[sourabhzen]

The car somehow reminds me of ice creams and designer cakes. It looks delicious, but I would rather not like to be seen sitting in the driver's seat.

[rajeev k]

Some more pictures at the launching of Hustler at the Tokyo Motor Show on December 24, 2013.

Suzuki held a press conference for the new Hustler kei-car in Tokyo on December 24th. At the event, President and Chairman Osamu Suzuki explained the company's development aims, saying, "We want this to be a car that everybody can enjoy."

Chairman Suzuki has overseen the company while it played a key role in opening up the new kei-car market, releasing the Alto in the 70's and the Wagon R in the 90's. Suzuki says that while kei-car models are aimed mostly toward practical use, "they are lacking in an element of playfulness. We need to have more of a playful attitude toward small cars too." He added that this is a car everybody can enjoy.

source and link





Suzuki also showcased a low-roof variant of the Hustler called the Hustler Coupe.

A bit on Japanese way of naming a car

;
Suzuki Motor Corp had little idea that the name "Hustler" for its new, boxy mini car aimed at outdoorsy Japanese customers might cause mirth among English speakers for its association with an adult magazine - but it's not alone. Plucking words from foreign dictionaries without checking how they might be received by native speakers appears to be a habit at Japanese companies, which have produced countless products with unintentionally unsavory names.
The name Hustler was chosen to conjure the image of agility, as well as invite nostalgia from customers who remembered an off-road motorbike released in 1969 called the Hustler 250, said a Suzuki public relations officer.

[audioholic]

Exhibiting something at the auto expo and bringing it into the market are two sides of a coin for maruti. Over the last few auto expos, we have seen a lot of models and variants that never made it to the market. The swift sport, sx4 hatch, kei cars etc are examples of this. Hence, I will put my bets on maruti not getting this to our market anytime soon.

[silverado]

Originally Posted by audioholic

Exhibiting something at the auto expo and bringing it into the market are two sides of a coin for maruti.

Agreed, since not every model displayed will make economic sense for the company.

Also the prime reason to display is to create some excitement among public and in case they are serious also to gauge the response.

Looking at current scenario wherein excitement levels for Smaller SUV's is growing, this would be a new category within a category, Mini SUV.

Also since they will be having a smallish diesel engine in future, this SUV can have a good range of engine options in our market.

The only big issue if they plan to launch it here would be overlapping with Wagon R and Ritz.

[volkman10]

Mazda rebadges the SUZUKI Hustler as ' Flair', to be on sale from this month in Japan.


http://indianautosblog.com/2014/01/m...ossover-110910

[amtak]

I think if launched at 4-5 lakhs range, Hustler will sell in India. It is a new car with tall roof, looks Micro SUV, is a Maruti. I for one, would like to put my money on this one.

[appu.bhandari]

It looks decent enough and it has the Suzuki badge of trust, that's more than enough for us Indians to lap it up.

Plus if stingray can sell this is a lot better looking car imho. Plus it could create a new mini/micro SUV market for Maruti.

[romeomidhun]

Maruti, everything about this Kei car is OK, but at the end, please don't tell us that this is the XA-Alpha for you!

[amtak]

Any idea if our national engine will fit in its bay? or for that matter, even it's 3 pot version?

[volkman10]

Suzuki Hustler Is a Shrunken SUV from Japan . Could Maruti carve a new segment in India, if launched?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEJ6V...layer_embedded

Cheers!

[rajeev k]

Suzuki Hustler compact SUV is RJC Car of the Year

The Automotive Researchers’ and Journalists’ Conference of Japan (RJC) has picked the Suzuki Hustler minivan as the 2015 RJC Car of the Year. Limited only to the Japanese markets, the Suzuki Hustler, which was launched in January this year, has sold nearly 87,000 units until now.

The Hustler first made its debut in concept form at the Tokyo motor show in 2013. It is a typical city car, but with a lot of focus on space and practicality. In keeping with the Japanese car regulations, it draws power from a 658cc three-cylinder engine linked to a CVT transmission.

The Hustler joins the Wagon R, Wagon R Stingray and the Swift in winning the RJC Car of the Year for Suzuki.

source Autocar India
link http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...ar-391613.aspx

[HillyThar]

For curiosity's sake I watched the Japanese promotional video of the Suzuki Hustler, they have a AWD model, auto emergency braking, ESP and custom accessories for hikers, surfers, snowboarding and fishing! All in a 600cc or so vehicle, pretty amazing! The Suzuki vehicles on our roads suddenly seem a few decades older in comparison!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8BF0uKzFvk

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Is there any concrete info of this car coming to India? Otherwise the title of this resurrected old thread is misleading!

Ideally we should be having a new thread in the international section to discuss the RJC award.

[volkman10]

Suzuki has not yet revealed its launch plans yet for India.

The minicar in Japan becomes the First Minivehicle*2 to Score Maximum Point*3 in JNCAP Preventive Safety Performance Assessment and Achieves Top ASV+ Rating!

Suzuki Motor Corporation’s Hustler*1 minicar equipped with a stereo camera type collision-mitigating system called the Dual Camera Brake Support (DCBS) and all-direction monitor has become the first minivehicle*2 to score maximum point*3 of 46 points in the Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP) preventive safety performance assessment and achieved top Advanced Safety Vehicle + (ASV+) rating.

The preventive safety performance assessment is an institution in which the Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the National Agency for Automotive Safety & Victims’ Aid (NASVA) assess and disclose a result of a vehicle’s advanced safety technologies. The assessment involves testing of the following three systems: the frontal Autonomous Emergency Braking System (AEBS), the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), and the system that provides the driver with information captured by rear-facing cameras. Assessment points are given based on these tests, with the highest possible score of 46 points. If a vehicle achieves at least two points, Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV) rating is approved, and ASV+ is approved if it achieves at least 12 points.

http://www.globalsuzuki.com/globalnews/2016/0324.html

[volkman10]

Suzuki Hustler Hybrid has been spotted in Sri Lanka and could be launched soon in that market with fuel efficient powertrain - Is this India bound?

Comes available in both 2WD and 4WD versions, the small car was equipped with a CVT automatic transmission as well in countries like Japan. The spy images of the Hustler Hybrid suggest that it could be equipped with a hybrid system derived from the latest generation Solio. It could be combined with the existing petrol engine to produce additional power while being fuel efficient at the same time.

Link