The Suzuki Lapin is a

kei car Kei car is the smallest category of Japanese expressway-legal motor vehicles. The term ''kei'' is a shortening of , (kanji: ), which translates to English as "light vehicle" (). With restricted dimensions and engine specifications, owners ...

with a five-door

hatchback A hatchback is a car body style, car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to the main interior of the car as a cargo area rather than just to a separated trunk. Hatchbacks may feature fold-down second-row sea ...

body, manufactured since 2002 by

Suzuki is a Japanese multinational mobility manufacturer headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka. It manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard motor, outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a va ...

for the Japanese market only, and was also marketed in Japan only by

Mazda is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Fuchū, Hiroshima (town), Fuchū, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima, Japan. The company was founded on January 30, 1920, as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. ...

as Mazda Spiano under an OEM agreement through their

Autozam was a brand of Japanese automaker Mazda, specializing in small cars and Kei cars, many of which were rebadged Suzuki models. Autozam also briefly acted as importer of Lancia vehicles to Japan. The Autozam dealership channel is still in opera ...

stores until 2008. It is based on Suzuki's popular

Alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: '' altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In four-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in ch ...

kei car. The Lapin has a very distinctive, boxy shape, that proved popular with female buyers. The name "Lapin" stems from the French word for "

rabbit Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae (which also includes the hares), which is in the order Lagomorpha (which also includes pikas). They are familiar throughout the world as a small herbivore, a prey animal, a domesticated ...

", and the car sports rabbit-head badges. The Mazda version has differences concerning some styling details, including a different front end. The Alto Lapin was awarded the 2008 Japanese Good Design Award.

First-generation HE21S (2002–2008)

The first-generation Alto Lapin was introduced in January 2002 with three trims, "G","X" and "X2". The car is powered by the Suzuki's K6A ''kei car'' engine, 0.66 L naturally aspirated (40 kW / 54 hp) with either

front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of internal combustion engine, engine and transmission (mechanics), transmission layout used in motor vehicles, in which the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel-drive vehicles feature ...

all-wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. Types The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflects one axle with ...

. The default transmission is a four-speed

automatic Automatic may refer to: Music Bands * Automatic (Australian band), Australian rock band * Automatic (American band), American rock band * The Automatic, a Welsh alternative rock band Albums * ''Automatic'' (Jack Bruce album), a 1983 el ...

. * In October 2002, Suzuki launched the "Turbo". It has a

turbocharged In an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger (also known as a turbo or a turbosupercharger) is a forced induction device that is powered by the flow of exhaust gases. It uses this energy to compress the intake air, forcing more air into the ...

44 kW (60 hp) motor and a five-speed manual option. * In September 2003, the series II model was introduced and two new versions "SS" and "L" were added. * In October 2004, the series III model was introduced and "L" discontinued. * In December 2005, the series IV model was introduced and the canvas top version was discontinued. * In April 2006, the series V model introduced and round-shape headlamps "L" added."X2" version discontinued. * In May 2007, the series VI model introduced and received new shape front grille.

Second-generation HE22S (2008–2015)

The second-generation Alto Lapin was introduced in November 2008 with four trims: "G", "X", "T" and "T L package". CVT was added and manual transmission was dropped. Unlike its predecessor, there is no longer a Mazda Spiano counterpart. * In May 2010, all models got CVT and a four-speed auto was discontinued. * In August 2010, the series II model was introduced. * In May 2012, the series III model was introduced.

Third-generation HE33S (2015–present)

The third-generation Alto Lapin was released on 3 June 2015. A derivative model called Lapin LC was released on 17 June 2022; it features a redesigned fron fascia inspired by the 1960s LC10 Fronte 360. This retro-styled kei car is powered by a 660 cc petrol engine producing and of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It is available in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive configurations. The Lapin LC measures 3,395 mm in length, 1,475 mm in width, and 1,525 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,460 mm. In its most efficient configuration, it achieves an average fuel consumption of up to 26.2 km/L. 2015 Suzuki Alto Lapin.jpg, Third-generation Suzuki Alto Lapin Suzuki ALTO Lapin LC L 2WD (5BA-HE33S-NSLE-4) front.jpg, Suzuki Alto Lapin LC Suzuki ALTO Lapin LC X 2WD (5BA-HE33S-NSXE-M4) interior.jpg, Suzuki Alto Lapin LC X 2WD

Sales

References

* ''(technical data in infoboxes)''

External links

Suzuki Lapin at the official manufacturer's site

Mazda Spiano – fan site
{{Suzuki vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Front-wheel-drive vehicles Kei cars Hatchbacks Lapin Retro-style automobiles Cars introduced in 2002 2010s cars 2020s cars Vehicles with CVT transmission