Suzuki Splash

Suzuki Splash

Engine Petrol
1.0L 1.2L VVT
Drive system 2WD 2WD
Steering LHD / RHD LHD / RHD
Number of doors 5 5
DIMENSIONS
Overall length mm 3,715
Overall width mm 1,680
Overall height mm 1,590
Wheelbase mm 2,360
Tread Front mm 1,470 (14-inch tyre) / 1,460 (15-inch tyre)
Rear mm 1,480 (14-inch tyre) / 1,470 (15-inch tyre)
Minimum turning radius*1 m 4.7
Minimum ground clearance mm 145
CAPACITIES
Seating capacity persons 5
Luggage
capacity*1 Max. volume litres 1,050
Rear seatback folded
(VDA method) litres 462 (GA)

573 (GL / GLS*2)
Rear seatback raised
(VDA method) litres 202 (GA)

178 (GL / GLS*2)
Fuel tank capacity litres 45
ENGINE
Type K10B K12B
Number of cylinders 3 4
Number of valves 12 16
Piston displacement cm3 996 1,242
Bore x stroke mm 73.0 x 79.4 73.0 x 74.2
Compression ratio 11.0 11.0
Maximum output kW/rpm 48 / 6,000 69 / 6,000
Maximum torque N･m/rpm 90 / 4,800 118 / 4,800
Fuel distribution Multipoint injection Multipoint injection
Emission standard compliance Euro 5
TRANSMISSION
Type 5MT 5MT 4AT
Gear ratio 1st 3.454 3.454 2.875
2nd 1.904 1.904 1.568
3rd 1.280 1.280 1.000
4th 1.030 1.030 0.698
5th 0.815 0.815 -
Reverse 3.272 3.272 2.300
Final gear ratio 4.388 4.105 4.375
CHASSIS
Steering Rack and pinion
Brakes Front Ventilated disc
Rear Drum, leading and trailing
Suspension Front MacPherson strut with coil spring
Rear Torsion beam with coil spring
Tyres 165 / 70R14, 185 / 60R15
WEIGHTS
Kerb weight (min. / with full options) kg 975 / 1,030 990 / 1,050 1,040 / 1,065
Gross vehicle weight kg 1,485


Suzuki did much to pioneer and popularise the mini-MPV phenomenon with the Wagon R and its successor, the larger Wagon R+. Both had a strong visual presence thanks to their physical volume and boxy styling and were unprecedentedly roomy for cars with a modest road footprint; and a high eye point created a sense of openness in the cabin and made driving easy. They proved exceptionally popular, giving rise to competing products from rival manufacturers.

Although Suzuki has used its unique MPV know-how to evolve the genre still further, Splash is effectively a ‘blank canvas’ design and cannot be considered a successor to the Wagon R+ whose predecessor was effectively developed for the Japanese market. The Splash in contrast is predominantly tailored to the requirements of European customers.

Using its experience, Suzuki has created a small MPV that blends the traditional elements of compactness, comfort, and economy with the aerodynamics, handling, and dynamic designs demanded in the European driving environment. As a result, the Splash is a next-generation mini-MPV that meets today's needs in a uniquely effective way.

‘Rather than a purely functional box shape, our design team have endeavoured to provide Splash with styling that lives up to its name, epitomising youthfulness, freshness and a zesty, energetic performance,’ explains Toshihiro Suzuki, the project’s chief engineer.

The styling team for Splash, and its sister car, the Opel/Vauxhall Agila, was headed by chief designer Akira Kamio (44), who also played a big part in the styling of Swift. As early as October 2003, he began to analyse the necessary characteristics for a future European mini-MPV.

It soon became clear that while it should not look like a shrunken version of a full-sized MPV, it should keep all the advantages: the high seating position and resulting good all-round visibility, the pleasant feeling of space and the convenient flexibility, allowing the rear compartment to be easily turned into substantial stowage space.

‘The greatest design challenge with this model was combining more attractive exterior styling and good aerodynamics with highly valued interior attributes,’ explains Kamio.

In January 2004, a group of 10 exterior and interior designers travelled to Germany to spend six months absorbing and analysing European trends in cars, fashion, lifestyle and design. Out of their impressions and findings came three design proposals, which were then presented to audiences of Suzuki distributors and compact MPV owners to help determine the most popular theme and to refine the design direction.

‘Proposal A had a sporty, stable look that didn't emphasise the height of the car; Proposal B had a chic and charming look intended to appeal to female users; and proposal C had a contemporary look that conveyed a sense of the car's functionality,’ says Kamio.

‘Proposal A proved the most popular and we discovered that, with mini-MPVs, people preferred a sporty and emotionally appealing design. Hence we proceeded to make a full-size 1:1 clay model, reflecting our target dimensions, performance, and design requirements based on proposal A.’

The result was ‘Project Splash’ which made its debut at the Paris motor show in September 2006, and which embodied the basic styling theme of the production model, and provided the opportunity to check and validate ideas.

‘With the interior and exterior details, we worked toward emotional appeal in the form of designs that convey youthfulness, liveliness, and enjoyment in line with the “Splash” name,’ explains Kamio. ‘Since Project Splash was a showpiece, we gave it an all-glass roof and emphasised the smooth roof line by adopting chromed pillars that appeared to float in the glass area. The positive response we received at the Paris show gave us confidence in our Splash styling direction.’