Surf’s up for Suzuki’s new 4x4

Here’s a Suzuki with a difference! Unveiled at last week’s LA show and inspired by California’s famous surfing culture, it’s called the Makai.
The car is based on the 4WD SX4 Sport, and has a drop-top body for open-air motoring, plus roof bars for carrying bespoke surfboards.

It also gets a beefy bodykit, as well as 19-inch alloys, which conceal cross-drilled and ventilated brakes and wear sticky Michelin tyres. The dramatic look is completed by LED tail-lights and running lamps, a sports exhaust system and Sunset Orange paint.

Further modifications include silver windscreen pillars and a neat targa-style rear rollover hoop, to which the two surfboards can be attached. One thing’s for sure – the Makai is much more aggressive than the SX4.

Its al-fresco cockpit features four suspended and individually ventilated seats, orange accents and a Momo steering wheel. Kit includes a high-output stereo from audio specialist VeaLink, plus a dashboard-integrated Garmin sat-nav system. The Makai also gets a screen on to which DVDs can be displayed, as well as special orange interior lighting.

It’s the work of Andry Specialty Vehicles, based in Torrance, California. As well as producing one-off concepts, the outfit has a reputation for designing and building wacky motor show stands. Its past clientele includes sports car manufacturer Spyker.

While Suzuki has no plans to put the Makai into production just yet,
it paves the way for future models, which will be more lifestyle-oriented.