Posts Tagged ‘Suzuki News’

Last month, Suzuki held a press conference at the New York Auto Show to reveal two exciting new Kizashi models to better align with American driver needs.

Suzuki’s Associate Director of Public Relations, Jeff Holland, kicked off the conference with some exciting highlights surrounding Suzuki’s past and future. In addition to owning the most affordable all-wheel drive lineup and America’s #1 warranty, it was revealed that Suzuki had just been given a 28% quality rating increase from 2006 to 2010 in the IQS3 report. Suzuki is also the first non-luxury brand to arm its sales force with the powerful iPad tablet, allowing customers and employees to quickly access all information surrounding Suzuki products.

Steve Younan, Suzuki’s Director of Marketing and Product Planning, finished off the conference with the reveal of two new Suzuki concepts: the Kizashi EcoCharge and Kizashi Apex Turbo. The EcoCharge was created for the environmentally minded American driver and includes a 2.0 4-liter gas-electric engine, 115V Lithium-ion battery, and 6-speed automatic transmission. This, coupled with other exterior adjustments results in a  25% increase in fuel economy. The EcoCharge’s counterpart, the Apex Turbo, was designed for the Suzuki enthusiast. It focuses primarily on street performance vs. track performance. The six-speed manual includes a redesigned turbo system for everyday use and a Garrett turbocharger with air-to-liquid intercooler. The result is a powerful experience of up to 300 HP with maximum boost level of 8.5 psi.

We’re excited about these two new models, and encourage you to watch the full press conference below!

Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

The 2011 Suzuki Kizashi has received praise from virtually every auto publication, and now it’s receiving a very different kind of recognition.

The Kizashi was just named the Official Safety Car of the Formula 1000 Championship Series. The Suzuki Kizashi Safety Car’s impressive performance and eye-catching graphics will be on display at all F1K Series events and promotions being sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. It will be towed to the events by a matching Suzuki Equator pickup, rounding out some of the most exciting Suzuki products of the year.

The 2011 Kizashi comes in 11 unique trim levels for a customized experience. The interior delivers plenty of space for the family, and includes features such as dual-zone climate control, LED overhead ambiance lighting, Bluetooth wireless phone integration, and a Rockford Fosgate 425-watt 10-speaker audio system. The performance is where the Kizashi really turns heads – with excellent handling, 4-wheel disc brakes with Akebono components, and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive.

The F1K Series is very excited about the Suzuki Kizashi being our Official Safety Car. “Beyond being an outstanding sport sedan, the Kizashi is the perfect car to pace our field, as Suzuki’s GSXR-sourced powerplant is also the preferred engine of the majority of teams running in our Championship. – F1K Managing Director, Jon Lewis

Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

With the New York Auto Show in full swing, some wondered if Suzuki would deliver on its innovative new promises.

Halfway through the show, Gas 2.0 reports that we have our answer with the reveal of Suzuki’s latest Kizashi concept, the EcoCharge Hybrid. This concept is a nice addition to the powerful Apex concept, and further illustrates Suzuki’s commitment to innovative, socially-conscious products. This reveal comes with optimal timing, as Americans continue to see fuel prices skyrocket.

The Kizashi EcoCharge Hybrid contains 2 cohesive engines: a 2.0L gas engine and a 15 kw electric motor. The two deliver a combined 144 hp and 127 Ib-ft. of torque. It also features six-speed automatic transmission, stop-start technology, and regenerative breaking. The EcoCharge’s 25% increase in fuel economy from the original Kizashi also presents a tremendous improvement.

The interior features advanced materials which require 84 percent less energy to produce, and the exterior boasts a striking design with a unique white satin paint job and LED foglight illumination. Stay tuned for more news on this vehicle as it rolls out!

Our basic concept was to attain substantial gains in fuel economy without the traditional sacrifices in drivability required with today’s mid-size hybrid sedans. The proof of our concept is that the Kizashi EcoCharge has the capability to deliver a 25 percent fuel economy gain in real-world driving through an electric charge to the powertrain system while still retaining the production Kizashi’s dynamic handling and braking advantages that make it a standout category performer. – Steve Younan, Director of Automotive Marketing and Product Planning for American Suzuki Motor Corporation

Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

Attention car enthusiasts! Suzuki will be revealing the newest incarnation of the Kizashi in the form of the Apex concept at the New York Auto Show. What will this Kizashi have that previous models don’t? More speed. As Motor Trend reports, the new turbocharged Kizashi will be capable of up to 300 horsepower – an increase of almost 50% over stock vehicles.

The Suzuki Kizashi has earned accolades for its smart styling, excellent design and enthusiast driving experience from the get go and the Apex promises to take these qualities to a whole new level. The Kizashi’s engine includes a turbocharger huffing 8.5 psi of boost, a dual exhaust system, and a compact water-to-air intercooler to reduce turbo lag.

The Apex is loaded with features which aim to highlight Suzuki’s motorcycle heritage, including HID headlights from the Euro-market Kizashi, LED foglights, and graphics inspired by the GSX-R race motorcycle. Black leather seats with blue Alcantara inserts and “burnt asphalt” alloy wheels add to both the design and performance.

We can’t wait for the Apex to hit the Pavement!

Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.

The new rugged, yet refined Suzuki Grand Vitara has been garnering attention for its tight performance and luxury feel. A recent review by Prescott News was no exception, praising the Grand Vitara for its wide variety of features.

The test Suzuki used in the review was equipped with a navigation system, six-disc CD changer, fog lights, a 3.2 liter V-6 engine and four-wheel drive transmission. It earned big points for overall value as the whole package, including new gear, came in at a very affordable $25,000.

The Grand Vitara car boasts a magnificent transmission, and its competent suspension delivers it a tight performance feel. Four-wheel disc brakes stop this little ride like brick wall. – John Dickerson, Prescott News

One of the few true SUVs in production today, the versatile Grand Vitara handles just as well in rugged terrain as it does in the city.

Looking for your own quality new or pre-owned vehicle? Browse our new inventory, pre-owned inventory, and internet specials 24/7 at gladstonesuzuki.com.