep getting flashbacks, how many of you remember the Yamahauler?
Press release follows:
American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) is exhibiting the Equator midsize pickup truck at the Chicago Auto Show.
The Equator is Suzuki’s first midsize pickup truck for the North American market. Its launch is aimed not only at expanding the range of models offered by ASMC but also at promoting sales of Suzuki vehicles by enhancing Suzuki’s brand image in line with Suzuki’s “Way of Life!” brand strategy.
At the Chicago Auto Show, there are three Equator versions as reference exhibits: the Equator RMZ-4, which carries an offroad bike; the Equator Quad, which carries an all-terrain vehicle and was conceived for outdoor sports; and the Equator Quay, which was conceived for fishing and other water sports.
The Equator is scheduled to go on sales in the fourth quarter of 2008. To appeal to a wide range of customers, it will be available in Extended Cab and Crew Cab styles, with a choice of engines (4.0-litre V6 or 2.5-litre),s and with a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
The Equator midsize pickup truck is based on the Nissan Frontier and will be built at the Nissan North America manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee. The Equator name expresses the toughness and dynamism of a pickup truck by bringing to mind the harsh climate in equatorial regions and the immenseness of the planet.
Nicolas says
Good looking car, but the bed is real short …
A full size pick up truck is much better for hauling bikes (I put 2 in my old GMC)
And if you sell your Suzuki dirtbike for a Honda, you need to repaint the whole car in red ? 😉
But it’s good looking …
Clive Makinson-Sanders says
what is with the honda ridgeline sloping sides? i hate that…
B*A*M*F says
Makes more sense than the F150s with logos and branding from The Motor Company.
aaron says
meh….give me a mercedes vito special edition anyday!
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/mcn/2008/February-1-3/11-17/feb1508mercedesvitosportvanaimedatmotorcycletransport/?&R=EPI-98596
quick, diesel, compact, and best of all I wouldn’t have to drive a pickup truck! it’d also make thieves less likely to steal your ride….
JC says
I recently read an article that Suzuki was closing it’s US car dealerships, will they still sell trucks in the US, or was this release to late to be stopped?
Also, I could be wrong and maybe they are only considering the close, but I seem to remember it was a final decision. any one able to find the article, my google is failing me
WhoKnew? says
Holy cow! That Mercedes Vito carries two dirt bikes, AND gets 30 MPG? Who do I have to kill to smuggle one into the country?
Nicolas says
Yes, in Europe we have a lot of turbo-diesel cars which would smoke out any gasoline V8 and makes 30-45 mpg …
However, I’ve used this type of car/van in the past to carry my bikes, and it’s kind of little and low to be really practical. And thieves steal the car + bike 😉
todd says
The Merc reminds me of their larger Sprinter version sold by Dodge in the US. Those things are gigantic inside. Too bad they’re soo expensive. I prefer driving my 1958 VW single cab pickup. I once put 5 trail 90’s in the back and a bunch of gear. I get 25-30 mpg depending on how I drive, it’s got nearly a 5 foot wide by 9 foot long bed and is classified as a 3/4 ton truck. I can even reach 80 MPH.
The Suzuki has me puzzled as well. As far as I know, GM has a large share of Suzuki and they have a contract with Isuzu to build their trucks. GM also owns a major controlling share of Suzuki (last I heard, 20%?). Does this mean Suzuki is breaking ties with GM? Or will this become a new Geo Tracker?
-todd
Kenny says
It looks like the new frontiers. Did they take the same body style?