Suzuki Kizashi Unveiled in Grosse Point

By J.B. Hubbard
Auto Advisor
Detroit Bureau
The Auto Channel

Grosse Point MI August 3, 2009; Lakeshore Road is known as home to many of the rich industrialist who started some of the worlds automotive giants. Chapins, Hudsons, Dodge, Fisher brothers and of course the Ford family.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi

A motor company from Japan unveiled at the famous Lakeshore road their newest vehicle. Suzuki motors of Japan introduced at the Russel Alger 32 Lakeshore home now known as the War Memorial the Suzuki “Kizashi”. This mid size four door sedan that will be a real winner if it can handle and deliver the class leading power as they stated. The Kizashi will compete with some of the finest including VW Passat, Acura TSX, Mazda 6, Nissan Altima and others in the largest segment in today’s automobile audience. 1.7 million units of the mid size will be sold this year.

Suzuki’s Kizashi will offer front wheel drive and all wheel drive configurations. They have the best in all wheel drive and decided that would make more sense in their markets. One of the comparisons was the 3 series from BMW which as you know is offered in rear wheel drive and now all wheel drive.

The Suzuki Kizashi introduction was well attended by many of the best in automotive journalism in Southeastern, Michigan.

The photos show off the great looking sedan from all angles. Interior is like that of a high –end Audi, VW or Volvo. The pre – production model was exemplarily in fit and finish. The static vehicle was impressive. Not just the journalist were impressed but Grosse Pointe Woods Judge Wiliam J. Giovan reviewed the new entry into the mid-sized sedans. He told me if Suzuki delivers their new vehicle at $25,000 what a wonderful buy. Yes, it would be and with the best in the market warranty and the superb all –wheel-drive system as an option this new mid-size Suzuki will be a real winner.

The vehicle known as the Kizashi came to production after the third concept vehicle, which was on the list of the best this last year. The 57-year-old Suzuki Company means business. In fact in for 57 years Suzuki has shown a profit. Only two companies in Japan in the automotive manufacturing are making a profit and Suzuki is one of them.

One reason is the success of the Suzuki motorcycles in the world. I love BMW, Aprila, the superb Ducati, Triumph and even the Harleys. But best Performance, handling and bang for the buck is what Suzuki has offered their customers. I have driven every Suzuki motorcycle and I love them. At Daytona this year few could match what Suzuki can deliver. They also do this with outboard motors. From 2.5 horsepower to 300 horsepower Suzuki outboards are driving some of the best watercraft in the world.

For the last four years in Japan Suzuki is the number one seller of cars. Amazing that the family that developed a pedal driven loom in 1909 and later took a bicycle and made an engine. Suzuki then began building motorcycles. The Japanese including Honda started producing automobiles four or more decades after the European and American manufacturers.

In order to compete with the competition Suzuki had to build the Kizashi from ground up. High performance steels were used for the frame. The suspension is independent. The transmission is either the paddle shifting continuously variable automatic or the fun to drive 6-speed manual.

The engine for the first units to reach the North American market will be the four cylinder 2.4 DOHC inline aluminum engine. The engine will have aluminum pistons, heads, and block. The in-line four-cylinder was designed with a balancer shaft. Suzuki knows well that their competition is VW Passat, the TSX from Acura, Nissan Altima and the Mazda 6 so they are doing the most to make sure buyers come to their door.

The youth may love the 450 amp sound blasting Rockford-Fosgate system and the speakers throughout the cabin and all the standard electronics. Buyers will love not only that the sound system can be operated by their I pod and that even Bluetooth is available.

All buyers will love the state of the art navigation system. Suzuki saw that buyers love the navigation system and worked with Magellan to bring to market the newest and best in navigation systems.

Brakes for front and rear of the new Kizashi come from the same supplier that makes them for the JAPANESE BULLET TRAIN. The competition including the above-mentioned VW Passat, Acura TSX, Nissan Altima , and Mazda 6, all have standard or available dynamic stability control systems that include even a turn-off switch. Suzuki said their new system for Kizashi’s 2010 model due in December 2009 is state of the art in stability control systems. That is what they state we will find on the first units delivered to the North American market. The system they insisted should have a turn off mode for dynamic stability control. Great. That allows you to get on the best roads un-driven and have some fun. But, if the system is on it can predict better than most of the systems out in the market when you need help. It even can determine problems when cornering and will activate systems to make sure you are safe. Safety features aside from the stability control systems include eight air bags. More than any of the competition.

The Suzuki will be the new vehicle in a crowded market and the competitors have proven superb vehicles.

Nissan’s Altima offers more options than most they have the four cylinder of 175 hp plus the award winning six cylinder, which Suzuki will not offer (yet) at 275horsepower.

Mazda 6 has one of the other best vehicles already proven in the marketplace. One million miles driven and proven. The Mazda 6 is safe. Even offers blind spot monitoring system that is similar to lane departure control. Lets you know when a vehicle is next to it. Helps in accident avoidance. Mazda 6 has a 5 star safety rating! Mazda 6 has available Bluetooth, drivers seat memory adjustments, Bose surround sound plus satellite radio. Mazda 4 cylinder manual and cvt automatic 4-cylinder get great mileage 20 city to 32 on the highway. The powerful 4 cylinder is similar to Nissan at almost 170 horsepower. With a six cylinder, which Suzuki may offer, in the future you will be hard to match the 270 horsepower and torque of the Nissan or Altima engines offered and proven now. But, with Suzuki bring in from India the man that changed the brand in India to nearly 50% of market share they state they will compete and beat all in the market place. The six cylinder gets 17 to 26 mpg Wheels and tires are offered from 16 inch to 18 inch just like Suzuki wishes to offer.

The suspension on the Mazda is one of the best with single pivot suspension independent with a stabilizer bar in front. A multilink rear suspension with a stabilizer bar is another feature. Mazda is 193 inches in length. Larger than proposed Suzuki Like the Suzuki pre production they have the continuous variable (cvt) transmission or a six-speed manual.

One of the other models Suzuki decided they wanted to be like is the Acura TSX. The TSX has such light, nimble handling; you’ll be exhilarated from the very first curve you carve up. You can choose between the lightweight 201-hp, in-line 4 or the more powerful 280-hp V-6. And with features such as VSA, Bluetooth� HandsFreeLink�11 and the available Acura Navigation System along for the ride, the concrete is yours to conquer. The TSX offers more horsepower than the Nissan Altima or the Mazda 6 models. It offers their vehicle dynamic stability control system and superb finely tuned suspension. Like Mazda they offer a superb navigation system and access to blue tooth . Suzuki will only offer the 4 cylinder in-line for the first models in December of 2009 expected to have 175 plus horsepower. We expect that they will later bring in a six-cylinder from conversations with management.

One other vehicle Suzuki looked at to bring to market the Kizashi was the front wheel-drive Volkswagen Passat. The new VW CC offers even a superb an all wheel drive configuration. The Passat for 2009 is offered at a better price in two models only. A sedan and the wagon with the four cylinder powerful German engine.

The Ford Fusion should be considered as a competitor. Offered in front wheel drive with and in line 4 cylinder. Also offered with the flex fuel V6 in front wheel drive or optional all wheel drive. The Ford Fusion is also available in a hybrid model. Superb performance, fuel economy and safety features have made the Fusion a winner.

Kizashi means “ better things to come” and it looks as if the engineers and designers at Suzuki have done a great job introducing into a crowded market a superb mid-size sedan.

J.B. Hubbard /Auto Advisor