Suzuki Covie - Tokyo Motor Show 2001
Wednesday October 24

From:
http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshows/articles/47802/page006.html
(Clink for pix)

Suzuki Covie

What is it?
Suzuki Covie

What's special about it?
Jointly developed with General Motors, the Covie is Suzuki's concept of an
electric vehicle. This semi-circular two-seater houses a compact fuel cell
generating system that produces power by separating hydrogen from a
household natural gas source. Not only does this create electricity to make
the car run, it also makes for a water heater for your domicile.

Also gracing the interior is a 12-inch monitor that displays such functions
as the Internet as well as telecommunications and navigation systems. It
also communicates with your so-equipped household appliances, such as a
refrigerator, to remind you to pick up dog food on the way home. Nag, nag,
nag.

Why should you care?
The Covie is another innovative solution to the question of how best to
power your automobile. Electricity is not an unlimited resource, as we saw
in California in the summer of 2001. How would you recharge your electric
vehicle during a rolling blackout? The Covie offers another method of
ensuring that your car will be fully functional when you need it. — Liz Kim

Suzuki's compact-car Expertise meets General Motor's Fuel-Cell Technology.

Overall Length(mm):2,945
Overall Width(mm):1,525
Overall Height(mm):1,515
Wheelbase(mm):2,000
Vehicle Weight(kg):750
Seating Capacity:2
Engine Type:Electric Motor

From:
http://ca.autos.yahoo.com/011024/11/ciw5.html

Tokyo Motor Show: GM and its partners, Isuzu, Suzuki, and Subaru, unveil
concept vehicles

Wednesday October 24

Tokyo, Japan - The GM Alliance Partner Group, which consists of General
Motors, Isuzu Motors, Suzuki Motors and Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru)
unveiled four new concept vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show.

GM introduced the e-Cruze, based on the Chevrolet Cruze introduced the day
before. Designed to showcase e-commerce and e-technology, the car displayed
the latest vision of telematics and mobile commerce. The e-Cruze offers a
host of Internet and communication services to the driver and passengers. It
will be sold in the Asia-Pacific region only and will go on sale in Japan in
November.

Suzuki unveiled the "Covie," a compact electric vehicle, developed by
combining Suzuki's downsized EV unit with GM's "Home Fuel Cell Generating
System." This vehicle provides an environmental means of daily
transportation for short distances. The Covie's navigation system links the
driver with IT-equipped intelligent electric appliances, offices and homes.

Subaru showcased a sophisticated all-wheel-drive redesign of the
multi-passenger wagon Subaru Traviq which is based on the European GM
Zafira.

Isuzu showcased the next-generation small 1 ton pickup truck models.

"Our alliances are important partnerships that are a key part of each
company's strategy for growth in the global automotive industry," said GM
Chairman John F. Smith, Jr. GM contributes research and development,
technology, purchasing, distribution, vehicle platforms, and e-commerce;
Isuzu is the centre of expertise for diesel engines; Suzuki is the centre of
expertise for small-cars and small displacement engines; and Fuji Heavy
Industries is the centre of expertise for all-wheel drive (AWD) technology
and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).

"Asia Pacific is a key to any global automaker's long-term success," "The
Power of Four has made GM, Isuzu, Suzuki and FHI the region's second largest
automotive group, with 17 percent of the market," he said.

From:
http://www.suntimes.co.za/2001/10/31/lifestyle/motoring/isuzu.asp

Suzuki’s tiny ‘green’ machine
2001/10/31

Among the many weird and wonderful concept vehicles at this year’s Tokyo
Motor Show, the battery-powered Suzuki Covie is a breath of fresh air –
literally, writes Sunday Times motoring correspondent Alan Duggan.

Suzuki’s Covie electric car is small – very small. Whereas this is not a bad
thing in terms of aesthetics and environmentally friendly transport, it has
to be said that some motorists are not happy with only a few centimetres of
plastic between them and another car in the event of an impact.

That aside, the Covie – among the crowd-pullers at the Tokyo Motor Show this
year - is pretty nifty. For a start, it has a lightweight plastic body that’
s said to be strong and dent-resistant. It’s designed to be coupled at home
to a fuel-cell system that would use natural gas to generate electricity.
Naturally, there are no noxious emissions associated with this process.

Among the cabin accoutrements is a communications link that allows the
driver to monitor his or her home, and even operate appliances remotely.
Nice one. I’ve always wanted a car that could switch on the kettle in
preparation for my return home…

Aimed at a somewhat different market, the Isuzu concept pickup is said to
offer a strong hint of the way the company is heading with its successor to
the Chevrolet Luv compact pickup. If this sounds confusing, remember that
Isuzu and General Motors have worked together for 30 years. Company sources
say the new pickup (whether or not it resembles this concept remains to be
seen) is expected to sell in very substantial volumes – possibly as many as
500 000 units a year.

Still with GM, and Chevrolet in particular, we introduce you to the eCruze,
a show vehicle featuring an impressive display of communications and
entertainment equipment, including an on-board navigation system, a video
conferencing system and a facility that permits the downloading of movies
from the Internet. Future shock indeed.