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By 
Marty Padgett, Executive Editor
Suzuki's new pickup truck will wear the badge Equator. The Japanese automaker brought three concept versions of the new truck to the Chicago auto show, and announced an on-sale date of this fall for the new truck.
As TheCarConnection.com reported last year, the new Suzuki truck will be built by Nissan North America at its Smyrna, Tenn., plant. The Suzuki pickup will be a version of Nissan's mid-size Frontier pickup, and will only be sold by Suzuki in North America, and in no other global markets.
The Equator will come in two body styles, with two available engines. The Extended Cab and Crew Cab models will be offered with a 152-horsepower four-cylinder with a five-speed automatic or manual transmission, or a 261-hp 4.0-liter V-6 teamed to a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission. A shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system is available on either version.
The Equator rides on a 125.9-inch wheelbase in either body style, and uses a control-arm front and solid-axle and leaf rear suspension. Towing capacity of 6500 pounds is claimed, but Suzuki hasn't yet released fuel economy figures for 2009.
Anti-lock brakes, curtain airbags and 16-inch wheels are standard, as is a versatile channel system in the bed that enables easy mounting of accessories--or in the Suzuki's case, securing the motorcycles and jet skis its owners already have. Suzuki expects its new pickup customers will come from the pool of owners for its outdoor-sports products that need a truck to tow or haul their toys.
Options for the Equator will be like those available on the Nissan Frontier, including a Rockford Fosgate audio system, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and a moonroof.
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