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New 2010 Suzuki Kizashi: Suprising Source For AWD Sports Sedan

 
3,627 views Jul 30, 2009
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2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

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Near where we spend our weekends, in the hilly terrain of upstate New York, there are three Subaru dealers. For several years, the largest one has paired strong-selling Subarus with the Suzuki lineup of all-wheel-drive entries and small, relatively green cars.

When we got the word about the brand-new 2010 Suzuki Kizashi all-wheel-drive sports sedan, which Suzuki calls the new flagship for its range, we just couldn't help thinking of the all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy GT that our colleague Bengt Halvorson drove last month.

The Kizashi (pronounced "Kee-Zah-Shee") takes the 90-year-old Suzuki firm into new automotive territory, giving its 400 dealers a sporty midsize sedan with swankier features than they've had to date. Suzuki, Subaru, Suzuki, Subaru. Hmmmm.

It will arrive at Suzuki dealers before the end of 2009, and we're told a hybrid version is less than a year away. But it's been a long time coming. The 2010 Suzuki Kizashi is the production version of a vehicle that's been shown as three separate concept cars.

Designed from the start for all-wheel-drive, the 2010 Kizashi is meant to deliver "a dynamic and exhilarating driving experience". Suzuki says the car has been tested on Germany's Autobahn, the twisty roads of the Swiss Alps, the cobblestone lanes of rural England, and the legendary Nürburgring racing circuit.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Enlarge Photo

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Enlarge Photo

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Enlarge Photo

The all-wheel-drive system defaults to front-wheel-drive until the driver pushes the "AWD" switch on the dash. Thereafter, torque is aplit among front and rear wheels based on driving inputs and vehicle performance.

The Kizashi is motivated by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, mated to either a six-speed manual or a continuously-variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters for better driver control when needed. Gas mileage figures haven't yet been released.

Safety equipment includes eight airbags, anti-lock brakes,  Suzuki's Dynamic Vehicle Stability Control system, and sensors that monitor tire pressure.

The styling is a "seamless melding of European style and Japanese craftsmanship," according to the makers, with minimal front overhang and optional 18-inch wheels.  The interior offers a "contemporary, upscale feel" with available leather seats, seat heaters, and seat-position memory for three drivers.

Along with standard keyless starting and iPod integration, Kizashi technology options include Bluetooth audio streaming and a 425-Watt Rockford Fosgate stereo system.

Oh, and the name? In Japanese, the word kizashi means, "Something great is coming"--according to Kevin Saito, the president of American Suzuki. Hmmmmmm.

2009 Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

2009 Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

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2007 Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

2007 Suzuki Kizashi 2 Concept

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2007 Suzuki Kizashi concept

2007 Suzuki Kizashi concept

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[photos: Motive (requires login) via Jalopnik]





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Comments (6)

  1. By MattB Posted: 8/18/2009 1:06am PDT

    That's a really nice looking car! I had seen the concept car at an autoshow already.
    Suzuki did a great job at toning it down while at the same time still leaving alot of the design elements intact.
    One thing that this article didn't mention though is all the engineering that went into this car. There is nothing else like the Kizashi in this catagory of car on the road today!
     
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  2. By MattB Posted: 8/18/2009 1:08am PDT

    For starters show me another car in the segment that has: aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings, forged connecting rods, forged crankshaft, timing CHAIN (not a belt), balance shafts, hydraulic valve lifters AND coil-over ignition. There are none.
     
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  3. By MattB Posted: 8/18/2009 1:09am PDT

    If you don't know what all that means, trust me, it means this car will be a great performer and is better engineered that anything in its catagory and price level. The prices are going to start around 19k, and go up to 25k for a totally loaded version complete with AWD! To get anything even close to this car you will have to spend ATLEAST 10k to 20K more that you will with Kizashi.
     
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  4. By MattB Posted: 8/18/2009 1:11am PDT

    Multi-link fully independent suspension too, no lame-o semi-trailing arms or torsion beams to be found on this car.
    Suzuki tends to put it's money where you can't see it, unlike other brands that sell a fancy interior on a dinosaur chassis.
    Combine all those features w/ the AWD option and there's plenty to differentiate this car from Honda's, Toyota's, VW's and Subaru's, etc.
     
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  5. By  valve replacement Posted: 8/19/2009 12:10am PDT

    Complex control systems using valves requires an automatic control based input of an actuator. The actuator strokes the valve allowing the valve to be positioned accurately and allowing control over a variety of requirements.
     
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  6. By  Cars for sale Posted: 2/3/2010 2:20am PST

    I cannot wait to see the new hybrid. I feel that hybrid and electric cars are what we should be improving. Cars for sale today are damaging our environment and we can help this by the way that we drive.
     
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