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New York 2011: Suzuki makes a Kizashi Turbo, calls it the Apex concept

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Suzuki

Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept

Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki has often flirted with the idea of strapping a turbocharger to the Kizashi, and it’s once again putting it at the front of our minds with this, the Apex concept, here at the 2011 New York Auto Show.

The Kizashi Apex uses a Garrett turbocharger, air-to-liquid intercooler and a recalibrated ECU to produce an estimated 275 to 300 horsepower, mated solely to a six-speed manual transmission. To communicate that grunt to the road, Suzuki has fitted the Apex with a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in sticky 245-series Yokohama tires.

As for the graphics package, the livery is pulled from the Japanese automaker’s GSX-R race motorcycles, tying the Apex to Suzuki’s racier roots. Of course, the car is simply a concept for now, but we’re crossing our fingers that it makes it to production… somehow.

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept: New York 2011

Gallery: Suzuki Kizashi Apex Concept

New York 2011: Suzuki makes a Kizashi Turbo, calls it the Apex concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video]

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki is building a car that we wish more people knew about – the Kizashi. The automaker’s mid-size sedan was featured in Suzuki’s first-ever Super Bowl ad, a modified version set a Bonneville speed record and the stock car traveled a grueling trail from Tokyo to Los Angeles. Now, Suzuki has prepared two new concept versions, showing us what might be in store for the Kizashi down the road. And believe us, are fingers are crossed that these two make it to production.

First up, the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept is a hybrid sedan that adds a touch of style to a segment rarely getting that extra dash of curb appeal. (Sorry, Ford Fusion Hybrid – you aren’t nearly as pretty as this thing.) Traditional gasoline oomph is provided courtesy of a 2.0-liter inline-four, while a 15-kilowatt motor and 115-volt, air-cooled, lithium-ion battery give the EcoCharge its electric giddy-up. Suzuki says the combination is good for a 25 percent increase over the standard Kizashi’s 30-mile-per-gallon highway fuel-economy rating. But it’s not just the hybrid powertrain providing the MPG lift – the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept is fitted with start/stop, has regenerative braking and wears low-rolling resistance tires.

To help it stand apart from its standard Kizashi siblings, Suzuki has gussied up the exterior of the EcoCharge. Unique headlights, LEDs in the fascia and a white satin paint job communicate that this Kizashi has something else going on. The LEDs also help communicate that this is still a concept, since we don’t think the local authorities would be too fond of the blue lights up front (they’re illegal, y’all).

The EcoCharge wasn’t the only sedan on the stand. On the other end of the spectrum, the automaker debuted something more focused on outright performance rather than efficiency.

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Continue reading Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video]

Suzuki Kizashi EcoCharge and Apex concepts bow in New York [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki bringing two Kizashi concepts to New York Auto Show

Filed under: Concept Cars, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Suzuki

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi – Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki is hoping to jumpstart its slow-selling Kizashi with two concepts that will debut at the New York International Auto Show. Suzuki says that the cars will each feature a different “advanced propulsion system,” though they aren’t dropping many hints as to what that may mean.

Whatever it is, Suzuki’s New York show display will be advanced propulsion-themed, and all will become clear soon enough.

There aren’t any photos of the cars available yet, but Suzuki says one will be a “socially-conscious sedan,” while the other will be a rowdy tribute to Suzuki’s motorcycling heritage. We haven’t quite figured out what that means, either. Whatever the cars wind up looking like, Suzuki says it will debut them during its press conference at the show.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading Suzuki bringing two Kizashi concepts to New York Auto Show

Suzuki bringing two Kizashi concepts to New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could Suzuki Kizashi get VW power?

Filed under: Sedan, Suzuki, Volkswagen

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Volkswagen announced it was teaming up with Suzuki for some joint projects, initial talk centered around small cars for emerging markets and possibly even a spate of two-wheeled ventures. Now, the rumormill is buzzing with speculation that the Japanese automaker might be interested in securing some of Volkswagen’s well-regarded powerplants for its midsize Kizashi sedan.

Prior to its tie-up with VW, Suzuki had enjoyed a partnership with General Motors that had the Japanese automaker using The General’s engines and transmissions. Those contracts died off after the VW deal, and, according to Ward’s, it now appears that any future engines for the Kizashi beyond the 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder (185 horsepower and 170 lb-feet of torque) will be sourced from Volkswagen.

Currently, there’s no indication what powertrains Suzuki is interested in procuring from Volkswagen, but we’d have to guess that a V6 or possibly even a hybrid would be on the menu, if possible.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi GTS

[Source: Ward’s Automotive]

Could Suzuki Kizashi get VW power? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Suzuki pits Kizashi against unlikely competitors

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Suzuki, Humor

Suzuki Kizashi vs Audi A4 vs Motorized Sofa

Suzuki Kizashi versus two unlikely competitors – Click above to watch video after the jump

Suzuki is pitting its Kizashi against a handful of surprising competitors for a series of new television ads The spots are set to begin airing on Christmas day. Who are the surprising competitors? An Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C300 and Volvo S40… as well as a motorized sofa, stretch limo and a man wearing a bubble-wrap suit.

Seeing the Kizashi defeat the odd-ball entries is no surprise, but it is a bit of a shock that it also beats the Germans and the Swede, at least in Suzuki’s arranged testing. Suzuki uses the advertisements to highlight the Kizashi’s handling, braking, safety and price. The TV spots are part of a larger campaign called Kizashi Kicks. You can head over to KizashiKicks.com for more information, and we’ve made the ad clips available for your viewing pleasure after the jump.

[Source: Youtube, KizashiKicks.com]

Continue reading Video: Suzuki pits Kizashi against unlikely competitors

Video: Suzuki pits Kizashi against unlikely competitors originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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203-mph Suzuki Kizashi stops by for coffee

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki, Racing

203-mph Suzuki Kizashi

Record-setting Suzuki Kizashi – Click above for high-res image gallery

Remember that 500+-horsepower Suzuki Kizashi that recently went over 200 miles per hour at the Bonneville Salt Flats? The one that Road & Track’s Sam Mitani drove to a new F/BGC record of 203.720? Well, R&T brought it down to Cars and Coffee this weekend and we got our first up-close look at it. Color us impressed.

The exterior features a large air dam up front, Moon discs and a pair of dorsal ridges running along the roof, but other than that, the car looks pretty much stock. Sure it sits a bit lower and it is covered in decals, but it doesn’t look much different from a tuner Suzuki that one might see at this weekly show. Even the engine looks relatively streetable.

Looking inside, you see much of the same – a fairly stock dash and center console, the original door panels, and even the stock steering wheel, albeit with the airbag removed. The biggest mods inside are for safety, with a single racing seat and a roll cage, plus a couple of fire-suppression tanks and a slew of switches and levers to keep everything moving smoothly. The biggest tip-off that this is something a little more special than just a tuner Kizashi is that giant parachute out back. Click below to check out our high-res gallery.

Gallery: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville Special

203-mph Suzuki Kizashi stops by for coffee originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Sep 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki

Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi – Click above for high-res image gallery

Road Race Motorsports has given the Suzuki Kizashi not just a boost, but a kick in the pants and elsewhere. Instead of the stock sedan’s 185 horsepower, RRM turbocharged the engine up to 300 hp, adds a sports suspension and sport brakes, along with a choice of bodykits. If 300 ponies is a little more than you’re after, RRM also has a 200-hp package, and the suspension offerings come in Stage 1, 2, and 3.

Our own Jeff Glucker drove it this week and wrote that “the carbon bucket seat was not built for my butt and I was half-assing (literally) in the seat. Thankfully, [the RRm Kizashi] was still easy to drive and predictably more fun than the stock model.” Follow the jump for the press release and check out the high-res images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Road Race Motorsports Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

[Source: Road Race Motorsports]

Continue reading Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi

Road Race Motorsports creates Platinum Edition Suzuki Kizashi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Kizashi topples 200 mph at Bonneville for new Land Speed Record

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Budget, Sedan, Suzuki

2010 Suzuki Kizashi takes Bonneville – Click above to watch video after the jump

The crew from Suzuki and Road & Track officially hold the new Land Speed Record for the Blown Gas Coupe Category. The team wheeled out their modified 2010 Suzuki Kizashi to the Bonneville Salt Flats and managed to average an impressive 203.720 mph across two high-speed runs, besting the previous record by a little less than a second and a half. R&T commissioned legendary engine builder Richard Holdener to rework the engine in the Kizashi before it hit the salt, and as a result, the car wore forged internals and a beefier turbo that shoved a full 16 pounds of boost into the four-cylinder as the Sam Mitani-helmed Suzuki headed down the dry lake bed.

Now that the Kizashi has one record under its belt, Road & Track is planning to try for a second, naturally-aspirated record by unbolting the turbo and going hog wild. Now all we have to wonder is how much it’s going to take to convince Suzuki to offer those slick seam-welded steel wheels as an option on the Kizashi Sport. Hit the jump to take a look at a video of the car during its record-setting run, as well as a press release detailing the occasion.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Continue reading Suzuki Kizashi topples 200 mph at Bonneville for new Land Speed Record

Suzuki Kizashi topples 200 mph at Bonneville for new Land Speed Record originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki releases official details on 200-mph Bonneville-bound Kizashi

Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Suzuki, Specialty

Why does a Suzuki Kizashi need a parachute? Click above to watch the videos after the jump

We’d heard it from the gearheads over at Road & Track, and now it’s been officially confirmed by Suzuki. A brand new Kizashi sedan will make the trek out to the Bonneville Salt Flats in an effort to set a new world speed record.

Suzuki hopes its highly modified Kizashi, piloted by R&T’s Sam Mitani, will be able to attain speeds of over 200 miles per hour. To hit that kind of velocity, a massive Turbonetics turbocharger will pump up to 20 psi of boost into the flowed cylinder head. An air-to-water intercooler will keep that massive rush of oxygen nice and cool while a methanol/water injection system will ward off any untoward detonation.

Naturally, safety is a concern. To that end, this Kizashi has been equipped with a full roll cage, seam-welded steel wheels and special rubber from Goodyear. Good thing, since there’s going to be 900 horsepower funneled to the ground. Oh, and let’s not forget the parachute as seen above. Check out the official press release after the jump, which is also where you’ll find the four latest videos from the boys at R&T.

[Source: Suzuki, Road & Track]

Continue reading Suzuki releases official details on 200-mph Bonneville-bound Kizashi

Suzuki releases official details on 200-mph Bonneville-bound Kizashi originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Road & Track working on 200 mph Suzuki Kizashi for Bonneville?!

Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Sedan, Videos

Road & Track record-breaking Suzuki Kizashi – Click above to watch video after the jump

You can’t accuse the guys at Road & Track of lacking ambition. The magazine has announced plans to tackle the seemingly impossible by building a Suzuki Kizashi to do battle at Speed Week on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The crew will be shooting for not one, but two different land speed records. On the low end is the naturally-aspirated gas coupe record which, for some odd reason, sits at a lowly 103 mph. The plan is to unbolt the factory turbo and run the car as a naturally aspirated machine. That shouldn’t be so much of an issue considering that the stock Kizashi can knock off that kind of speed without so much as turning a wrench under the hood.

The really impressive feat will be seeing whether or not the Kizashi can topple the blown gas coupe category. That record sits at a more respectable 202 mph, which means the Road & Track team will need to work the little Suzuki up to at least 203 mph. To do that, the crew turned to Richard Holdener – a man with plenty of experience pulling other worldly speed out of common cars. Hit the jump for a look at the first three in a series of videos about the build.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Continue reading Video: Road & Track working on 200 mph Suzuki Kizashi for Bonneville?!

Video: Road & Track working on 200 mph Suzuki Kizashi for Bonneville?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Aug 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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