OTC Students and Suzuki Team up to Modify 2010 Grand Vitara

CC | August 5, 2011

OHIO TECHNICAL COLLEGE STUDENTS AND SUZUKI TEAM UP TO MODIFY A 2010 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Customized SUV Crossover to Debut at SEMA 2011

Ohio Technical College (OTC) students have teamed up with American Suzuki Motor Corporation to customize a 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara with a nautical inspired theme providing a tie-in between Suzuki’s automotive and marine divisions. The custom SUV will debut in the Ohio Technical College booth #38111 at the 2011 SEMA Show Nov. 1-4, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nev. at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Aftermarket accessories for this one-of-a-kind Suzuki project were provided by Stylin’ Trucks and ARB. The vehicle modifications include: custom paint; oversized tires and wheels; suspension lift; bull bar bumper; ocean liner horn; neon license plate frame; bar side steps; hood scoop; shaved door handle kit; fender extensions; LED tail gate bar and underbody kit; LED headlight kit and driving light kit; hitch; back-up camera; winch; chrome exhaust tips; surf board rear view mirror; all weather front/rear floor mats and a DVD head rest entertainment system. Industry partners ARB donated a refrigerator, Square One Energy provided the hydrogen generator electronics and Hydro Fuel 2 Go provided the hydro cell.

In addition to adding all of these accessories, OTC students will be cutting the top off of the Grand Vitara and securing two Suzuki outboard boat motors on the back of the vehicle along with other fabricated modifications to make it resemble a boat.

“After a successful project build with the 1957 Chevy Bel Air for industry veteran Vic Edelbrock, we were very excited to start this project vehicle with Suzuki,” said Tom King, director of enrollment management, OTC. “This project will provide OTC students in our Restoration and our Custom Paint and Graphics Programs with another unique learning opportunity in vehicle modification”

The vehicle will be featured at several events in 2011 and 2012 – including major auto shows in Los Angeles, Calif.; Detroit, Mich.; Chicago, Ill.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Denver, Colo.; and New York, N.Y. – in the Suzuki booth, as well as in the Ohio Technical College booth, at AutoRama shows and special campus events.

If your company is interested in donating items for vehicle restoration/modification projects please contact Tim Cole at Ohio Technical College at 216.881.1700 or email tcole@ohiotechnicalcollege.com.

Watch for photo and video updates of the Suzuki Grand Vitara custom modification on Twitter, http://twitter/OhioTechCollege and OTC’s website www.ohiotech.edu/Suzuki+Grand+Vitara+Build.

About Ohio Technical College
Ohio Technical College (OTC) is an accredited private, proprietary technical school dedicated to providing premier technical training in the world of modern mechanics by pursuing industry alliances, providing outstanding training equipment and focusing on the needs of individual students. An Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) college, OTC and its PowerSport Institute branch campus encompass nearly 800,000 sq. feet of classroom and workshop space. Drawing students from all over the United States, OTC offers technician training programs in Automotive, Diesel, Auto-Diesel, Collision Repair, Classic Car Restoration, High Performance and Racing, Welding and PowerSport Technology as well as specialization in BMW, Alternative Fuel Vehicles, Custom Bike Building, Custom Paint and Graphics, and Power Generator Systems. Motorcycle technician training is provided through the PowerSport Institute, a branch campus of OTC in North Randall, Ohio. For more information, write to Ohio Technical College at 1374 E. 51st St. Cleveland, Ohio, 44103; call 800.322.7000 ext. 163; or visit www.ohiotechnicalcollege.com and www.psi-now.com

About American Suzuki Motor Corporation
The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation was founded in 1985 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 500 automotive dealerships in 49 states. Based in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle and outboard motor manufacturer with sales of more than two million new automobiles annually. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 187 countries. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com