Suzuki Fronte 800
| Suzuki Fronte 800 (C10) | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 12.1965–10.1969 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 5-seater, 2dr sedan |
| Layout | FF, transversely mounted |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 785 cc C10 2-stroke I3 41 PS (30 kW) at 4,000 rpm, 8.1 kg·m (79 N·m) at 3,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,200 mm (86.6 in) |
| Length | 3,870 mm (152.4 in) |
| Width | 1,480 mm (58.3 in) |
| Height | 1,360 mm (53.5 in) |
| Curb weight | 770 kg (1,698 lb) |
The Suzuki Fronte 800 was subcompact car with a two-stroke engine built by the Suzuki Motor Corporation in the latter half of the 1960s.
Introduced in August 1965 (and on sale by December), the Fronte 800 was an attempt at competing in a higher market segment than the Suzulight Kei jidosha class offerings. The name from its smaller engined brother, the Fronte, was retained to aid the publicity effort. A four-door 700 cc prototype was shown at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show, clothed in a body designed by Pietro Frua, reminiscent of his Maserati Quattroporte I and Glas 1700 saloons. This line of development was not followed, with work on the Y4 prototype instead begun in 1962, another prototype appearing at the 1963 Tokyo Motor Show. Imminent production was announced, but at the '64 Motor Show another pre-production model was shown, with sales promised for the spring of the following year. Actual production, never but in a small scale and largely hand built, began in December 1965.
The three-cylinder, two-stroke 785 cc engine was very similar to that of the 796 cc DKW Junior/F11, with a 0.5 mm (0.02 in) smaller bore and exactly the same stroke. Top speed was 115 km/h, and the car was only available with a fully synchronized 4-speed column mounted manual transmission. Introductory price was ¥465,000, with a ¥545,000 DeLuxe version also available.
The body was a modern unibody design, only available as a two-door sedan. While rumoured to have been executed by Michelotti, design was credited to Suzuki chief designer Sasaki Toru (佐々木亨), who crafted a modern "soapbox" design with large glass surfaces. Suspension was an independent torsion bar design on all four wheels, with wishbones up front and trailing arms in rear. Brakes were drums all around. Sales were slow, as the car competed directly with more popular cars like the Toyota Publica which were not handicapped by the Suzuki's by now outmoded two-stroke engine - while kei car buyers did not mind putting up with such a construction, car buyers in this segment were by now demanding more.
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