Passing the ‘turban’ test; lineage and pricing
This isn’t the first time Suzuki has ventured into the realm of “daring” or unconventionally styled vehicles such as the Fronx, a subcompact crossover that blends the robust stance of an SUV with the flowing lines of a coupe.
The Sept. 12 launch of the Fronx in the Philippine market has generated considerable buzz, with its sleek, coupe-inspired styling turning heads and sparking conversations. This current design approach is Suzuki’s strategic move to appeal to a younger, trend-conscious demographic that desires a vehicle that is both stylish and versatile.
Predating the Fronx was the Suzuki X-90, a vehicle that could be considered the true pioneer of the “daring” coupe. The design of the X-90, a unique 2-seater with a T-top roof and a distinctive, rounded silhouette, looked timeless. While it wasn’t a commercial success, the X-90 has since garnered a cult following for its quirky charm and ahead-of-its-time design. Produced from 1995 to 1997 and based on the Vitara platform, the X-90 was a bold and unconventional offering that defied easy categorization.
Aside from the X-90, Suzuki also came out with the Ignis, with its bold, retro-futuristic styling, and the sporty yet elegant Kizashi (produced 2009 to 2016). Both had distinctive and often unconventional designs that challenged the status quo.
By infusing a sporty and stylish coupe silhouette into a practical crossover body of a Fronx, Suzuki is tapping into a niche that appeals to buyers who want the best of both worlds: The high driving position and versatility of an SUV, combined with the head-turning aesthetics of a coupe.
I asked Suzuki’s Japanese chief engineer for the Fronx Takashi Yokoyama the main challenges his team faced in balancing the vehicle’s aerodynamic roofline with the practical requirements of rear passenger headroom and cargo utility that Filipino families consistently look for in a crossover. Yokoyama said that with coupe style, the rear roof line would be lower than the front, so entering the vehicle would require a tall passenger to bend a bit more.
“The balance of doing that had made it difficult for our team to make it. Since this is also a collaboration between Japan and India, in India, if you could just imagine that a person with a turban would enter a lower vehicle, it’s not going to be easy. But with this vehicle, it was not an issue. It was not in any way a complaint,” Yokoyama said, through an interpreter.
Asked how paddle shifters improve the drive experience, Yokoyama explained, “Each driver has his or her own driving style, and their own preference for how much power they would want to have. In having the paddle shifters, since we have the 6-speed automatic transmission, it will now give the driver the option to downshift and accelerate so that he or she can achieve the desired speed.”
Yokoyama also explained how adaptive cruise control could also improve fuel economy. “The adaptive cruise control gives the driver the comfort and the smoothness of driving, and safety as well. It also makes for a more fuel-efficient consumption. Today’s modern cruise control system—the adaptive cruise control—is already fine-tuned. There’s no abrupt decrease of speed when someone overtakes you. With such a feature, it also relates to fuel efficiency.”
Asked why the Fronx is still a mild hybrid and not a full-hybrid, Yokoyama said: “As of the moment the Fronx is mild hybrid for the reason that it’s the best hybrid system that this car should have, at the same time, balancing the cost of the vehicle.”
Speaking of costs, here are the initial prices of the Fronx variants: The SGX AT Hybrid Two tone – P1.299 million; GLX AT hybrid Two tone – P1.229 million; GLX AT Hybrid – P1.219 million; GL AT – P1.059 million. Also revealed at the Sept. 12 event were the prices of the new XL7 Hybrid Black Edition variants – P1.259 million and P1.269 million.
