While in the midst of developing the next Jimny, a model you might remember better as the Samurai, Suzuki also made an effort to set up a secondary compact off-roader at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show. Less grounded than the fourth-generation Jimny, the e-Survivor concept looks like a mashup between Jeep’s Wrangler and the lunar rover NASA took to the moon.
The name suggests something serious but the design speaks directly to weekend rock crawlers and fun-loving dune buggy enthusiasts. It certainly looks capable of both activities. The open-topped two-seater uses a lightweight ladder frame, all-wheel drive, and has enough ground clearance to be a scrappy little off-roader. However, as an electric, its value as a legitimate “survival vehicle” is dubious — unless you’re willing to swap gas canisters for solar panels in your post-apocalyptic scenario.
We’re of the mind that Suzuki wasn’t really expecting the e-Survivor to be the Swiss Army knife of automobiles. It probably just needed a standout name and didn’t want to call it the “Good Time 4×4 EV.”
Details on the concept vehicle are limited. We know it has four electric motors, integrated in each wheel, but not much else. When asked, the company said it has no plans to pursue production right now but wasn’t ruling anything out for the distant future either — not that it matters. Suzuki stopped selling cars in North America in 2014 and doesn’t look poised for a comeback any time soon.
Interestingly, this was one of the few concept cars in recent memory that didn’t promise some level of autonomy. While the manufacturer could certainly tack on whatever theoretical features it wants, especially since this is an entirely hypothetical model, the absence of self-driving tech is a curious one. Perhaps Suzuki doesn’t think people will want a car that does their off-roading for them.
[Images: Suzuki]
Jeep called… they want their grill back. Also if you going to put clear panels on the 4X4 how about the floor? This way you can look at the gnarly stuff your driving over.
Or like a glass bottom boat in light fording situations. ;-)
This makes more sense as post apocalyptic vehicle than an ICE. Gas and diesel (less so) will go bad in less than a year if not stabilized.
This little guy and a solar array on the other hand …
So, it’s like an X-90, but more ugly and less practical. I didn’t think that was possible.
Suzuki will have a huge underground warehouse filled to the rafters with these, and will break them out after the Kim Jung Un/Donald Trump thing has finally reached its inevitable and horrific conclusion.
Relax. Nothing is going to happen.
Fat little rocket man is only interested in his own self-preservation. He’s an empty barrel. Makes a lot of noise. That’s all. He ran into a solid brick wall with Team Trump, unlike prior US presidents who caved.
When his grand daddy started the Korean War, it didn’t end well for them. China doesn’t want another war on its border and neither does Russia.
Matt Damon made an electric work on Mars so why not
Did they actually built this thing, or are those pictures concept renderings?
Because I’ve rarely seen a car that looked so much like a drawing.
At first glance, I had thought that it was something from Toys R Us that one would buy for the kids to drive around in on the patio.
Pow pow Powerwheels!