Pocket Rocket: The Suzuki Alto Turbo RS Concept

Suzuki Alto Turbo RS

There are many things that are more likely to happen than for defunct-in-America Suzuki to bring the Alto Turbo RS to the U.S. Dinosaurs could return, for example. I'm strangely entranced by it, however. And here's why: it reminds me of the greatest kei car era that saw such unusual, wonderful cars as the Daihatsu Copen, Honda Beat, and Autozam AZ-1 unleashed upon the grateful Japanese public. This also happened to coincide with the advent of Gran Turismo, and also the beginning of my driving career—a heady mix. I ate it all up.

The Alto Turbo RS wouldn't look out of place in an endless scroll of used JDM oddities in Gran Turismo 3, would it? It's spec sheet wouldn't either: a 660-cc inline-3, with a turbocharger (of course), producing an unknown power bonus on top of 51 hp available in the normal Alto. After all, it's just a concept (likely to go into production), and it'll debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon next month.

Don't get me wrong: the Alto Turbo would be completely unsuitable for American roads. It has zero chance of being sold here. And it's probably not half as fun as it looks. But maybe folks who grew up playing Gran Turismo, like I did, can understand the odd appeal.