ASC Marks First Anniversary of West Coast Design Studio With Suzuki 'Dune' at SEMA

* Studio Has Conceptualized and Delivered Eight Projects, Four Vehicles to Date

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 31 -- 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/ .