Gracing the Suzuki stand at the New York Auto Show is a concept car that should have us clamoring for a production version sooner rather than later.
Joining the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept in New York is the Kizashi Apex Concept, a turbocharged version of the Kizashi that Subaru built and designed to not only come with improved performance dynamics, but to also show the link between the company’s automotive division and its long-standing and highly competitive motorcycle division.
Dressed in a colorful racing livery that makes you feel that it’s itching for some pavement, the Kizashi Apex Concept is all about performance. While the stock engine of the model remains intact, the Japanese automaker added a plethora of add-ons - specifically a Garrett turbocharger - to make the car primed and ready for a good ol’ fashion throwdown.
If you won’t take our word for it, hear it straight from the horse’s mouth: "Our turbo-equipped concept leverages the already-exceptional Kizashi platform and infuses it with a substantial boost," said Steve Younan, director of automotive marketing and product planning for Suzuki’s US division.
"The Kizashi Apex Concept will further elevate our flagship sedan in the U.S. among enthusiasts who crave added power and performance."
Truer words have never been spoken.
Details on the Suzuki Kizashi Apex Turbo Concept after the jump.
Full story
Suzuki has big plans for its flagship model, the Kizashi. That much we already know. What we didn’t expect though was that the model would be branching out with different variants.
At the New York Auto Show, the Japanese automaker further cemented their intention of giving its customers new options for the sedan by unveiling a couple of concept cars tied up to its name.
One of these concepts is the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept, a hybrid vehicle Suzuki is preparing to compete against the likes of the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, among other hybrid cars out on the market these days.
While Suzuki hasn’t had any discussions on the production plans for the car, we’d be very surprised if this model doesn’t get greenlighted for production soon, especially when you consider that the market is ripe for other brands to enter and give its established rivals a run for their money.
Either way, its looking more and more likely that the hybrid wars will have to make room for another vehicle.
Details on the Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge Concept after the jump.
Full story
Does anyone remember the old Doublemint commercials? The lyrics go a little something like this, "Double your pleasure, double your fun." Road Race Motorsports knows what we’re talking about. They have created a package for the Suzuki Kizashi that will practically double the amount of horsepower for the mid-size sedan. The Suzuki Kizashi Platinum Edition comes with an astounding - for a Suzuki anyway - 300hp, up 115hp from the standard 185hp. They’ve also come out with a 200hp version for those lame-os that can’t handle that kind of extra power. The Platinum Edition is now on sale with customized orders available to suits the needs of dealers and private clients.
The suspension packages will be offered in Stages 1, 2, and 3 along with two or three dress up packages. Road Race also has its own line of wheels in 18 and 19 inch matched up with 255 tires.
The Platinum Edition package also includes an improved braking system, anti swaybars, chassis stiffening bars, Road Race Motorsports’ own Sport Dual Catback Exhaust System, and much more.
Press release after the jump.
Full story
Whoever said that land speed records are only reserved for supercars and completely modified sports cars are sadly mistaken. You will probably be surprised to know that even standard vehicles – with the proper upgrades, of course – can have their (record) time in the spotlight as well.
Take this particular Suzuki Kizashi for example. While the Kizashi model isn’t exactly the type you’d associate for a speed machine, give it a few tune-ups and upgrades and you end up with a machine that can lay waste to a land speed record.
Such was the case with this model, dubbed the Bonneville Special, which clocked an average run of 203.720 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, breaking the previous record of 202.301 mph in the Blown Gas Coupe category in the process.
As part of the preparations to turn the Bonneville Special into a rampaging rocket, the boys of Advanced Product Engineering, led by Richard Holdener and Tom Habrzyk, put in hours of laborious work to power the Kizashi with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. They also put in the time to add a Turbonetics turbocharger, a new intake manifold, forged pistons and rods, an intercooler, and revised headers. The result of all that work is a record-breaking car that produces over 500 horsepower and 420 lb/ft of torque. These numbers were impressive enough to allow the Kizashi to stake claim to the land speed record of the BGC category.
Press Release after the jump
Full story
When people think of racing, they typical don’t think of Suzuki. And if they do, it’s probably not the Kizashi that is on their mind, but a suped up race bike. Well, Suzuki wants to change all of that with their new special edition Kizashi that will compete in the Blown Gas Coupe category at Bonneville on August 14. The special edition Bonneville Kizashi gets a rigid structure, composed platform, suspension tuned on the famed Nurburgring, and available all-wheel drive system.
The car is powered by a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine that delivers 500 wheel hp at 7000 rpm and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. It also gets a new intake manifold, a tuned ’long tube’ header, forged rods and pistons, a Turbonetics turbocharger, a new 3.5-inch exhaust, and full synthetic 5W-20 racing oil from Lucas Oil. It’s main target will be to hit a top speed of 200 mph.
The Kizashi platform has been upgraded with the use of new coilovers, steel wheels seam welded, and speed-specific 15x7-inch Goodyear Front Runner rubber. An air dam has been added to reduce the air flow under the car and window straps and hood pins keep the hood and glass attached to the car. If the Suzuki Kizashi gets out of hand, there is always the parachute to bring it to an immediate stop.
UPDATE 08/19/2010: The Bonneville Special just clocked an average run of 203.720 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, breaking the previous record of 202.301 mph in the Blown Gas Coupe category in the process!
Press release after the jump.
Full story
