Suzuki Lapin LC

The Suzuki Lapin was updated for the 2023 Model Year with some minor tweaks underneath and apart from that, it has spawned a posh addition to the Lapin range. It's called the Lapin LC and it's the poshest kei car young Japanese ladies can't wait to drive.

2023 Suzuki Alto Lapin LC

2023 Suzuki Alto Lapin LC interior

The new Lapin LC, priced at 1,409,100 Japanese Yen plus additional costs, is the poshest kei car in the Suzuki lineup, and those who want to have a little haute couture on their daily trip to the metropolis should consider this the ideal fashion accessory that matches the ladies' personal tastes.

While the styling is nearly identical to the normal Lapin, the LC features a different front view that pays tribute to the Suzuki Fronte 360 LC10 of the late 60s. The rear view dons a specially-made badge to distinguish it from the normal Lapin. It's no wonder why they called it the LC because it pays tribute to one of Suzuki's iconic kei cars, whatever the reason.

Inside, the LC features specially-made seats, a quilted roof that is fun to touch, a specially-made steering wheel with dark brown faux wood and wine-red labeling in the middle, and a choice of two center panels; simple and chic. Like the normal Lapin, the LC features useful conveniences to store stuff, charge their phones, and so on, living up to its role as the ideal fashion accessory on wheels.

Under the hood, the Lapin LC is powered by an R06A 660cc 3-cylinder petrol engine with ENE-CHARGE, ECO-COOL, and Idling Stop. Now mated to a CVT gearbox, the Lapin LC delivers 26.2kmpl of fuel economy based on WLTC Mode standards. Not bad for an unrivaled posh kei car that is also as enjoyable to drive on city roads.

In terms of safety, the Lapin LC features a wide array of safety systems under the Suzuki Safety Support banner, such as Dual Camera Brake Support, Reverse Brake Support, False Start Suppression, Lane Departure Warning, Sign Recognition, false start suppression, high beam assist, and the most useful feature of all, the omnidirectional view monitor.

The posh kei car from Suzuki is here to give Japanese ladies something to match their personality with its styling, interior, and fuel efficiency that will keep them going until nighttime unless they're rushing for a midnight sale somewhere.

Available colors: Terracotta Pink Metallic, Trad Khaki Metallic, Fawn Beige Metallic, Nocturne Blue Pearl, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic, Soft Beige Metallic, Fawn Beige Metallic Urban Brown 2-tone Roof, Trad Khaki Metallic Urban Brown 2-tone Roof, Terracotta Pink Metallic Urban Brown 2-tone Roof, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic Soft Beige 2-tone Roof, Trad Khaki Metallic Soft Beige 2-tone Roof, and Nocturne Blue Pearl Soft Beige 2-tone Roof.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

New Suzuki Lapin (HE33S)

2016 Suzuki Alto Lapin

The Suzuki Lapin, a favorite among young female drivers, is now on its third-generation and for this new model, the new Lapin promises to be a cheap, cheerful, and more economical thanks to Suzuki's knowledge for fuel-efficiency. This goes to show that the days are numbered for its potential rival, the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa because later on, you will notice how fuel efficient the new Lapin is compared to the Cocoa rival.

2016 Suzuki Alto Lapin

2016 Suzuki Alto Lapin interior

To some young Japanese women who got their driver's license for the first time, a car is considered themselves as an accessory rather than an appliance much like their high-tech smartphones, tablets, fondations, jewelry, and whatever girly they knew, and that's why the Lapin was born to cater every women's needs. On this new model, it's somewhat dysfunctional rather than cheery because on the front, you'll see some rounded headlamps and a new grille which looks like what happens when a party-crashing magical girl and a girl with braces met each other at a pizza chain and mash each others' faces. Ooohh...

It's the same story in the back because when you look at it, you'll notice that the rear lamps look like it came from an "old" New Beetle. Why is it so fussy?

On the interior, every girl in Japan shouldn't be worry about because it has plenty of hiding spots for their girly stuff, convenient when they're starting to notice when their boyfriend is at close range, speedometer that displays some cutesy messages, a Lapin tradition, air conditioner that will keep them fresh after their game of volleyball with their mates, and for more expensive versions, a big screen which works like an iPad. With all that stuff, the Lapin is more convenient than the Mira Cocoa, and it has an ample space for whatever girls can throw into.

2016 Suzuki Alto Lapin

Fuel efficiency is the main focus of the new Lapin and thanks to SUZUKI GREEN TECHNOLOGY, which implements ENE-CHARGE, ECO-COOL, and a new generation IDLING STOP feature, it promises a much better fuel economy of 35.6kmpl when mated with a CVT gearbox. For entry-level models, it comes with a brand-new 5-speed Auto Gear Shift (ASG), and when mated with it, fuel economy is 29.6kmpl, comfortably beating the Mira Cocoa's fuel economy.

Because the Lapin is made as a city car, it's not so bad to handle even if you're new to driving and with the 4.4m turning radius, it's great to slip into tight spots if you knew what you're doing.

The all-new Lapin starts at a reasonably priced 1,077,840 Japanese Yen, which is surprisingly cheaper to own than the Mira Cocoa, so what you're looking at, ladies, is a girl-friendly kei car that you can buy if you already passed your driver's exam. Although the design isn't appealing to some, the interior and the efficiency is what makes the new Lapin so special for the modern Japanese females.

Available colors: French Mint Pearl Metallic White 2-Tone Roof, Coffret Pink Pearl Metallic White 2-Tone Roof, Chiffon Ivory Metallic White 2-Tone Roof, Phone Beige Metallic White 2-Tone Roof, French Mint Pearl Metallic, Coffret Pink Pearl Metallic, Chiffon Ivory Metallic, Phone Beige Metallic, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic, Cassis Pink Pearl Metallic, Pearl White, and Bluish Black Pearl 3.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Suzuki teases all-new Lapin, debuts this June

2016 Suzuki Lapin teaser

There's an all-new Suzuki Lapin coming up and the third-generation of Suzuki's female-friendly kei car has been teased ahead of its June 3 launch. Based on the teasers, the headlamps and the rear lamps are now round shaped and the interior will be more friendlier to female drivers many. Not much info is given but expect the new Lapin to use Suzuki's S-ENE-CHARGE system to have its fuel economy surpass the rival Daihatsu Mira Cocoa's 29km/L fuel consumption.

URL: http://mylapin.jp/teaser/index.html

Suzuki Alto Lapin Chocolat

2014 Suzuki Alto Lapin Chocolat

Suzuki's answer to the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa, called the Alto Lapin Chocolat, might just be the cutest car on the block even though both of these rivals share the same chocolate-y names. Hmmm...Cocoa and Chocolat...sounds so sweet but in terms of the rivalry between Daihatsu and Suzuki, they're bitter enemies, and the all-new Chocolat, which is the posh version of the second-generation Alto Lapin cute compact car targeted for Japanese women in their 20's, it promises to offer anything that the Cocoa can't.

Starting with the design that was made to captivate many young Japanese women. While Suzuki tries to make the new version of the Lapin even cuter than the normal Lapin, think of it as Suzuki trying to inject too much "cutonium" into the normal Lapin's design. Sadly for the readers, if you don't know what "cutonium" really is...I picked that word from a Phineas and Ferb episode titled "Meapless in Seattle" but forget about that. What's best to describe the new Chocolat is....well, it's about as cute as the host of a noontime talk show goes by the name of Ryzza. Cute as Ryzza. That's what that is.

2014 Suzuki Alto Lapin Chocolat interior

The Chocolat adds poshness to the familiar Lapin interior and getting in here feels like Peppermint Butler fixed it up for you before you set off. He he he...Peps. You really got me now but anyway, this isn't all Peppermint Butlers and Banana Guards on the Chocolat because on the more expensive versions, you'll get the smartphone-integrated navigation system as applied from the Spacia and then the familiar Lapin speedo where there's some cute bunny animation flashing up. Lovely...

2014 Suzuki Alto Lapin Chocolat

Unlike the new Wagon R or the Spacia, the new Chocolat, like the normal Lapin, didn't rely on the ENE-CHARGE system because some say, that could just spoil its cute looks. Instead, Suzuki's gone old-fashioned by adding Idling Stop on the Lapin Chocolat's K6A engine, which seems to be outdated because most Suzuki kei cars are now relying on the R06A engine since the current MR Wagon. Anyway, with the Idling Stop added, Suzuki promises that the Chocolat has a fuel economy of 26.0kmpl based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards, which theoretically, is the same as the Mira Cocoa's! However, with the 4WD powertrain, fuel economy is 25.2kmpl, which is .4kmpl less than the Cocoa's 4WD model.

As for the pricing, the all-new Lapin Chocolat starts at 1,291,500 Japanese Yen, which is about a hundred thousand more than the Daihatsu Mira Cocoa and more annoyingly, more pricey than the Suzuki MR Wagon. That's a small price to pay for a car that was made to captivate young women who think that the Mira Cocoa's not cute enough for them...

But still, the posh Chocolat from Suzuki is more than enough to eat the Mira Cocoa for breakfast and I had to say that such cute looks and posh interior feels like it's been made in Candy Kingdom or Candied Island with tender loving care. Wait, Candied Island? Oh dear...Why did I even have the urge to mention it?

Available colors: Pearl White, Bluish Black Pearl 3, Cassis Pink Pearl Metallic, Urban Brown Pearl Metallic, Champagne Pink Pearl Metallic, Milk Tea Beige Metallic, Aromatic Aqua Metallic, and Air Blue Metallic.

Photo: Suzuki Motor Corporation

Cocoa or Lapin?

Suzuki's Alto Lapin

and Daihatsu's Mira Cocoa

Both are JDM, both are kei cars, and both are targeted for the young and fashionable women. In my feminine side, I wonder which of these are the best?

CASE ONE:

The Suzuki Alto Lapin is a spin-off of the world-famous Suzuki Alto and it doesn't share the Alto's mainframe. This car was launched in 2002 and followed with a full model change in late 2008. There used to be a Mazda OEM of the Lapin, called the Spiano, but it was discontinued after the Lapin gained its second-generation. Two engine types are offered on the Lapin; a Natural Aspiration K6A engine and a Turbocharged K6A engine. Whoa! A turbocharged Lapin! Seems that someone would go for the Lapin rather than the Cocoa because of the turbo variant!

There is something cute about the Lapin, the interior... When you start the Lapin's engine, you will be greeted by some animated display on the Lapin's dashboard. How cute!

CASE TWO:

The Cocoa is a spin-off car from the Daihatsu Mira. Although it replaces the Mira Gino and the Move Latte, feminine side is always go first for the Mira Cocoa. Unlike the Lapin, the Cocoa is equipped with just only one engine, the KF-VE engine. No turbocharger included. On the bright side, this engine has more power output than the Lapin's Natural Aspiration K6A engine, but not quite fuel efficient than its rival even when both of them have CVT. There is one feature that the Lapin didn't have; the back monitor equipped on the Cocoa's room mirror.

For styling, I think I'll go for the Daihatsu Cocoa, but for performance-wise women, the Suzuki Lapin takes the bet. It depends on how Japanese women think about these two super-cute kei cars targeted for a certain young Japanese woman.