Frankfurt Preview: Suzuki Splash

Suzuki has released some information about its new Splash minicar, which is to be built in Hungary, ahead of its official bow at the Frankfurt auto show in September. Suzuki targets sales of about 60,000 in Europe next year.

The photos and data released by the Japanese automaker, pieced together with the Project Splash concept car from last year, show that Suzuki is doing what many other carmakers have also wisely opted to do: try to squeeze the maximum out of a platform. Volkswagen is a master of this game with its Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Variant and Touran. All share the same mechanical parts but serve different purposes.

Underneath, the Splash differs little from Suzuki's Swift. But whereas the Swift is targeting urban, trendy youth, Splash is aimed squarely at young families with one or two kids. It will feature a choice of low-consumption gasoline engines: a 1.0-liter three-cylinder that makes 65 horsepower and a 1.2-liter four-cylinder that makes 86 hp. Also planned is a 1.3-liter diesel, produced under license from Fiat by Suzuki's Indian powertrain operations.

The Splash was developed in Japan by a team of Suzuki designers who prepared for the task by making a trip to Germany in 2004 to study European culture, fashion, music and cars. The Project Splash concept was their first draft. The production version differs by its reworked interior and front treatment.

Production will be launched by the end of this year, with sales starting next spring. Suzuki will also build the second-generation Opel Agila as a sibling to the Splash.