Autoblog

First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport improves upon original recipe

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Suzuki, First Drives

2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Miami isn't exactly a driver's town. It's a tangle of perfectly perpendicular secondary streets demarcated by lengthy stoplights and the occasional drawbridge or toll booth. Perched on the very tip of Florida, it's one of the last places we would voluntarily spend time behind the wheel, but despite the bumper-to-bumper traffic, hair-raising lane changes and lawless nature of the traffic patterns, high-end metal is the norm down here.

We're fighting for our right to merge against a Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari F430 and a murdered-out Nissan GT-R as we make our way toward South Beach, contemplating the implications of dinging a car worth more than our mortgage when it dawns on us: The high rollers around us should make way - we're driving one of the most unique cars in the country.

Suzuki was kind enough to hand us the keys to one of the only Kizashi Sport models in existence. In fact, this is the same prototype that took center stage at the New York Auto Show, and while the suits in Japan have demanded that this Sport eventually meet with the Great Crusher in the Sky, the company's PR team have managed to keep the sedan from meeting its untimely fate long enough for us to do battle with traffic.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport improves upon original recipe

First Drive: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Sport improves upon original recipe originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show floor, V6 and hybrid not happening

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:39:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, Suzuki, Rumormill

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

"You'll turn blue in the face if you're holding your breath waiting for a V6 Kizashi." That was the word from a Suzuki spokesman at last night's insider preview of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport. It makes sense since Suzuki and General Motors have parted ways and that V6 was expected to come from GM. While we had been hoping a V6 would be part of the package, we are taking this quote to mean there won't be anything other than a four-cylinder in the engine bay for a good long time. And we do mean anything. Automotive News is also reporting that Suzuki has also dropped plans for the hybrid version of the mid-size media darling.

What we're left with isn't exactly chopped liver though. We've waxed poetically about the Kizashi and its near perfect blend of styling, performance and value, and the Sport looks to add just that little extra bit of styling and performance to make it even more appealing. We still have to wait to pass judgment on whether they keep the value part of the equation as prices won't be announced until closer to the vehicle's July on-sale date. For now, we have a few new live pics to share from the floor of the 2010 New York International Auto Show, and the official press release from Suzuki after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport: Live from the NY Auto Show

Photos by Frank Filipponio / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: American Suzuki Motor Corp.]

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show floor, V6 and hybrid not happening

New York 2010: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport lands on show floor, V6 and hybrid not happening originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in NYC

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:13:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Suzuki

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport - Click above for high-res image gallery

Suzuki decided that tomorrow wasn't soon enough to take the wraps off its new 2011 Kizashi Sport, so they invited us media types to SoHo tonight for a sneak peek before the official unveiling at the 2010 New York Auto Show. What we saw when we arrived was a very sharp looking Kizashi done up in fiery red with new 18-inch alloy wheels, a deeper front chin spoiler, a trunklid spoiler and extended side sills with a dash of chrome here and there. While we had hoped to see a "V6" badge somewhere on it, we were sadly left wanting.

In fact, the 2011 Sport doesn't have any performance tweaks in the engine bay, just the exterior changes and a firmed up suspension. There's also a new sport steering wheel inside as well as contrasting stitching throughout. The Sport package will be available on Kizashi GTS and SLS trim levels and ia scheduled to go on sale in the States this August. We have a sneaking suspicion that this is the same Kizashi concept we saw several months ago out at Cars & Coffee, not that there's anything wrong with that. There's a gallery of live pics below along with the freshly released media pics, and the full press release can be after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport: Live from NYC

Gallery: 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport

[Source: American Suzuki Motor Corp.]

Continue reading 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in NYC

2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport shows up looking sharp in NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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