My Cars Blog: Suzuki Kizashi

The Suzuki Kizashi is a mid-size car, unveiled in the United States on July 30, 2009. The Kizashi went on sale in Japan on October 21, 2009, in North America on December 1, 2009, and in Australia and New Zealand on May 11, 2010. The Kizashi is the first mid-size Suzuki automobile sold in the Australian market. Kizashi was launched in India on 2 February 2011.Kizashi is a Japanese word which means "omen", "sign", or "warning", so it is possible Suzuki means to suggest to other automobile manufacturers that its Kizashi is an example of Suzuki's future products. The Kizashi aspires to be Suzuki's flagship sedan and currently exceeds Japanese government regulations concerning exterior dimensions and engine displacement for cars classified as "compact".On June 28, 2010 Suzuki recalled 5,107 model year 2010 Kizashi vehicles due to a glove box door that failed to comply with FMVSS 201 ("Occupant Protection in Interior Impact") in which the door could open in a crash. The first Kizashi concept included a 2L, 4-valve turbo diesel engine, sequential 6-speed transmission, 21-inch aluminium alloy wheels, and AWD — and was unveiled at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. The second Kizashi concept was a 5-door crossover sport wagon that included a 3,564 cc (3.564 L; 217.5 cu in) V6 engine, 6-speed automatic transmission, i-AWD, and 265/45ZR22 tires — and was unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. The third Kizashi concept was an AWD vehicle that included a 3,564 cc (3.564 L; 217.5 cu in) V6 engine rated 300 hp, 6-speed automatic transmission, and 21-inch aluminium wheels with 255/30ZR21 tires. Concept Kizashi 3 was unveiled at the 2008 New York auto show.

HOT CAR! 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

Standard equipment includes front-wheel drive (FWD) and a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine developing 185 hp (138 kW) and 170 lb·ft (230 N·m) of torque. Available transmissions are a 6-speed manual or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT version reduces power to 180 hp (134 kW), and has a 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) time of about 8 seconds. The Kizashi offers 17 and 18-inch alloy wheels, Akebono sourced brakes, a choice of cloth or leather seating surfaces, and a 425-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with iPod connectivity and Bluetooth capability. All wheel drive (AWD) (based on the i-AWD system featured in the Suzuki SX-4) is optional and includes a driver-activated FWD mode to save fuel. The engine lineup will supposedly include two petrol engines displacing 2.4L and 3.6L respectively, as well as a 2.0L turbodiesel unit for European markets. FWD is expected to be standard although an AWD option will be available for some models as well as a paddle-shift six-speed automatic. In December 2010, the Kizashi won two motoring awards in New Zealand: the Supreme Winner in the 2010 AA Motoring Excellence Awards and the New Zealand Herald Car of the Year Award. The car was praised for its astonishing attention to detail, refinement and comfort. In India, in collaboration with India’s largest passenger car manufacturer Maruti, Suzuki launched the car as the Maruti Kizashi on 2 February 2011. It was expected to be a CBU (Completely Built Unit), so heavy import duties may push its prices to a higher point than originally intended. The Maruti Kizashi is priced at around 1.6 to 1.75 million Indian rupees (46 INR = $1). This model has a J24B 2.4 petrol engine with 4 cylinder 16 valves DOHC. The 2400cc engine is capable of producing 185 hp of peak power at 6,500 rpm (manual transmission) and 180 hp at 6,000 rpm (CVT). It churns 170 Nm of peak torque at 4,000 rpm. The Maruti Kizashi utilizes a direct ignition system for increased fuel efficiency with decreased emissions. With the help of this and other engine technologies, the car gives 9 kmpl in city and 12 kmpl at highway. The maximum fuel tank capacity of the car is 63 litre.