* Studio Has Conceptualized and Delivered Eight Projects, Four Vehicles
to Date
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- ASC Incorporated, a full-service
specialty-vehicle development partner for automotive manufacturers, celebrated
the one-year anniversary of its West Coast Design and Technical Center by
today showing off the Suzuki Grand Vitara "Dune," one of two Suzuki "LIVE
Series" concept vehicles designed in ASC's Huntington Beach, Calif., design
studio. The vehicle was displayed at an ASC press conference here at the 2005
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show.
"In just a year's time ASC has made great progress in providing our
company's four decades' worth of automotive design expertise to a large number
of the West Coast-based automakers and design studios," said Mark Trostle,
ASC's chief creative officer. "In this past year we've undertaken eight
projects in our California studio, four of them full-vehicle concepts for some
of the world's major auto companies.
"And certainly one of the projects we're proud of is the Suzuki Dune,"
continued Trostle, "an excellent example of ASC's ability to help automakers
bring their ideas to reality. We worked closely with Suzuki both to
conceptualize this vehicle, as well as to design and fabricate it. In many
ways, this vehicle also epitomizes what the SEMA show is all about: testing
the market with high-impact vehicle concepts that focus on active-lifestyle
consumers. We're pleased that Suzuki has enlisted ASC's support with both the
Dune and a sister vehicle in the LIVE Series, the Wave. Suzuki is all about
fun, excitement and active lifestyles -- themes that we think come through
loud and clear with the entire LIVE Series of vehicles."
The Dune is one of four Suzuki LIVE Series vehicles meant to explore the
viability of alternative accessory packages for consumers -- products designed
for "life enthusiasts," as Suzuki puts it. Each vehicle illustrates how
Suzuki's products play an integral part of consumers' lifestyles. The Dune is
intended to appeal to two- and four-wheel-drive off-road enthusiasts,
including quad-racers, dirt bikers and off-roaders. The "Wave," a second
vehicle also created in ASC's California studio, is for lake-sports
aficionados.
The off-road Dune is a heavily modified derivative of the brand-new 2006
Suzuki Grand Vitara. The ASC West Coast team provided "turnkey" support in
conceptualizing and building both it and the Wave (also Grand Vitara-based),
both of which feature parts from ASC's patent-pending RIMForm(TM) composites
process. Both vehicles will be on display at various auto shows and events
around the country over the next six months.
In addition to extensive chassis modifications to deliver an authentic
off-road feel, the Dune features a unique off-road-themed appearance package
including new front fenders, modified rear fenders and appliques, new door
appliques, new front and rear fascias, new grille inserts, complementary front
and rear skid-plates, and complementary side step-pads. Additional components
include a unique, articulating rooftop luggage storage system; a new, roof-
mounted air deflector with fog lamps; and ATV-style dual exhausts.
Interior features include a tailgate-mounted toolkit, a fold-out work
surface in the rear compartment, cargo netting in the rear; an onboard
compressor for off-road emergencies; and Sony(R) in-dash and overhead
entertainment systems.
In addition to Suzuki, ASC's Huntington Beach studio also has performed
work for Toyota, Hyundai and Isuzu in the past year, according to Trostle --
with the Toyota property to be featured in that automaker's booth during SEMA.
He also noted that the studio's staff has grown from four to 20 in the past
year, and that the studio has further strengthened its capabilities by adding
a 5-axis milling machine, in addition to its three surface plates and
extensive modeling, fabrication and painting equipment.
ASC's award-winning programs include vehicle development and sub-assembly
of the Chevrolet SSR (winner of a "Gold" award in the 2004 IDEA industrial
design awards competition sponsored by Business Week); convertible systems for
the Toyota Camry Solara and Mitsubishi Eclipse; and numerous appearance
programs and body packages for such products as the Dodge SRT-4, Dodge Viper
and Chrysler Group SRT-8 models. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in
Southgate, Mich., the company employs more than 1,000 car nuts at ten
facilities in the U.S., and is on the Web at http://www.ascglobal.com .
SOURCE ASC Incorporated
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Related links:
http://www.ascglobal.com
CONTACT:
Tim Yost of ASC Incorporated,
+1-734-246-0098 or mobile: +1-734-250-0568,
tim.yost@ascglobal.com (mobile e-mail)
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