I hate to say it but I’ve been looking for a new tuck for some time. I fell in love with the hard body years ago and always will. Since I couldn’t find a new truck that I like I decided I’ll just nab me another hard body…then watching video on it I found a 4 door. After much research I found out they were made up to 2008 in Mexico. I’ve been looking for one/going to import one. I hope I find one soon. Anyway my mom has been staying up day and night getting info on them and looking for purchase and she came across the Suzuki equator. She said from a Nissan site but I was like umm…I was going to buy there sx4 crossover for a family car. Seen a pic and fell in love…feeling bad cause I found the next truck I’m going to buy and its not a Nissan…but wait…lol it’s just a good looking frontier…sweet…so everybody look up and meet my new truck I’m getting in a few mo-to a year.
Pre-
The Equator is first being shown at the 2008 Chicago auto show in the form of three concepts based on the production version. Each is geared toward a different Suzuki buyer: one for the dirt biker (RMZ-4), another for ATV riders (Quad), and a third for those towing a boat powered by a Suzuki marine engine (Quay).
The Equator is all about branding. Suzuki is banking on the idea that their powersports customers want to move their toys around in a truck with the same badge on it. So they put their badge on a truck - a Nissan Frontier to be exact. The Equator will be mechanically identical to the Frontier, and differ only in exterior styling. We think it looks better than the Frontier, too.
Engine options are the same as those of the Frontier. The four-cylinder 2.5-liter makes 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, and the optional 4.0-liter V-6 develops 261 hp and 281 lb-ft. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be offered with either engine.
The Equator will be available in extended and crew cab bodystyles. A bed rail system will be available to help tie down all of your Suzuki gear, and a roof rack will be an option on crew cab models. A toned down version of the RMZ-4 concept will make production.
Look for the Equator in Suzuki showrooms later this year.
SUZUKI EQUATOR
and some hardbody history
The D21 generation was the successor to the Datsun 720 line of pickup trucks. They were called Nissan Hardbody Trucks in the United States
The truck's name, "Hardbody", refers to its double-wall bed and overall styling. The Hardbody was produced for the U.S. Market from 1986.5 until 1997, and were direct competition to the Toyota mini pickup. The old to new Nissan body style changed in mid-year 1986, so the new 'D21' 1986 Hardbody trucks are referred to as 1986.5; they can be distinguished from the early 720 body by their two large headlights rather than four smaller. The Nissan Pathfinder was derived from the Hardbody Truck and started in the same model year with chassis code WD22.
In the US, the Hardbody cab styles were 'Standard' and 'King' (also known as 'Extended'). Bed lengths were 'standard' 6-foot (2 m) and 'long' seven foot. International markets also received the 'Crew Cab' (4-door) version with a short four and a half foot bed. Both 4-cylinder and V6 engines were available, with the 2.4L 4 cylinder KA24E being a respectable-performance SOHC engine that replaced the Z24i for 1990-1997. The 6 cylinder 3.0L VG30E engine increased power and torque only modestly (with 1995 being the last year the VG series engine was available until the replacement Frontier), and was not available on all the Hardbody variations. Five-speed, including overdrive, manual transmissions were the most common, but an automatic transmission was available for some configurations. Both rear wheel drive (4x2) and four wheel drive (4x4) versions were made in quantity. A limited slip differential was standard on the top 'SE' trim. Major options included air conditioning, larger wheels/tires, sliding rear window, radios, and rear bumper. There were several trims available including base, XE, and top of the line SE. The XE could be ordered with a 'value package' starting in 1994 which included air conditioning, power mirrors, alloy wheels, and chrome on body trim such as the mirrors and bumpers. The SE was better equipped and most came fully loaded from the factory with sunroof, power windows and locks, air conditioning and alloy wheels. A new more ergonomic dashboard arrived for 1994 replacing the previous angular design. A driver's side airbag was added for 1996 while rear wheel ABS came only with 4WD models.
These low-cost, dependable Hardbody small pickup trucks sold very well worldwide, and are still often seen both on-road and off-road. They are renowned for their reliability and endurance, with the exception of body panel and frame rust over time. Other things to look for are a noisy timing chain on the 4 cylinder which may mean the timing chain guides or timing chain are worn. The V6 engine has a timing belt that requires replacing every 60 000 to 80 000 miles. Should the belt break, serious and costly engine damage is likely to occur due to the valvetrain's interference design. Exhaust manifold studs are also know to fail prematurely on the V6.
This D21 design was still available new in some Latin American countries, made in Mexico until the 2008 model year. In its current home country a range of four basic variations of the D21 are sold together as the Nissan Camiones (literally "Nissan Trucks").
Pre-
The Equator is first being shown at the 2008 Chicago auto show in the form of three concepts based on the production version. Each is geared toward a different Suzuki buyer: one for the dirt biker (RMZ-4), another for ATV riders (Quad), and a third for those towing a boat powered by a Suzuki marine engine (Quay).
The Equator is all about branding. Suzuki is banking on the idea that their powersports customers want to move their toys around in a truck with the same badge on it. So they put their badge on a truck - a Nissan Frontier to be exact. The Equator will be mechanically identical to the Frontier, and differ only in exterior styling. We think it looks better than the Frontier, too.
Engine options are the same as those of the Frontier. The four-cylinder 2.5-liter makes 152 hp and 171 lb-ft of torque, and the optional 4.0-liter V-6 develops 261 hp and 281 lb-ft. Both manual and automatic transmissions will be offered with either engine.
The Equator will be available in extended and crew cab bodystyles. A bed rail system will be available to help tie down all of your Suzuki gear, and a roof rack will be an option on crew cab models. A toned down version of the RMZ-4 concept will make production.
Look for the Equator in Suzuki showrooms later this year.
SUZUKI EQUATOR
and some hardbody history
The D21 generation was the successor to the Datsun 720 line of pickup trucks. They were called Nissan Hardbody Trucks in the United States
The truck's name, "Hardbody", refers to its double-wall bed and overall styling. The Hardbody was produced for the U.S. Market from 1986.5 until 1997, and were direct competition to the Toyota mini pickup. The old to new Nissan body style changed in mid-year 1986, so the new 'D21' 1986 Hardbody trucks are referred to as 1986.5; they can be distinguished from the early 720 body by their two large headlights rather than four smaller. The Nissan Pathfinder was derived from the Hardbody Truck and started in the same model year with chassis code WD22.
In the US, the Hardbody cab styles were 'Standard' and 'King' (also known as 'Extended'). Bed lengths were 'standard' 6-foot (2 m) and 'long' seven foot. International markets also received the 'Crew Cab' (4-door) version with a short four and a half foot bed. Both 4-cylinder and V6 engines were available, with the 2.4L 4 cylinder KA24E being a respectable-performance SOHC engine that replaced the Z24i for 1990-1997. The 6 cylinder 3.0L VG30E engine increased power and torque only modestly (with 1995 being the last year the VG series engine was available until the replacement Frontier), and was not available on all the Hardbody variations. Five-speed, including overdrive, manual transmissions were the most common, but an automatic transmission was available for some configurations. Both rear wheel drive (4x2) and four wheel drive (4x4) versions were made in quantity. A limited slip differential was standard on the top 'SE' trim. Major options included air conditioning, larger wheels/tires, sliding rear window, radios, and rear bumper. There were several trims available including base, XE, and top of the line SE. The XE could be ordered with a 'value package' starting in 1994 which included air conditioning, power mirrors, alloy wheels, and chrome on body trim such as the mirrors and bumpers. The SE was better equipped and most came fully loaded from the factory with sunroof, power windows and locks, air conditioning and alloy wheels. A new more ergonomic dashboard arrived for 1994 replacing the previous angular design. A driver's side airbag was added for 1996 while rear wheel ABS came only with 4WD models.
These low-cost, dependable Hardbody small pickup trucks sold very well worldwide, and are still often seen both on-road and off-road. They are renowned for their reliability and endurance, with the exception of body panel and frame rust over time. Other things to look for are a noisy timing chain on the 4 cylinder which may mean the timing chain guides or timing chain are worn. The V6 engine has a timing belt that requires replacing every 60 000 to 80 000 miles. Should the belt break, serious and costly engine damage is likely to occur due to the valvetrain's interference design. Exhaust manifold studs are also know to fail prematurely on the V6.
This D21 design was still available new in some Latin American countries, made in Mexico until the 2008 model year. In its current home country a range of four basic variations of the D21 are sold together as the Nissan Camiones (literally "Nissan Trucks").
