Suzuki Cappuccino sports car could return

Suzuki has refused to rule out a return to the two-seat sports car world, and it could come in the form of a resurrected Cappuccino to take on the world’s best-selling sports car, the Mazda MX-5.

The Suzuki Cappuccino was a pint-size hard-top convertible manufactured between 1991 and 1998. Measuring just 3295mm long and weighing only 725kg, the Japanese kei-car was powered by a miniscule but characterful 0.7-litre (657cc) three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine driving the rear wheels.

An unofficial computer-generated render by digital artist Hugo Silva was recently posted to Pinterest, blending visual elements of the Suzuki Swift into a tiny roadster to show what a born-again version of the tiny Suzuki Cappuccino could look like.

Suzuki also released its own Mazda MX-5-rivalling prototype roadster last year with the Suzuki Misano concept and Suzuki Australia Automotive’s general manager, Michael Pachota, told carsales the original Cappuccino still holds a special place in Suzuki culture.

“That was a pretty cool car. Turbo engine, coupe and convertible,” he said.

And while the Suzuki Australia boss said a reborn Suzuki sports car was not part of the brand’s ‘vision’ at present, he wouldn’t rule it out.

“I'm not privy to everything in the research and development side in terms of what’s coming next… [but] never say never,” said Pachota, who added that Suzuki also unveiled the Vision Gran Turismo roadster earlier this year, powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine transplanted from the brand’s flagship 300km/h-plus Hayabusa motorcycle.

The Japanese compact car specialist is best known for the Suzuki Jimny rock-hopper and Swift hatchback, but it has plenty of experience with high-performance vehicles like the bonkers Hayabusa and iconic GSX-R sportsbikes.

But the most powerful four-wheeler it sells in Australia is the $28,990 Suzuki Swift Sport warm hatch, propelled by a 103kW/230Nm 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder.

Rewind just over a couple of decades and the rear-drive Suzuki Cappuccino was tearing up mountain passes with its tiny turbo-triple, but if Suzuki did return to the sports car market it would almost certainly be with electric motors.

Suzuki has confirmed plans to unleash a range of new EVs from 2025, with the Suzuki Jimny EV chief among them.

The unification of powertrains and platform architectures that electric vehicles are now delivering could provide an ideal canvas for a reborn Cappuccino, and it’s not inconceivable that a compact and affordable electric sports car from Suzuki would steal sales from the popular Mazda MX-5.

Watch this space.

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