Suzuki CV1 | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Suzuki |
Production | 1981-1985 |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Microcar |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 50 cc (3.1 cu in) 2-stroke Single cylinder |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 1,310 mm (4 ft 4 in) |
Length | 1,940 mm (6 ft 4 in) |
Width | 1,185 mm (3 ft 10.7 in) |
Height | 1,290 mm (4 ft 3 in) |
Kerb weight | 168 kg (3.31 long cwt) |
The Suzuki CV1 is a microcar first presented at the 24th Tokyo Motor Show in 1981.
Displayed under the banner of Suzuki Community Vehicle, the CV1 was a single-seat, four-wheeler, with a narrower track at the rear. It had a single door in its fiberglass body and originally had a claimed maximum speed of 30 km/h (19 mph), the legal limit for a moped in Japan at the time, and a fuel economy of 2.0 L/100 km (140 mpg‑imp; 120 mpg‑US). [1] The vehicle could be driven on a moped licence in Japan and was sold in very limited numbers on a trial basis at a price of 300,000 Yen. Somewhere between 50 and 100 examples were manufactured. [1] [2] [3]
After a governmental review, it was determined that the CV1 could only be driven by someone with a full license, rather than a moped license (which only required a written test). While this allowed Suzuki to increase the top speed to 60 km/h (37 mph), it also removed the reason for the CV1's existence. The car had windows on either side that could be slid upwards and early versions had a single headlamp. Its design was a modernized take on the post-war German bubble cars like the Heinkel Kabine and the BMW Isetta. Production ended in 1985 when Japanese licensing laws were changed.
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