Would You Buy This Suzuki for 12,000 Euros?
AUTO: While European manufacturers do their best to meet standards while offering basic cars for around 15,000 euros, the Japanese offer nice and complete cars like this Suzuki for less than that
The starting point for our reflection is news read “abroad”, about the update of a model sold by Suzuki in Japan. This car has a petrol engine of 1.2 litres, delivering 82 hp and weighing just 900 kg, and all this for the equivalent of 12,500 euros. And to be clear, let’s emphasize that this Suzuki is just one example captured on the fly, which faces a number of competitors of the same ilk.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Citroën or Fiat they have to tear off an arm to succeed in offering cars at 15,000 euros, and we were talking to you here about the new 500 hybrid, being offered at 20,000 euros and delivering just 69 hp.
E-cars
The difference? The “extremely heavy” standards that Europe imposes on industry automobile. And this is one of the battles that this industry is currently waging, alongside the reopening of the debate on 100% electric in 2035. Manufacturers are calling for a special category, with lighter standards, which would make it possible to once again offer affordable small cars to the public.
Following a recent meeting, we discussed the creation of E-cars, with the e of “economic”, “ecological”, “European” and… “electric”. The intention is great, and we can tell you that some brands already have models ready for this hypothetical category in the pipeline. But by their nature electric, they would still display prices above 15,000 euros, despite an extra-light construction, literally made of plastic, far from the status of a real car that are the Kei Cars.
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