Suzuki MR Wagon
Encyclopedia
The Suzuki MR Wagon is a kei car
with a mini MPV
body, seating four, manufactured by Suzuki
for the Japan
ese market only, and also marketed in Japan by Nissan
as the Nissan Moco under an OEM
agreement. The model debuted in 2001, and since 2007 it has been in its second generation. It was launched in India
by Maruti Suzuki as Maruti Zen Estilo in 2006, Maruti Zen Estilo was discontinued in 2009 and renamed as Maruti Estilo.
The vehicle's name is somewhat misleading, as it does not sport a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (which is often abbreviated as RMR, or more commonly, MR).
The first generation model went on sale on December 4, 2001, featuring Suzuki's K6A kei car engine, in either naturally aspirated (40 kW / 54 hp) or turbocharged
(44 kW / 60 hp) versions, available with either front-wheel drive
or all-wheel drive. In all versions, the transmission was a 4-speed transmission
with column shift. A hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle
based on the first-generation MR Wagon was presented in 2005, using technology co-developed with General Motors
.
The Nissan Moco version was presented as a concept car on the 35th Tokyo Motor Show
in 2001 and only went on sale on April 10, 2002. The basic engine, drive and transmission choices were the same as for the Suzuki. The major difference between the Nissan and Suzuki versions was the Nissan's "wing" grille resembling that of the contemporary Nissan Primera P12. The sales of the Nissan version stabilized at about 3,000-4,000 units a month, actually exceeding the MR Wagon's sales.
1.1L MPFI engine that also powers the Wagon R in the Japan
ese market. A facelifted variant was released in August of 2009 as the "Maruti Estilo", losing the Zen moniker entirely. This transition has brought about a steady decline in sales for this model though the facelift has brought significant improvement in performance and styling over the car's Japanese variants.
The first generation model is currently sold in Indonesia as the "Suzuki Karimun Estilo". Sales began in January of 2008.
The model's second generation was previewed at the 39th Tokyo Motor Show in 2005, where a concept called Mom's Personal Wagon was presented, with many features intended to be useful for a mother driving her children, including food trays, a front bench seat
and pillarless suicide doors on the left side (which is the curb side in Japan). None of those would eventually make it to the actual MR Wagon, which went on sale on January 20 (Moco on February 1) the following year, while on the other hand the model features the new keyless entry and start system
. The engine, drive and shifter choice remained the same, with the same availability in both Nissan and Suzuki versions, but the gear shifter is now located on the instrument panel. As with the first generation, the cars are almost identical in outside appearance, but have different front end designs.
Kei car
Kei cars, K-cars, or , are a Japanese category of small vehicles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to comply with Japanese government tax and insurance regulations, and in most rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is...
with a mini MPV
Mini MPV
Mini MPV is a car classification used to describe superminis or subcompacts which have taller build, fitting below the compact MPV and large MPV classifications....
body, seating four, manufactured by Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
for the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese market only, and also marketed in Japan by Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
as the Nissan Moco under an OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
agreement. The model debuted in 2001, and since 2007 it has been in its second generation. It was launched in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
by Maruti Suzuki as Maruti Zen Estilo in 2006, Maruti Zen Estilo was discontinued in 2009 and renamed as Maruti Estilo.
The vehicle's name is somewhat misleading, as it does not sport a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout (which is often abbreviated as RMR, or more commonly, MR).
First generation
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
(44 kW / 60 hp) versions, available with either front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
or all-wheel drive. In all versions, the transmission was a 4-speed transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
with column shift. A hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle
Hydrogen vehicle
A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power. Hydrogen vehicles include hydrogen fueled space rockets, as well as automobiles and other transportation vehicles...
based on the first-generation MR Wagon was presented in 2005, using technology co-developed with General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
.
The Nissan Moco version was presented as a concept car on the 35th Tokyo Motor Show
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October-November at the Makuhari Messe, Chiba City, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association , it is a recognized international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs...
in 2001 and only went on sale on April 10, 2002. The basic engine, drive and transmission choices were the same as for the Suzuki. The major difference between the Nissan and Suzuki versions was the Nissan's "wing" grille resembling that of the contemporary Nissan Primera P12. The sales of the Nissan version stabilized at about 3,000-4,000 units a month, actually exceeding the MR Wagon's sales.
Zen Estilo/Estilo/Karimun Estilo
The first generation model went on sale in India in December of 2006 as the "Maruti Zen Estilo". The Zen Estilo however, is powered by a larger F10DSuzuki F10D engine
Suzuki F10D engine is an inline 4 cylinder 1061cc engine that was developed in India by Maruti Suzuki for the domestic market. It was debuted in the Maruti Wagon-R in India in 2001. It was briefly installed in Maruti Alto and it was engine that the first Maruti Zen Estilo came with...
1.1L MPFI engine that also powers the Wagon R in the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese market. A facelifted variant was released in August of 2009 as the "Maruti Estilo", losing the Zen moniker entirely. This transition has brought about a steady decline in sales for this model though the facelift has brought significant improvement in performance and styling over the car's Japanese variants.
The first generation model is currently sold in Indonesia as the "Suzuki Karimun Estilo". Sales began in January of 2008.
Second generation
Bench seat
The bench seat was the traditional seat installed in American automobiles. This seat featured a continuous pad running the full width of the cabin...
and pillarless suicide doors on the left side (which is the curb side in Japan). None of those would eventually make it to the actual MR Wagon, which went on sale on January 20 (Moco on February 1) the following year, while on the other hand the model features the new keyless entry and start system
Advanced Key
Smart key is an electronic access and authorization system which is available as an option or standard in several cars. It was first used by Mercedes-Benz in 1998.-How it works:...
. The engine, drive and shifter choice remained the same, with the same availability in both Nissan and Suzuki versions, but the gear shifter is now located on the instrument panel. As with the first generation, the cars are almost identical in outside appearance, but have different front end designs.