Introduced in August 1965 (and on sale by December), the Fronte 800 was an attempt at competing in a higher market segment than the Suzulight Kei jidosha class offerings.

A four-door 700 cc prototype was shown at the 1962 Tokyo Motor Show, clothed in a body designed by Pietro Frua, reminiscent of his Maserati Quattroporte I and Glas 1700 saloons.

Imminent production was announced, but at the '64 Motor Show another pre-production model was shown, with sales promised for the spring of the following year.

Production was cancelled in April 1969 after less than 3,000 were built in four years;[8] slow sales, need for capacity to produce the hit Fronte 360, and a perceived inability to compete with the large domestic manufacturers in what had become the most closely contested Japanese market segment spelled the end of the 800.

[2] Suzuki was to focus exclusively on kei cars (and bigger engined iterations thereof) until the 1983 introduction of the Cultus.