HAMAMATSU, Japan — Suzuki is the latest Japanese automaker to open its own museum, set up to mark the company's first 100 years in manufacturing. Called the Suzuki Plaza, it's located in this bustling city in central Japan where Suzuki has its world headquarters.
As museums go, Suzuki's is by no means the biggest but it does have an individual style and makes a great showcase for Suzuki, past, present and, yes, future. Suzuki started out making weaving looms in 1909, then made its first motorized bicycle, the spindly 36cc Power Free, in 1952. The museum shows some beautifully restored looms and motorcycles to set the scene on this early part of its history.
In the U.S., Suzuki is best known for its compact cars, SUVs and motorcycles, but part of the charm of the Suzuki Plaza is the cars and bikes that the public is not so familiar with. There are 360cc Fronte minicars from the 1960s and '70s that are beyond cute. Other standouts are the dynamic open-topped Cappuccino sports car from 1991 and, going back to 1955, the Suzulight, a compact, if obscure, small front-wheel-drive sedan that was on the market years before the British came up with the Mini.
Americans may prefer to forget the X90, that curious crossover SUV coupe from the 1990s, but Suzuki hasn't, so there's one of those here. But too bad there are no show cars or competition Suzukis, due to lack of space.
Representing the modern era, Suzuki has created an elaborate Technology Floor complete with a mockup styling studio, clay model room and production line. Suzuki's intention is to explain (especially to children) exactly what goes into planning, designing and building a car today, and to get them revved up about it at a time when young Japanese are believed to be losing interest in cars in a big way.
In a perfect world, Suzuki would create a virtual museum for the many who can't travel to Japan. In today's climate, however, there seems little likelihood of that happening.
Inside Line says: Spend an hour or so in the Suzuki Plaza, though, and you know this enigmatic Japanese maker has a great story to tell. — Peter Nunn, Correspondent
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