The 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 ...
manufactured by
Suzuki Motor Corporation
is a Japanese multinational mobility manufacturer headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. It manufactures automobiles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal com ...
. Introduced in 1976 as the successor to the
Suzuki Fronte Coupé, the Cervo name was originally affixed to a kei sports coupe, and then to models derived from the
Suzuki Alto
The is a kei car produced by Suzuki since 1979. The model, currently in its ninth generation, was first introduced in 1979 and has been built in many countries worldwide. The Alto originated as a commercial vehicle derivative of the Fronte, ...
. The nameplate was retired between 1998 and 2006, and again in December 2009.
Cervo SS20 (first generation)
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 ...
was the first company to offer 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 ...
in 1955. One interesting departure from other
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 ...
s was the Fronte Coupé introduced in September 1971. It was a 2+2 (or a strict 2-seater)
Giugiaro
Giorgetto Giugiaro (; born 7 August 1938) is an Italian automotive designer. He has worked on supercars and popular everyday vehicles. He was named Car Designer of the Century in 1999 and inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2002. He w ...
-designed mini GT based on the rear-engine
Suzuki Fronte
The Suzuki Fronte () is an automobile introduced in March 1962 as a sedan version of the Suzulight Van. The nameplate remained in use for Suzuki's Kei car sedans as well as some commercial-use derivatives until it was replaced by the Alto (orig ...
, measuring a mere 2995 mm. It used a 359 cc two-stroke engine developing 31, 34 or 37 PS (35 in later models) depending on equipment level. The Fronte Coupé was discontinued in June, 1976, as it didn't suit the new Kei Jidosha limits, nor the stricter emissions regulations.
After a hiatus of over a year, Suzuki returned to the sports minicar market with the new Cervo in October 1977. The SS20 Cervo was mainly a
JDM model (although it was also sold as a LHD in Chile) with a 539 cc three-cylinder, two-stroke engine. The SS20 used the chassis from the 1976
Fronte 7-S, but was equipped with the larger
''T5A'' engine (this was the rear-mounted version of the LJ50 used in the
Jimny and
Fronte Hatch, also known as the T5B in the
FF Alto/Fronte). The body was based on the Giugiaro designed Fronte Coupé, but with a bulge in the front and bigger bumpers which led to the loss of some of the original's grace. Instead of square headlights, the Cervo received round items. The new rear glass hatch added convenience, allowing access to the rear cargo area. With the rear seats folded, one could fit of luggage there, with an additional available in the front compartment.
Worse was that the new 550 cc engine was strangled by emissions requirements. Whereas the most powerful 360 cc version had offered at 6000 rpm, the new ''T5A'' only provided at 5000 rpm and had an additional 55–80 kg to drag around. To keep acceleration acceptable, gearing was rather low, keeping claimed top speed to .
This was ten more than the Fronte 7-S sedan version could achieve, thanks to lower wind resistance,
but ''Car Graphic'' was only able to reach when testing the car in 1977, with the 0–400 m sprint taking 23 seconds. The engine ran out of breath past 7000 rpm. Suzuki was aware that the Cervo, unlike its predecessor, was no longer a mini GT car. The advertising also reflected this, generally targeting the female demographic (except for the sporty CX-G version).
Equipment levels ranged from the entry-level CX (円608,000 in 1977), via the "ladies' version" CX-L to the top-of-the-line CX-G (円698,000). The lowest priced CX model received microscopic hubcaps, painted black, as were the bumpers (chromed on better equipped versions).
The CX-L was added in September 1978 and had brighter trim, to specifically target feminine customers.
Only the CX-G had front disc brakes; the others had to make do with drums all around. As implied by the weight distribution, the rear-engine lead to a somewhat twitchy front end.
In the SC100s, the heavier four-cylinder engine was countered by a balancing weight in the front bumper.
The SS20 Cervo received a very minor facelift in 1978, consisting mainly of interior upgrades. In June 1982, the rear-engined Cervo was discontinued in favor of a more conventionally laid out replacement, the SS40. In Chile the Cervo was originally only sold with the 970 cc F10A engine; a May 1979 drastic lowering on tariffs on cars of less than 850 cc meant that the 797 cc F8A inline-four became available in that market. The chassis code of this model is SC80.
This was sold alongside a better equipped model with the 1 litre F10A as used in the SC100.
SC100
For
export
An export in international trade is a good produced in one country that is sold into another country or a service provided in one country for a national or resident of another country. The seller of such goods or the service provider is a ...
, Suzuki transformed the Cervo into the SC100, first introduced in April 1978. It had its European premiere in February 1979, at Amsterdam's
AutoRAI
The Amsterdam International Motor Show or AutoRAI was a motor show that took place every two years in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The history of the AutoRAI goes back to 1893, when the association of Bicycle Industry (RI) was established. The first bi ...
.
The SC100 was known in the
UK by the nickname "Whizzkid". The three-cylinder engine was replaced by a rear-mounted 970 cc four-cylinder
''F10A'' engine (later used in the
SJ410) developing . The top speed was in a contemporary test. The body differed from the Cervo's in that the windshield was not as steeply raked, necessitating a different doorframe and side window as well. Square headlights were used in European markets, with either round or square ones used elsewhere. In European markets the grille incorporated the chunky indicator lenses, which were normally positioned in a space underneath the bumper – these openings were blanked with plastic grilles.
In the UK it was only available as the lavishly equipped SC100 GX, while in other countries it was also offered as a CX or the more luxurious CX-G. The GX, with a cigar lighter, reclining front seats, and independent all-round suspension, sold for
£2,400 upon introduction (the slightly larger Alto of the same period sold for £3375). The marketing campaign was further helped by an enthusiastic owner, the late
LJK Setright
Leonard John Kensell Setright (10 August 1931 – 7 September 2005) was an English motoring journalist and author.
Early life and education
Setright was born in London to Australian parents; his father, Henry Roy Setright, was an engineer wh ...
, long-time ''CAR'' magazine columnist. Other markets included the Netherlands, Hong Kong, South Africa, New Zealand and several Latin American countries.
It was sold in Europe from 1979 to 1982, when production ended. There was only one model change, when dashboard and column switches were modified in January 1980. With demand always outstripping supply, British importer Heron Suzuki sold 4696 SC100s in Britain, where the car has since then gained minor classic status. Nimag sold 3290 SC100s in the Netherlands, while the 1299 remaining cars were delivered to New Zealand, South Africa, and Latin America.
This production includes the Chilean SS80 version. As of mid 2014, there were 96 "Whizzkids" registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) in the UK.
Cervo SS40 (2nd generation)
In June 1982, an all-new Cervo was presented. Based on the underpinnings of the recently changed
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 ...
/
Fronte, the Cervo now sported front-wheel drive with a transversally mounted
four-stroke
A four-stroke (also four-cycle) engine is an internal combustion (IC) engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes while turning the crankshaft. A stroke refers to the full travel of the piston along the cylinder, in either directio ...
engine. The
F5A engine was the same as used in the SS40 Fronte. A twin-choke carb meant a whopping was available, rather than the in the "cooking" Alto/Mighty Boy. The Cervo offered a lower, much more sporty driving position than its Alto/Fronte sister cars. Anyone over 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) would certainly hit their head on the ceiling. Strangely, considering its supposedly sporty character, the Cervo was higher geared than its Fronte sister car. Top speed, however, either remained the same as the of the Fronte (according to one source), or a little bit higher, at , according to another. To distinguish the Cervo from the other SS40 versions, its model code was SS40C (
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 ...
: SS40V,
Fronte: SS40S,
Mighty Boy: SS40T).
The new more aerodynamic body looked a bit more plain than its sharp predecessor, but the fastback shape echoed Giugiaro's original design. The headlights were square, there was more glass than on the SS20 (but with a broad
B-pillar
The pillars on a car with permanent roof body style (such as four-door sedans) are the vertical or nearly vertical supports of its window area or greenhouse—designated respectively as the A, B, C and (in larger cars such as 4-door stati ...
) and the larger rear glass hatch (still not a proper hatch) now offered better access to a much more usable luggage space. The rear seat folded; some versions even offered a remote opening mechanism and heated rear window. The SS40 was also the first Cervo to offer automatic transmission, a two-speed. This all reflected a steady move away from the original "mini
Gran Turismo" concept towards a much softer "
Personal Car".
When introduced, only a CS (4MT) or CS-Q (2AT) were offered (円580,000/620,000). In late September the more upscale CS-L (5MT) and CS-QL (2AT) were added to the lineup, offering (partially) fabric covered seats and a number of other conveniences at a starting price of 円687,000.
All had 10-inch steel wheels. The automatic transmission was never too popular, offering only two gear ratios and considerably worse acceleration and gas mileage (down 20 percent), along with a higher price.
In May 1983, less than a year after introduction, the Cervo received a light facelift. In light of new regulations, wing mirrors were moved to the doors and the screw holes on the fenders were covered up. The mechanical changes were light: a slightly adjusted
cam profile
Cam or CAM may refer to:
Science and technology
* Cam (mechanism), a mechanical linkage which translates motion
* Camshaft, a shaft with a cam
* Camera or webcam, a device that records images or video
In computing
* Computer-aided manufacturin ...
, the
compression rate was upped to 9,7:1 (previously 9,5), the EGR and catalytic converter were improved and the engine received an automatic choke and transistor ignition. Power remained . There were also radial tired versions introduced, and disc brakes for the top-of-the-line CS-G. The lineup also received an overhaul, now looking as follows:
There was also a CS-M / CS-QM special edition (based on the CS-D) in either an all-white or an all-red paint scheme with a black-and-red interior (円633,000 / 円673,000). The CS-G was aimed at a more masculine clientele, and was the first SS40 Cervo to use male models in the advertising. The CS-F had a very high 5th gear and offered a 5% gas mileage improvement over other Cervos.
An even sportier version appeared in November 1983, when the turbocharged CT and CT-G versions were offered. The F5A
Turbo
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 ...
was Suzuki's first forced induction car engine and produced and a useful . It received an electronic carburetor and a lower compression rate of 8,6:1. Only a five-speed manual transmission was available, and front disc brakes were standard. The CT weighed in at , prices were 円748,000 and 円898,000 respectively. A two-tone red-and-black interior and dummy hood scoop added to the Turbo's sporty looks, while the CT-G also received a rev counter. Top speed has been quoted at .
[ While being a plausible figure, the ''Auto Katalog'' top speed numbers often seem like mere conjecture.]
In January 1985 another minor facelift occurred, with new, more comfortable seats and a new front grille. The interior also sported more fabric, an improved manual shifter and a half-leather steering wheel on the CT-G. The side mirrors were now mounted in the corner between the door and A-pillar, rather than on the door itself. The CT-G received body colored bumpers and mirrors, which was optional on lesser versions. Power output was up to , due to a new carburetor. Top speed according to German ''
Auto Katalog'' was up by five, to . The lineup consisted of the CT-G (sporty Turbo), CS-G (sporty NA), CS-D / CS-QD ("deluxe" versions - with a vinyl rear seat nonetheless) and CS / CS-Q (standard version).
With Kei car sales shrinking overall and the Cervo losing market share, sales were dropping precipitously. In February 1987 the second-generation Cervo received its third and final update. The Turbo was discontinued and the lineup rationalized to two versions, the sporty CS-G with a 5-speed manual and the lower grade CS-D with either a 4-speed manual or the 2-speed automatic. As further rationalization, all models now had roll-type safety belts (hitherto, CS and CS-D versions had come with fixed belts), front disc brakes and air conditioning.
By January 1988, a new Cervo had been presented and the SS40C was discontinued shortly thereafter. Due to its lesser sales, the SS40C never received as many technical improvements as its Alto sister model. The Alto Turbo gained fuel injection and other technologies, but the ostensibly sporty Cervo had to make do with a carburetted . These days, many Cervo owners modify their cars by bolting on parts from later Altos, making the Cervo live up to its sporty appearance.
2nd generation Suzuki Cervo CT-G rear.jpg, Suzuki Cervo CT-G (rear)
Suzuki Mighty Boy 002.JPG, The Cervo-based Mighty Boy was an interesting offshoot, the one and only coupé utility
A coupé utility is a vehicle with a passenger compartment at the front and an integrated tray#cargo tray, cargo tray at the rear, with the front of the cargo bed doubling as the rear of the passenger compartment.
The term originated in the 19 ...
in the 550 cc class
Cervo CG72V/CH72V (3rd generation)
On January 22, 1988, the next Cervo was introduced. Suzuki were accentuating the Cervo's van capabilities this time around, with a squat, boxy rear end which gave the car an exceedingly bizarre appearance in combination with the front clip and door skins of the
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 ...
/
Fronte. The C-pillar was very wide, the front part of the roof was made of glass, there was a small wraparound rear spoiler and a more prominent one at the top of the hatchback lid. One nickname in Japan was "Airbrick", while others referred to it as the - hinting at the Cervo's continued popularity with stylish young females. The interior was no less unusual than the outside: a large gray and bright yellow diagonal pattern covered the seats while white gauges added a touch of sportiness. Storage compartments abounded, in the thick C-pillars as well as in a central console.
The new Cervo benefited from various technical improvements made to the Alto/Fronte, fitting the new
F5B SOHC 12-valve three-cylinder (carbureted). at a peaky 7,500 rpm was available from 547 cc. Torque is at 4,500 rpm. Three well-equipped models were available:
* CGXF front-wheel drive, 5MT. 円698,000 (CG72V)
* CGXL front-wheel drive, 3AT. 円750,000 (CG72V)
* CGXJ four-wheel drive, 5MT. 円770,000 (CH72V)
1988 Suzuki Cervo rear.jpg, Rear view
1988 Suzuki Cervo CGPL Gokigen Pack in Superior White, interior.jpg, Interior (CGPL)
In March, three models with the world's first electric power steering (CGPF/CGPL/CGPJ) were added to the lineup, at a juicy 円150,000 surcharge. Called the , the price also included air conditioning and a high-powered Mitsubishi Diatone stereo using the C-pillars for a speaker installation instead of the cubbyholes on the regular version. Actress and pop idol
Yuka Ōnishi (大西結花) was the spokesperson for the Cervo's ad campaign, while an all female motorcycle racing team (Team Angela) raced a turbocharged Cervo in the 1988
Rallye des Pharaons
The Rallye des Pharaons (French for "Pharaohs Rally") was a rally-raid event that took place in Egypt between 1982 and 2015. Cairo was both the starting and finishing point at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, and the rally covered roughly around . ...
.
However, it was all to no avail: The rivals, Daihatsu's new
Leeza
''Leeza'' is an NBC and syndicated daytime television talk show. It premiered on June 14, 1993 as ''John & Leeza from Hollywood'', hosted by John Tesh and Leeza Gibbons. Tesh left the show after seven months, and on January 17, 1994, the pro ...
and Mazda's
Autozam Carol
Carol may refer to:
People with the name
*Carol (given name)
* Avedon Carol (born 1951), British writer and feminist
* Henri Carol (1910–1984), French composer and organist
* Martine Carol (1920–1967), French film actress
* Sue Carol (1906– ...
both sold much better. Combined with the removal of certain tax breaks for small cargo vehicles, this meant that the Cervo's already narrow slot in the market had essentially disappeared. When the new 660 cc Kei regulations were introduced, Suzuki decided to call it quits rather than spend a lot of money to update such a slow-selling vehicle and Cervo production ended in May 1990.
Cervo Mode (4th generation)
(CN21-22S / CP21-22S / CN31-32S / CP31-32S)
Again targeting the female demographic, the Cervo nameplate made a return in July 1990. Now, however, reflecting the new
Kei Jidosha
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 ...
standards, the engine had grown by 110 cc and it was longer. More shockingly, the car was of a traditional two-box design, sold initially only as a 3-door hatchback. Eventually, the Cervo Mode developed into a full range of cars, coinciding with the discontinuation of the
Fronte which had left a niche above the "regular" Alto. Reflecting the desired clientele, heartthrob
Yūji Oda
is a Japanese actor and singer. He is one of Japan's 11 most popular male entertainers, according to an NHK survey taken in 2004. In one survey, he was the second most popular actor after Takuya Kimura in Japan during the Heisei era (1989-2019) ...
(織田裕二) appeared in the marketing campaign.

The Cervo Mode was initially only available with turbocharged 660 cc engines of either 3- or 4-cylinder configurations. In November 1990 a 5-door version followed, along with lesser engines. These non-turbocharged versions were called "sedans" while the original versions were called the "sports" series.
The Mode looked more pedestrian than previous Cervos, with the
Maruti built version (the
"Zen") in fact being marketed as the
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 ...
in Europe and Australia. The Zen/Alto looks similar but is actually twenty cm longer and ten wider, as well as fitted with a one-liter engine.
The Cervo was a bit sportier than it appeared at first sight, however. The hottest version (the SR-Four) was the second Kei car to have a four-cylinder (after the 550 cc Subaru Rex and its EN05 engine), but the first to have a 16-valve
DOHC
An overhead camshaft (OHC) engine is a piston engine in which the camshaft is located in the cylinder head above the combustion chamber. This contrasts with earlier overhead valve engines (OHV), where the camshaft is located below the combus ...
Turbo Intercooler engine (
F6B), and was also the first to be equipped with Pirelli P700 tires as standard. ABS was optional, as was
Full-time 4WD.
;Specifications:
By November 1990 the 52/55 PS (carbureted/EPI) non-turbo
F6A SOHC 4-valve engine became available, available in a whole range of versions: M as three- or five-door (later only five), with manual or automatic transmissions and FWD or 4WD, a sportier S only as a three-door, and the luxurious L only as a five-door with the more powerful EPI engine - which also appeared in 4WDs equipped with automatics. In September 1991 the range was revised, receiving side impact protection and a high mounted brakelight. Since these were considered structural changes the car received a new set of model codes, becoming the CN22S/CP22S/CN32S/CP32S. The SR-Four now came with all-around disc brakes while the S-Turbo was discontinued. An FWD automatic MC version joined the range at the lower end, equipped with a column-mounted shifter. Other special versions abounded, with the luxurious F-Limited EPI 3-door joining in December 1991 and the somewhat cheaper, carbureted M Selection in April 1992. In July of that year, the 3-door, automatic only S Selection managed to find a slot in a pricelist now comprising a faintly ridiculous 27 variants. This didn't hinder Suzuki from adding more versions, the well-equipped LoFt (''sic''), in June 1994 and the A in April of that year.
In October, 1995, the lineup received a facelift and some minor technical changes. A 2-valve base version (the B, C and E), developing joined. The carbureted 12-valve engine equipped the M Selection, the LoFt, FF versions of the S Selection, the X and the F-Limited. The EPI version was also available in the 4WD M Selection. The SR-Turbo lost two valves per cylinder but gained an intercooler in the process, bringing claimed power up to the same as in the more expensive SR-Four.
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 ...
s just so happen to be limited to 64 PS, but it was a badly kept secret that the four-cylinder
F6B developed considerably more than that. The X was alone in being offered with a 4-speed automatic.
By May 1997, as the
Wagon R (itself based on the Cervo Mode) was stealing ever more of the Cervo's sales, the turbocharged versions were discontinued as the lineup was shrunk to the S-Limited (42, 52 or 55 PS) and the M Selection (52/55 PS). The 52 PS (55 in the AT 4WD version) 3-door SR joined in January 1998, attempting to fill the gap left by the Turbocharged models. By October 1998, with new regulations looming, the Cervo was once again discontinued.
Cervo C (Classic)

In August 1996 the retro-look Cervo C (for "Classic") appeared, following the success of Subaru's
Vivio Bistro and Mitsuoka's original
Viewt. The Cervo C came as a well-equipped five-door with the F6A engine (55 PS in the automatic 4WD version). A high-powered AM/FM cassette stereo was standard, as were power windows and locks as well as wooden details on the dash and steering wheel. Automatic transmission and/or four-wheel drive were optional. The metal bodywork was the same as on the Cervo Mode, but the front assembly was entirely different and chromed bumpers, mirrors and doorhandles added to the classic look. In May 1997 a three-door version joined the lineup. Production ended in October 1998, when the Cervo Mode sister model was discontinued. A version was launched in India as the "Zen Classic." It was not well received, becoming a huge flop in the Indian market.
Cervo HG21S (5th generation)
In November 2006 Suzuki reintroduced the Cervo name.
The modern, Alto-based Cervo is still 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 ...
but is more luxurious than its predecessor. It was introduced with the 658 cc
K6A engine (54 hp in the normally aspirated
VVT G version, 60 PS in the turbo T and TX version).
It was only available as a five-door with a four-speed automatic (with a manual mode in the turbo cars), and was marketed as a more masculine alternative to the
MR Wagon. The higher specification Cervos had keyless entry and
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is li ...
. In June 2007 a G Limited normally aspirated model was added, with the fourteen-inch alloy wheels and rear spoiler of the TX.
In October 2007 the Cervo received the Japanese Good Design Award, and the SR version was introduced. This had a new, 64 hp
direct injection turbo engine and a
Jatco-made seven-step
CVT transmission
A continuously variable transmission (CVT) is an automated transmission that can change through a continuous range of gear ratios, typically resulting in better fuel economy in gasoline applications. This contrasts with other transmissions that ...
, the first time such a combination was available in a Japanese car.
It had front-wheel drive and achieved 23.0 km/L (54 mpg) fuel consumption on the test cycle.
The Cervo also received minor updates across the line, with liquid seal engine mounts and suspension changes. In May 2008 the range received more minor updates, with new colors being added and a new limited edition model, the G Limited II, which featured alcantara interior and a sporty exterior. Other models received new aero parts and other equipment,
gas-discharge headlights were now available on the SR.
[
In May 2009 the T model was discontinued and the TX received the "aero" front dam of the SR. The fuel consumption of the naturally aspirated front-wheel-drive versions was improved to better the 2010 Japanese fuel consumption standards by 15 percent, thus qualifying for a tax break.] The SR is the only turbocharged 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 ...
to qualify for the lower tax grades for especially environmentally friendly vehicles, combining this with being the most powerful version.
Sales targets were 60,000 per year when introduced; this goal had shrunk to 12,000 for 2009. The Cervo was discontinued by Suzuki during December 2009.
Notes
References
* ''Auto Katalog 1984''. Vereinigte Motor-Verlage GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart: 1983.
* ''Car Graphic: Car Archives Vol. 5, '70s Japanese Cars''. Nigensha: 2007.
* ''Car Graphic: Car Archives Vol. 11, '80s Japanese Cars''. Nigensha: 2007.
*
*
*
* Kazuo Ozeki, ''Suzuki Story: Small Cars, Big Ambitions''. Miki Press: 2007.
*
* ''World Cars 1982''. Automobile Club of Italy: 1982. p374,
* ''World Cars 1984''. Automobile Club of Italy: 1984. p376,
* ''World Cars 1985''. Automobile Club of Italy: 1985. p382,
External links
*
{{Suzuki timeline (Europe) 1980 to date
Cars introduced in 1977
1980s cars
1990s cars
2000s cars
Cervo
Kei cars
Rear-engined vehicles