Suzuki will introduce 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport at Newyork auto show

We’ve always walked away impressed with the taut body control and sharp handling exhibited by Suzuki’s midsize Kizashi sedan, but a new model — the 2011 Kizashi Sport — promises a sharper drive experience yet.

Although it’s billed as a unique model, the Kizashi Sport is more along the lines of an option package available on the top two Kizashi trim levels. Offered on both the GTS and SLS sedans, the Sport group adds a mildly revised front fascia, revised side sill moldings, extra chrome trim, and a trunk-mounted spoiler. Unique 18-inch wheels are two pounds lighter than before, and engineers blessed the Kizashi with a revised suspension setup, which lowers the ride height by 10 mm.

The suspension changes, it seems, are the extent of the mechanical upgrades gifted to the Kizashi Sport. Power still comes from a 2.4-liter DOHC I-4, which is rated at 185 horsepower, and 170 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission is standard, although a continuously variable transmission is optional (and mandatory if all-wheel-drive is ordered). Selecting the CVT drops the engine’s output to 180 horsepower.

Inside, the Kizashi Sport receives a few unique touches, including revised front “sport” seating, along with perforated leather on the steering wheel. Should buyers opt for black leather seating, contrasting stitching is added to the shift boot, park brake boot, and the seats themselves.

Suzuki has yet to establish pricing for the model, but we’d expect the Sport touch to carry a modest price increase over the $23,234 and $25,134 base prices of the GTS and SLS, respectively. Look for further information to emerge when cars arrive at dealers nationwide in August 2010.

The all-new Suzuki Kizashi won't be arriving at the firm's US dealerships before early December, but the Japanese automaker has already prepared four specially tricked-out versions of its mid-size sedan that will be displayed at the SEMA Show in Sin City next week. The list of tuners includes names such as Road Race Motorsport, Delta Tech, Westside Auto and even Import Tuner magazine (though the later has yet to release any photos). As far as appearance goes, we'll give our vote to Road Race Motorsport's kitted out Platinum Edition Kizashi. You can check out all the modded Kizashi sedans after the break.
[From Suzuki Press Release]

Road Race Motorsport's Platinum Edition Kizashi

As one of the first custom builders to recognize the potential of Suzuki's vehicles, the presence of Road Race at SEMA comes as no surprise. Given the Kizashi platform's promise – and the fluid, almost organic sheet metal clothing it – Road Race supplies its own very unique take on Kizashi.

SEMA visitors can enjoy Road Race's Sport Body kit exterior which employs Carbontrix custom bumpers, rear spats and diffuser. Road Race has crafted a custom grill, vented hood and made the Kizashi its own 'Platinum Edition' graphics and a blackened roof. These visual modifications are supported by a platform perfectly suited to Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a high-speed drive on I-15 (what happens in Vegas doesn't have to stay in Vegas…).

Progress Technology provided the sport springs and front and rear sway bars. Road Race installed its own chassis stiffeners, and Rotora brings the custom Kizashi to a stop with 330mm slotted rotors up front, supplemented by Road Race's own 260mm slotted rotors in the rear.

Under the vented hood, the sweetness continues with a proprietary custom intake system, Zeitronix ZT-2 data logging system and Road Race engine management. The modifications are concealed – until ignition – by a painted-to-match engine cover, and announced by Road Race's own 'Integrated Sport' dual exhaust system. The Road Race Kizashi can be seen at the Zeitronix Booth #21212.

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Delta Tech Engineering Kizashi

Delta Tech Engineering, a specialist in vehicle lighting, started with a gutted – and lightened – Kizashi body shell. While Delta Tech took care of under the hood, with cold air intake and performance exhausts, RK Sport developed a body kit, Katzkin supplied the custom seating, and Koni enhanced the Kizashi's already composed ride with its own coilovers and shocks.

Lighting, engineered in house by Delta Tech, is LED and HID. Sound equipment upgrades are provided by Kenwood. The Delta Tech Kizashi may be seen at Booth #23526 in the Central Hall.

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Westside Auto Group Kizashi Soleil

Integrating vintage European elegance with the high-performance DNA of Suzuki's Hayabusa, Westside Group's Kizashi Soleil (French for 'masculine sun') incorporates numerous distinct touches, all executed to make an individualistic statement within the unique template supplied by Suzuki's own execution.

Vehicle modifications performed by Westside include custom two-toned paint (Napa Merlot/Bronzed Amber), redesigned front and rear fenders, custom air apertures, fabricated grill, shaved and modified door handles and new front fascia.

In back, a redesigned rear deck lid equipped with a GT Super Car spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper is equipped with custom Yoshimura exhaust. Planting the Soleil to the ground are early-release Bridgestone Potenza mounted on R-Worx 7-spoke wheels. The Westside Group Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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Import Tuner Kizashi

 

No outlet speaks better to the 'tuner' audience than Import Tuner magazine. With its Kizashi the project build team went for the vehicular jugular, with performance enhancements under the hood, appropriate suspension mods connecting those enhancements to the ground, and cosmetic modifications to provide the appropriate visualization for Import Tuner's own editorial visualization.

With a nod to both the SEMA Show and its own Los Angeles – based roots, the Import Tuner Kizashi provides a tune-up to an already class-leading sport sedan. The Import Tuner Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vega

Suzuki's joint-venture in China, Changan-Suzuki, has released a facelift version of the SX4 crossover for the domestic market. 

Not surprisingly, both the hatchback and sedan variants of the updated SX4 feature the same aesthetic changes as the European version of the car that was scooped undisguised last December.

These include the redesigned bumper, reworked grille and concave surfaces above the fog lights as well as a new skid-plate at the rear of the hatchback.
For those that like to pay attention to insignificant details, the China-market and, from the looks of it, the European-spec 2010 SX4's subtly redesign front-end is no different than the one found on the North American market SX4 that has been around since 2006...


The Chine-spec SX4s also feature updated interior trim and a new GPS navigation system.

Suzuki has joined forces with surf wear and equipment brand O'Neill to introduce a special edition version of the Escudo SUV (we know it as the Grand Vitara) exclusively for the Japanese market.

Based on the 2.4L XG model and available in a limited run of 600 units, the Escudo 'ONeil' is offered in three exterior paint jobs (black, blue and white) with matching interior trim.

O'Neill badges aside, the limited edition Escudo's features include waterproof seat fabrics and floor mats, gunmetal-gray alloy wheels, chrome grille, skid panels in a matt aluminum finish and upgraded standard equipment.

The production version of the Suzuki Kizashi sedan was officially revealed today in a special launch event in Detroit. Built at Suzuki's new manufacturing plant in Sagara, Japan, the Kizashi will serve as the company's flagship model when it arrives in North American showrooms this winter.

Available in both front- and all-wheel drive versions, Suzuki's Mazda6 and VW Passat rival will initially be offered with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine linked to either a 6-speed manual transmission or optionally, a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

While the Japanese automaker did not disclose any output figures for the base four-cylinder engine, Suzuki did reveal that other powertrain options are also under development for the Kizashi including a fuel efficient hybrid version that will be added to the lineup in the very near future.
 
Built on a brand-new platform, the Kizashi features MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link setup in the back with Suzuki supporting that the sedan will offer drivers "a dynamic and exhilarating driving experience".
 
An Electronic Stability Program and anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution as well as the Suzuki-developed synergetic vehicle dynamic control system that assists drivers control will be offered as standard on the Kizashi.
 
Measuring in at 183.1 in. (4,650 mm) long, 71.7 in. (1,820 mm) wide and 58.3 in. (1,480 mm) high with a wheelbase of 106.3 in. (2,700mm), the Kizashi is roughly the same size as the latest generation Audi A4 Sedan.
 
Despite the fact that the Kizashi originated from the Concept Kizashi series introduced over the last two years, the production model's styling is far less dramatic, which is a shame as the concept study featured an extremely well executed design that received positive reactions from European and North American consumers alike.
 
As for the mid-size sedan's interior, Suzuki's designers crafted an elegant looking dashboard that features an Alfa Romeo-esque instrument panel with two deeply set gauges and an uncluttered center console.
 
More details as well as North American prices are expected to be released closer to the sedan's sales launch in December. Suzuki has yet to announce when the Kizashi will arrive in other international markets.