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Monster's Suzuki SX4 Sport - Click above for a high-res image gallery

They came. They saw. They were conquered. That pretty much sums up a thrilling Pikes Peak International Hillclimb for 2009 as Suzuki's legendary Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima took overall victory yet again, fending off a formidable paddock of rivals, while difficult weather conditions dictated that the mythical ten-minute mark - as well as Monster's own 10:15 personal best - remained untouched.

This year the Suzuki team replaced its existing XL7-bodied challenger in with a purpose-built SX4 packing a 2.7-liter V6 with a massive 873 horsepower on tap. But among those eager to strip the Japanese champions of their domination were two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm driving a specially prepared Ford Fiesta and an 1150hp Ford RS200. Along with all the other pretenders to the crown, they were fed a heaping dose of humble pie by the Monster. Meanwhile drift champ Rhys Millen took the 2WD class victory in his Hyundai Genesis, pledging to return to the peak in the top-spec Unlimited class in an effort to reclaim the title which Monster took from his father Rod Millen, whose record stood from 1994 through 2007 when Suzuki bested the time. The books were just closed on this year's run up the mountain, but the competition's already heating up for next year.


Gallery: Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima's Suzuki SX4 Sport

Continue reading Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4

Ten-minute mark remains untouched as Monster Tajima wins Pikes Peak with 870hp Suzuki SX4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hill climbHillClimbmillenmonstermonster tajimaMonsterTajimanobuhiro monster tajimanobuhiro tajimaNobuhiroMonsterTajimaNobuhiroTajimapeakpikespikes peakpikes peak hill climbpikes peak international hill climbPikesPeakpikespeakhillclimbPikesPeakInternationalHillClimbrhys millenRhysMillensteve millenSteveMillensuzukisuzuki sx4SuzukiSx4tajimaMon, 20 Jul 2009 19:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster Tajima is Pikes Peak's new "King of the Mountain"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/21/monster-tajima-is-pikes-peaks-new-king-of-the-mountain/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/21/monster-tajima-is-pikes-peaks-new-king-of-the-mountain/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/21/monster-tajima-is-pikes-peaks-new-king-of-the-mountain/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Monster Tajima breaks Rod Millen's Pikes Peak record
Click image to enlarge

Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima has accomplished what he set out to do at Pikes Peak. Today, the 57-year-old Japanese driver piloted his immensely powerful, spectacularly bewinged Suzuki XL7 Hill Climb Special up the mountain and completed the 156-turn course in 10 minutes, 1.408 seconds, eclipsing Rod Millen's 1994 mark of 10 minutes, 4.06 seconds. According to the Associated Press, Tajima was quoted as saying, "It's fantastic. I'm very happy. I want to try again and beat the 10-minute barrier." We've no doubt that he'll be back again next year, looking to do exactly that. In the meantime, Tajima can sleep soundly, knowing that today, a Monster was crowned King of the Mountain.

For the full results (all classes and participants), click here.

[Source: AP via Sports Illustrated]

Gallery: 2007 Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special

Continue reading Monster Tajima is Pikes Peak's new "King of the Mountain"

Monster Tajima is Pikes Peak's new "King of the Mountain" originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Jul 2007 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingking of the mountainKingOfTheMountainmonster tajimaMonsterTajimanew recordNewRecordnobuhiro tajimaNobuhiroTajimaPikes peakPikesPeakrod millenRodMillensuzuki xl7SuzukiXl7xl7 hill climb specialXl7HillClimbSpecialSat, 21 Jul 2007 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special unveiled]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/suzuki-sport-xl7-hill-climb-special-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/suzuki-sport-xl7-hill-climb-special-unveiled/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/suzuki-sport-xl7-hill-climb-special-unveiled/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for hi-res gallery

Damn. If only the real Suzuki XL7 was this awesome. The car you see above is the machine that Monster Tajima hopes to break the current Pikes Peak Hill Climb record in. While the Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special has about as much in common with the regular XL7 as a funny car does with a production vehicle, it does indeed have one of the GM-sourced 3.6L V6es under its bodywork, only this one's a fully worked-over, twin-turbocharged unit dishing out 993 horsepower (1007 PS) and 737 lb-ft of torque. The target is Rod Millen's 1994 record of 10:04.06. The 2007 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place this weekend, so we'll know soon enough if Monster's new ride has what it takes to put a new entry in the record book. In the meantime, we'd like to suggest that Suzuki add a "Hill Climb Special" checkbox to the list of available XL7 options for the rest of us.

[Source: Suzuki Sport]

Gallery: 2007 Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special

Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special unveiled originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hill climb specialHillClimbSpecialMonster TajimaMonsterTajimapikes peakPikesPeaksuzuki sportSuzukiSportxl7xl7 hill climb specialxl7 pikes peakXl7HillClimbSpecialXl7PikesPeakTue, 17 Jul 2007 20:01:00 EST