Click above for a high-res gallery fo the Suzuki SX4t.
When Suzuki launched the SX4, we couldn't help thinking that the oddly shaped hatch had some aftermarket potential. Suzuki seemed to think the same thing and tapped Road Race Motorsports, the renowned SoCal tuning firm, to create a one-off concept for the Chicago Auto Show. Road Race decided that it could do better than just some wheels, brakes, a body kit and a few engine mods, so its created the SX4t, a turbocharged version of the all-wheel-drive hatch that could mark the beginning of Suzuki's ascendancy into the aftermarket.
Road Race fitted a Mitsubishi 16G GT3 turbocharger onto the 2.0-liter four-pot, which delivers seven pounds of boost and increases output to 221 hp and 208 lb.-ft. of torque, a substantial bump over the stock mill's 143 hp and 136 lb.-ft. of torque. According to Suzuki, that should drop 0-60 times to under seven seconds when equipped with the five-speed manual.
More impressive, however, is that Suzuki is giving Road Race its blessing and that could mean that the turbo upgrade, along with plenty of other go-fast bits, could be available from your local Suzuki dealership. The cost of the turbo kit, with all the necessary plumbing, will come in at relatively steep $5,400 when it goes on sale this June. Suzuki estimates that the installation would run between $1,100 and $1,200 at the dealership, but wouldn't say if fitting the kit would affect the seven-year/100,000 factory warranty on the powertrain. While dropping close to $10-grand on an SX4 for wheels, brakes and engine mods might be a tough pill to swallow, it will have to suffice for Suzuki enthusiasts hoping that the automaker would release a rally-inspired SX4.
Hit the jump for the full press release from Suzuki.
PRESS RELEASE
2008 SUZUKI SX4t CROSSOVER CONCEPT
The Vision
Catering to requests from auto enthusiasts, Suzuki is taking the SX4 Crossover's outstanding capability to the next level in performance. The SX4's unit structure and standard all-wheel drive can handle additional horsepower, so in partnership with Road Race Motorsports, the SX4's 2.0 liter DOHC four was upfitted with Road Race's proprietary turbo kit, the chassis was improved with sport springs, and wheels and tires grew to 17-inch.
Suzuki's J20A engine is equipped with a 16G GT3 Turbo and Tial 38mm wastegate. With seven pounds of boost, the engine's stock 143 class-leading horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque are upgraded to 221 horsepower and 208 lb-ft of torque.
Helping to control this significant upgrade in horsepower are Road Race's GRIP springs and performance brake pads. An oil filler cap and battery tie-down – in billet – are supplied by Suzuki's in-house parts group, SWT.
Less is more
Simplifying some of the exterior lines and removing the roof rack resulted in a sleek, unified appearance. To stay and look cool, Road Race installed its own CarbonTrix carbon fiber hood, and provided the SX4's roof and A, B, C and D pillars with a complimentary dark metallic gray finish. Suzuki's Quicksilver metallic remains the primary color south of the greenhouse, visually meshing with Rota's 17-inch five-spoke rims.
With a subtle approach to visual differentiation on the outside, Suzuki kept the interior similarly low key. Front seats benefit from a custom bolster, and both front and rear seats are recovered, featuring new fabric inserts which continue the exterior's silver metallic theme. To further accentuate the SX4's performance intent, the driver's contact points are enhanced by a sport steering wheel, taken directly from a Suzuki Swift, and SWT's drilled pedal set.
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The Rockford Fosgate audio system features an enhanced amp, speakers and subwoofer. And when not reaching for the audio knob, manual transmission enthusiasts will enjoy the sequential feel provided by Road Race's billet shift lever controlling the SX4's five forward gears.
With a genuine boost under the hood, and the enhanced drivetrain clothed in a discreet cosmetic treatment, the Suzuki concept speaks to the ongoing desire of motorists everywhere to go about their business quickly, albeit quietly.
Technical Specifications
Mechanical:
• Turbocharged and intercooled J20A engine featuring 16G GT3 Turbo and Tial 38mm Wastegate
• 221 horsepower (5,100 rpm) and 208 lb-ft of torque (3,800 rpm)
• 2.0 liter DOHC four requires PREMIUM fuel
• Road Race Motorsports GRIP springs
• Road Race performance brake pads
Exterior:
• CarbonTrix carbon fiber vented hood
• Rota five-spoke Torque wheels – 17 X 7.5
• Yokohama Advan Neova tires – 225/45/R17 91W
• Removal of factory cladding
• Removal of factory roof rack and mounting studs
Interior:
• JDM Suzuki Swift steering wheel
• Rockford Fosgate audio system, with upgraded amp, speakers and subwoofer
• Road Race sequential-style shift knob
• Custom bolster in front seats
• Custom seat fabric inserts
• SWT billet drilled pedal set
Suzuki SX4t Concept assembled by Road Race Motorsports, Santa Fe Springs, CA.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
andy @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:03PM
nice turbo kit and all but that car is so dam unattractive.
Aprime @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:15PM
Why do you think that?
It lacks major blind spots, and that makes me happy. :D
Derek @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:33PM
I like it, but the car is too tall. I want a car, not a small SUV.
SPG @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:09PM
All this car needs is a body colored hood and the Fiat badging and it would be the coolest little econo hatch in North America.
LDMAN @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:52PM
Already done. http://www.fiat.com/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/FIAT_COM/showroom/showroom.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2061981563.1208908238@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccdadedlllleikcefecejgdfkhdfjh.0&modelKey=189
SPG @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:56PM
@ LDMAN
In North America we don't get the fiat version.
What I am saying is that having this turbo'd little rally car for the streets badged as Fiat would take the custom thing even further and make the car even more unique.
tankd0g @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:31PM
How the hell does Suzuki not see the value in offering a factory 2.0L turbo version of their WRC car?? Even if it's not 4wd, turbo it!
joe @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:56PM
I'm sure it has to do with their WRC team having abysmal results and the steep competition from subaru and mitsubishi. i like there being a third guy in the AWD rally car set-up, but they really got steep competition. i priced out a decently equipped sx4 crossover and its close to the wrx 5 door...
joe @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:59PM
Edit: let me clarify, they price out similarly when you add the 6k for the turbo on top of the optioned sx4.
tankd0g @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:50PM
They just launched the friging WRC program this past year, what do you expect? Mitsubishi on the other hand has been around forever and they are doing worse than privateers!
If it was a factory turbo it would be in the same price range as everything else with a turbo. Having aftermarket parts added, dealer installed or not, is always more money than a standard mass produced option.
Franz @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:46PM
I actually like the look of this Road Race tuned SX4. It's not the most attractive car but it looks loads better hunkered down like that and minus the roof rack. Spending that much on it though... I don't think so. Not when I can get a relatively low mileage '05-'06 WRX wagon for about $18k and way less. Plus, 221hp sounds good at first, until you remember that this thing weighs close to 3000lbs. Good effort, but kinda pointless.
Red @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:18PM
I actually think it looks a lot like the Mach IV Golf/GTI. I kinda like it.
gary @ Apr 22nd 2008 7:52PM
I have always thought Suzuki made a major marketing blunder for not offering a turbo or supercharged version of their AWD cars to appeal to the performance car buyer.
speedball3 @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:01PM
Not bad. Not digging the two-tone paint, but everything else seems good. I think it'd look best all white, even with some white wheels thrown in for good measure. Plus it'd look more like their WRC car. 7psi of boost sounds kind of weak but I guess that's about the norm when talking aftermarket forced induction.
tuna @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:08PM
Reading this article gave me flashbacks of my 1G DSM.
Go Road Rage Engineering! Heh.
PJ @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:14PM
Wow... really? Kudos to Suzuki Auto for following through on its "we're just as exciting as the motorcycle division" pitch, if belatedly, and perhaps insufficiently.
But that price! Take a $15,700 base SX4 hatchback, add $5,400 for the turbo and $1,200 for installation, and you're looking at a $22,300 car. Throw on a decent suspension kit and a set of 17s, and you're looking at the wrong side of $25,000.
At which point Cobalt SS, Civic Si, Mustang GT, and Subaru WRX owners will be laughing rather hard.
Dirk @ Apr 23rd 2008 9:31AM
Only one of those has AWD, however.
If they can get the turbo kit down to $2000 installed this might have been more viable. Either way, they're on the right track for even considering to offer it in the first place.
Rob @ Apr 23rd 2008 12:53PM
Don't forget it's a dealer installed price estimate. I would expect you readers to know that dealers pricing is always high. Street price for this setup would probably be almost half that price.
PauloBecker @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:12PM
The fact that I like this better than the new WRX tells me something about how badly Subaru screwed up in my book...
UhHello8 @ Apr 22nd 2008 9:14PM
Let me get this straight, $5400 for the kit plus another grand for install all so I can make something that should go fast, fast? This is why people who buy cheap cars have to buy cheap cars! They do stupid things with there money!!!