Found: the fattest ripping iron on Marketplace

December 21, 2022

End of hot hatch

The little hot hatch is in danger of disappearing from the Netherlands. More and more importers are giving up because the Dutch are no longer buying them. Not because they are not interested, but because of the high purchase price. The current bpm system makes cars with relatively high CO2 emissions unaffordable. Want to drive a Volkswagen Polo GTI? Then you have to put down 41,590 euros, of which 8,500 goes directly to the state treasury.

Suzuki Alto Works RS-R

In the 1980s and 1990s, you could drive a fast hatchback for much less money. Perhaps the smallest tearaway you could buy back then (in Japan) is now on Marketplace: the Suzuki Alto Works RS-R. It may look small and cute, but make no mistake: this is a serious bombshell on wheels.

Kei-car

The Alto Works is based on the second-generation Alto, which was sold between 1984 and 1988. It uses the same 543 cc engine as the other Alto’s of this generation, because in Japan this kind of compact “kei-cars” were not allowed to have more lung capacity than 550 cc. However, Suzuki screwed a large turbo on the block, giving the Alto Works 64 whole peekaa’s. Still fun, in a car with the weight of a paper lantern. It made it the strongest kei-car in Japan at the time. According to rumors, this Alto Works is the reason that kei cars are allowed to have a maximum of 64 hp these days.

Adjustments

On the outside, the Alto Works has a different front bumper with integrated fog lights, different side skirts and rear bumper, an air vent on the hood, and a rear spoiler. Three versions were available. The RS-S is the base version with front-wheel drive. The version for sale in the Netherlands is the top version: the RS-R. It is fatter dressed and has four-wheel drive. An Alto with 4WD, it shouldn’t get any crazier!

Japan

The Suzuki offered was imported from Japan ten years ago and has been restored. The car has a damage-free history and the aluminum wheels, sport steering wheel and pink upholstery are all original. The Marketplace ad can be found here and here is a video of the car when it was still driving in Japan 13 years ago.