Suzuki Lapin

The Suzuki Lapin is a kei car with a five-door hatchback body, manufactured since 2002 by Suzuki for the Japanese market only, and was also marketed in Japan only by Mazda as Mazda Spiano under an OEM agreement under their Autozam marque until 2008. It is based on Suzuki's popular Alto kei car.

The Lapin has a very distinctive, boxy shape, that apparently proved popular with female buyers. The name "Lapin" stems from the French word for "rabbit", and the car sports rabbit-head badges. The Mazda version has differences concerning some styling details, including a different front end.

First-generation HE21S (2002–2008)

The first-generation Alto Lapin was introduced in January 2002 with three trims, "G","X" and "X2". The car is powered by the Suzuki's K6A kei car engine, 0.66 L naturally aspirated (40 kW / 54 hp) with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The default transmission is a four-speed automatic.

Spiano

Spiano is a frazione (outlying area) of the commune of Teramo in the Abruzzo Region of Italy. It sits about seven miles from Teramo on a hill that overlooks both the Tordino and the Vomano valleys.

Historical Origins

The name Spiano may have derived from the fact that the town finds itself at a point from which one can spy (in Italian "spiare") on the valleys which lie below. Others believe that the town takes its name from a location once known as Espano. Records show that in 1026 Guilbert of Teuton left his many holdings to the Bishop of Aprutino (Teramo). At the time these included land found near the city and villages of Penne, Pastori di Colledonico, Rossiano, Espano, Freniano, Colle de' Morelli, Rapina, Banio (today's Spiano to include the area of Santa Maria ad Balneum). In 1470 the city of Teramo acquired the hilltop fortifications of Frondarola and Spiano. The ownership and fates of these the castles located in Frondarola and Spiano have been exorably linked over the centuries.