Suzuki Fronte 500 Lc50

The Japanese Kei Jidosha category (light vehicles) includes cars that there receive tax benefits because of their modest size and power.

The Japanese Kei Jidosha category (light vehicles) includes cars that receive tax benefits there because of their modest size and power. The system, which is still in force, was set up after the war to get the Japanese population mobile again. With the increase of the maximum engine capacity from 150 to 360 cc in 1955, the Kei cars became more respectable and more car manufacturers joined in. Until 1967 Suzuki sold its Kei models under the sub brand Suzulight. The model name Fronte, introduced in 1962, was meant to indicate that Suzuki was leading in this category. The Fronte model present in the museum has a then fashionable, flowing waistline, the so called coke bottle line. Because Kei cars are only limited in physical size and not in equipment, some are very luxuriously appointed, for example with four wheel drive, air conditioning and automatic transmissions. There are also Kei convertibles and vans. Outside Japan this category of cars has little to look for. Export models often have larger engines.