Suzuki - Turbo Would Be Everything
The 2013 turbocharged Suzuki Recursion concept motorcycle will become the template for a range of forced induction machines in the company's line-up – we could even see the first production model before the end of this year. But while it will be heavily influential, the concept Suzuki Recursion motorcycle won't become a production model.
Ever since its first unveiling at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2013, the Suzuki Recursion has been a hot topic. A constant stream of patents over the subsequent months and years revealed it was far more engineered than the average purely cosmetic, concept motorcycle. Details including its engine design and the layout of its turbocharging system and intercooler were all subject to patents, but despite that those are among the elements set to change before we see it in showrooms.
Suzuki insiders have said that while Suzuki see a turbocharged, twin-cylinder production motorcycle in the near future, it won't use the Suzuki Recursion's 588cc, SOHC engine design. Instead, the first forced induction Suzuki since the XN85 will use the new XE7 engine that was almost unnoticed on the Suzuki stand at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show.
While still a parallel twin around 600cc, the Suzuki XE7 engine shares little with the Suzuki Recursion's engine. Our Suzuki source explained: 'We have changed other elements when taking into consideration it being used for mass production units as well as for various types of motorcycles. For example, although it was an SOHC engine with two valves per cylinder.'
As well as its different cylinder head design, the Suzuki XE7's turbo layout is also new.
While the Suzuki Recursion concentrated on repackaging the entire motorcycle around the turbocharged engine, the XE7 approaches the problem from the opposite direction, squeezing all the forced-induction componentry into a unit that's much the same shape and size as a conventional, naturally-aspirated engine. This approach is not as problematic from an R&D and manufacturing perspective and the technology could be more easily transferred to models in different categories.
That brings us to the second element of the Suzuki's plan – the turbo engine isn't destined simply for one new motorcycle. Eventually, Suzuki envisages an entire range of models spanning several categories, and all fitted with the same turbocharged engine. Few companies build engines dedicated to a lone model these days, and Suzuki is no exception.
'We are continuing development with a view to using turbo technology in production machines in the future,' said our Suzuki source.
