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The Suzuki Alto (スズキ・アルト) is a kei car built by Suzuki. Its selling points have long included a low price and good fuel economy. The model, currently in its eighth generation, was first introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide. The Alto badge has often been used on different cars in Japan and in export markets, where it is considered a city car. ==First generation (1979–1984)== The first generation (SS30V/40V), introduced in May 1979, was a three-door cargo version of the Fronte passenger car, equipped with a folding rear seat. Front suspension comprised coils struts, with leaf springs at the back. The steering was of the recirculating ball type, and four-wheel drums were used.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 Suzuki Hatch )〕 On introduction, the Alto received the T5B two-stroke (SS30) three-cylinder engine, producing at 5,500 rpm. The Alto was a "micro sensation" when introduced, largely due to its rock bottom price of ¥470,000 (circa $1,900 in 1979, at a time when the cheapest Ford Pinto cost $4,999 in the US). This low price was made possible by a number of Japanese special concessions for commercial vehicles: most notably, the engine did not require twin catalysts. Two less doors provided another saving, as did the exemption from commodity tax. The Alto's success changed the kei-car market, and other producers such as Subaru (with the "Family Rex") quickly followed suit with cut-price "commercial" vehicles that were really intended for private use. The Alto helped Suzuki move into seventh place in Japanese production for cars and trucks. In January 1981, the F5A four-stroke from the Fronte was also made available for the Alto; although it only had a single-barrel carburettor, it too put out but at 6,000 rpm. Torque was considerably lower, down from . 1981 saw also the year that it became available in the United Kingdom, as Suzuki began selling cars there that year. In export markets, the Alto name was used for the passenger car versions (chassis codes with trailing letter "S") as well as on commercials (ending in "V"), while the van was marketed as the "Suzuki Hatch" in Australia. The four-doors were not proper hatchbacks, only featuring an opening rear window. Export cars were also available with twelve-inch wheels, unlike the domestic versions which only used ten-inch units until the introduction of the 4WD version in October 1983. The 4WD "Snow Liner" thus gained an extra of ground clearance. Most export Altos were passenger car versions (which used the "Fronte" badge in the Japanese domestic markets), and usually received the F8B engine and the SS80 chassis code. The 800 had better performance, but due to the higher gearing possible, the gas mileage also increased, by about ten percent according to Suzuki.〔 The SS80 was also built in New Zealand, by South Pacific Suzuki Assemblers at a rate of six per day. It was introduced in New Zealand in March 1980.〔 In Australia, the Suzuki Hatch, sold as a two-seat commercial vehicle to be taxed at 35 percent duty (as opposed to 57.5 percent for passenger cars) offered a standard engine with and .〔 The side rear windows were covered with fibreglass by default, with a glass panels optional. The only other option was air conditioning.〔 M. W. Suzuki in Victoria, Suzuki's distributor for Southern Australia, introduced the "800 pack" in 1981 that included the motor.〔 The pack also added steel-belt radial tyres, 12-inch wheels (up from 10-inch), front-wheel disc brakes and bolder bumpers front and rear.〔 While Suzuki held on to the two-stroke engine concept for a half decade longer than any of its Japanese competitors, eventually market pressures and ever tightening emissions regulations spelled its end in the Alto by September 1981. The Jimny, however, did use the same engine (called LJ50 in the Jimny) as late as 1987. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Suzuki Alto」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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