What Is It?
Suzuki Concept X
What's Special About It?
The Concept X reflects Suzuki's first-ever stab at manufacturing a traditional midsize SUV. Suzuki designed this beefy, wedge-shaped concept as a preview of what it has in store for the American market in the next year or two. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with class-leading horsepower, the Concept X features standard all-time, all-wheel drive, which Suzuki has dubbed "4GO." Digital gadgetry abounds as part of a package that Suzuki refers to as "infotainment," which is the company's blend of information, entertainment and navigation. Indeed, the digital speedometer is buttressed by blinking LED lights, while two stubby handles take the place of a conventional steering wheel. The exterior is defined by its extremely flat, wide and faceless front end, which is illuminated only by slanted, multilens headlights. Space is available for six passengers in three rows of seats, which feature unusual diamond-shaped headrests. Suzuki will likely be carrying the platform, engine and four-wheel-drive system over from the Concept X to its first bona fide midsize SUV, which is scheduled to go into production in 2006.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Some concepts eventually lead to practical, commercially applicable vehicles, while others seem to be made merely for the sake of novelty and/or vanity. The Concept X straddles the divide between these two ends somewhat tenuously. If the bizarre interior and façade are anything to go by, Suzuki is apparently just as befuddled in its pursuit of "infotainment" as we are in our understanding of it. Early reports of the Concept X indicated that Suzuki was considering it as a realistic production choice, although one can see why the company seems to have nixed these plans. Of course, stepping stone designs tend to have their fair share of teething problems, so one can expect Suzuki to smooth out the rough edges of the Concept X before it sheds its cocoon in 2006. — Phil Lienert
Suzuki Concept X
What's Special About It?
The Concept X reflects Suzuki's first-ever stab at manufacturing a traditional midsize SUV. Suzuki designed this beefy, wedge-shaped concept as a preview of what it has in store for the American market in the next year or two. Powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with class-leading horsepower, the Concept X features standard all-time, all-wheel drive, which Suzuki has dubbed "4GO." Digital gadgetry abounds as part of a package that Suzuki refers to as "infotainment," which is the company's blend of information, entertainment and navigation. Indeed, the digital speedometer is buttressed by blinking LED lights, while two stubby handles take the place of a conventional steering wheel. The exterior is defined by its extremely flat, wide and faceless front end, which is illuminated only by slanted, multilens headlights. Space is available for six passengers in three rows of seats, which feature unusual diamond-shaped headrests. Suzuki will likely be carrying the platform, engine and four-wheel-drive system over from the Concept X to its first bona fide midsize SUV, which is scheduled to go into production in 2006.
What's Edmunds' Take?
Some concepts eventually lead to practical, commercially applicable vehicles, while others seem to be made merely for the sake of novelty and/or vanity. The Concept X straddles the divide between these two ends somewhat tenuously. If the bizarre interior and façade are anything to go by, Suzuki is apparently just as befuddled in its pursuit of "infotainment" as we are in our understanding of it. Early reports of the Concept X indicated that Suzuki was considering it as a realistic production choice, although one can see why the company seems to have nixed these plans. Of course, stepping stone designs tend to have their fair share of teething problems, so one can expect Suzuki to smooth out the rough edges of the Concept X before it sheds its cocoon in 2006. — Phil Lienert
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