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The five-door Swift 4x4 is priced in Germany at €14,490 [US$21,000] with standard features including air conditioning and an MP3-capable CD radio with steering wheel controls and a USB port.
The Kizashi 4x4 sedan features Suzuki's so-called intelligent all-wheel drive system (i-AWD), which allows the driver to manually switch the car from front- to all-wheel drive with the push of a button, with power coming from a 178HP-strong 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission.
According to the Japanese automaker, the Kizashi 4x4 averages 11.3 lt/100km in the city, 6.6 lt/100km on highway and 8.3 lt/100km on the combined cycle, with CO2 emissions of 191 g/km.
Prices in Germany start from €29,900 [US$41,000]. The standard equipment package features a two-zone automatic climate control, Xenon headlights, ten-way power adjustable and heated driver's seat with memory function, and more.
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But the Japanese automaker isn't about to throw in the towel, not just yet. Marking one of its largest advertising campaigns in years, Suzuki has launched an ambition set of edgy ads pitting the Kizashi against similar sized models in the luxury segment such as the Mercedes-Benz C350, Audi A4 and the Volvo S40.
In each case, the Kizashi is shown in a side-by-side test with one of the aforementioned models plus an outsider, and by that we mean a motorized sofa, a man covered in a bubble-wrap suit and a stretch limousine. Well, you can't blame Suzuki for not having a sense of humor. Scroll down to watch all three ads in the videos below.
Source: Suzuki & Autonews
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But the Japanese automaker isn't about to throw in the towel, not just yet. Marking one of its largest advertising campaigns in years, Suzuki has launched an ambition set of edgy ads pitting the Kizashi against similar sized models in the luxury segment such as the Mercedes-Benz C350, Audi A4 and the Volvo S40.
In each case, the Kizashi is shown in a side-by-side test with one of the aforementioned models plus an outsider, and by that we mean a motorized sofa, a man covered in a bubble-wrap suit and a stretch limousine. Well, you can't blame Suzuki for not having a sense of humor. Scroll down to watch all three ads in the videos below.
Source: Suzuki & Autonews
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All in all, Suzuki sold a mere 1,878 cars and SUVs in August, down from 5,751 units the same month a year ago. The Japanese automaker says it has around 300 dealers in the U.S. If you do the math, that comes to a little over 6 vehicles sold per dealer in August... Here are some more details on the company's sales broken down model by model:
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Suzuki's "best"-selling models, the Grand Vitara and Equator, took a 73% sales dive. Not far off that, the SX4's sales fell by 75% while the XL7 and and Forenza/Reno took 99% and 100% drops (granted, the Forenza/Reno was discontinued and only moved a laughable 12 units in 2010).
The all-new and much promising Kizashi, which hasn't officially dropped in sales because it wasn't available last August, has barely managed to bring in 478 buyers in August. For all the other scary Suzuki sales figures, scroll on down.
Looking at these depressing stats, it's no wonder they're holding off on debuting the Swift here.
By Phil Alex
Scheduled to go on sale throughout Europe this autumn, Suzuki's lighter, longer and roomier new Swift will be offered at launch with a new 94-horsepower 1.2-liter petrol and an upgraded 75-horsepower 1.3-liter turbo diesel.
Already launched in the States (read more here), the Kizashi Sport grade tries to justify its moniker with a lower ride height and newly styled 18-inch alloys plus some discreet aero parts such as the side skirts and interior trim upgrades.
Suzuki said that it will replace the part on the affected cars free of charge. The company plans to notify owners with the safety recall expected to begin in mid-July. For more information, Kizashi owners can contact Suzuki directly at 1-714-996-7040.
The company said that it will offer the Kizashi with all-wheel drive as standard while power will be provided by the same 2.4-liter gasoline engine used on the N.A.-spec model.
The four-cylinder unit churns out 185 HP when linked to a six-speed manual gearbox and 178HP when mated to a CVT.
The Japanese maker is also planning to expand the Kizashi's range in the very near future with a more powerful V6 petrol engine as well as a hybrid version, though it is not clear if these variants will make it to Europe.
We don't know yet if it's technically feasible (and economically viable), but Suzuki's recent tie up with Volkswagen could see the Kizashi sedan being offered with a much-needed in Europe, diesel engine sourced from the German Group.
Together with the Kizashi, Suzuki will also display in Geneva the Swift Plug-in Hybrid that was first introduced at last fall's Tokyo Motor Show as well as new variants of the three-and five-door Grand Vitara with a redesigned rear hatch that does away with the spare tire box.
The all-new Suzuki Kizashi won't be arriving at the firm's US dealerships before early December, but the Japanese automaker has already prepared four specially tricked-out versions of its mid-size sedan that will be displayed at the SEMA Show in Sin City next week. The list of tuners includes names such as Road Race Motorsport, Delta Tech, Westside Auto and even Import Tuner magazine (though the later has yet to release any photos). As far as appearance goes, we'll give our vote to Road Race Motorsport's kitted out Platinum Edition Kizashi. You can check out all the modded Kizashi sedans after the break.[From Suzuki Press Release]
Road Race Motorsport's Platinum Edition Kizashi
As one of the first custom builders to recognize the potential of Suzuki's vehicles, the presence of Road Race at SEMA comes as no surprise. Given the Kizashi platform's promise – and the fluid, almost organic sheet metal clothing it – Road Race supplies its own very unique take on Kizashi.
SEMA visitors can enjoy Road Race's Sport Body kit exterior which employs Carbontrix custom bumpers, rear spats and diffuser. Road Race has crafted a custom grill, vented hood and made the Kizashi its own 'Platinum Edition' graphics and a blackened roof. These visual modifications are supported by a platform perfectly suited to Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a high-speed drive on I-15 (what happens in Vegas doesn't have to stay in Vegas…).
Progress Technology provided the sport springs and front and rear sway bars. Road Race installed its own chassis stiffeners, and Rotora brings the custom Kizashi to a stop with 330mm slotted rotors up front, supplemented by Road Race's own 260mm slotted rotors in the rear.
Under the vented hood, the sweetness continues with a proprietary custom intake system, Zeitronix ZT-2 data logging system and Road Race engine management. The modifications are concealed – until ignition – by a painted-to-match engine cover, and announced by Road Race's own 'Integrated Sport' dual exhaust system. The Road Race Kizashi can be seen at the Zeitronix Booth #21212.
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Delta Tech Engineering Kizashi
Delta Tech Engineering, a specialist in vehicle lighting, started with a gutted – and lightened – Kizashi body shell. While Delta Tech took care of under the hood, with cold air intake and performance exhausts, RK Sport developed a body kit, Katzkin supplied the custom seating, and Koni enhanced the Kizashi's already composed ride with its own coilovers and shocks.
Lighting, engineered in house by Delta Tech, is LED and HID. Sound equipment upgrades are provided by Kenwood. The Delta Tech Kizashi may be seen at Booth #23526 in the Central Hall.
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Westside Auto Group Kizashi Soleil
Integrating vintage European elegance with the high-performance DNA of Suzuki's Hayabusa, Westside Group's Kizashi Soleil (French for 'masculine sun') incorporates numerous distinct touches, all executed to make an individualistic statement within the unique template supplied by Suzuki's own execution.
Vehicle modifications performed by Westside include custom two-toned paint (Napa Merlot/Bronzed Amber), redesigned front and rear fenders, custom air apertures, fabricated grill, shaved and modified door handles and new front fascia.
In back, a redesigned rear deck lid equipped with a GT Super Car spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper is equipped with custom Yoshimura exhaust. Planting the Soleil to the ground are early-release Bridgestone Potenza mounted on R-Worx 7-spoke wheels. The Westside Group Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center.
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Import Tuner Kizashi
No outlet speaks better to the 'tuner' audience than Import Tuner magazine. With its Kizashi the project build team went for the vehicular jugular, with performance enhancements under the hood, appropriate suspension mods connecting those enhancements to the ground, and cosmetic modifications to provide the appropriate visualization for Import Tuner's own editorial visualization.
With a nod to both the SEMA Show and its own Los Angeles – based roots, the Import Tuner Kizashi provides a tune-up to an already class-leading sport sedan. The Import Tuner Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vega