Suzuki Kizashi News

Something strange is happening with sales of mid-size sedans in Australia - they’re selling.

You’re not imagining this. There are distinctly fewer options around nowadays for new-car buyers in Australia compared to just 10 years ago.

Suzuki Auto Co, which imports Suzuki just for the Queensland market, has produced a "Karbon Kizashi" concept which is a cosmetically enhanced model with no performance modifications. Two years ago, Suzuki Australia displayed a turbo version at the Australian International Motor Show, but so far has been unsuccessful in prompting the manufacturer to proceed with the project. Queensland importing boss Adam Le Fevre says he can't comment on the turbo model. "We're more interested in personalised enhancements rather than performance modifications," he says. "We don't believe that turbocharging of any model in the range is applicable in this market. "What you are doing is limiting the availability of the people that can drive it because of licensing restrictions for P platers who are a big part of our buyer group demographic. We don't want to muck around with performance and homologation issues." Instead, Suzuki Auto Co has contracted a Victorian company to produce carbon-fibre-styled decals to break up the monotony of the body panels. The Karbon Kizashi has appliques covering the roof, around the driving lights, wing mirrors, lower door garnishes, twin exhaust flutes and rear boot lip spoiler. It also gets black chrome Advanti 19-inch wheels, up from the standard 18-inch wheels from the all-wheel-drive Sport model. "It's a local enhancement of the model in response to feedback from customers and dealers," he says. "We've listened to comments and looked at what some European models are doing as it has Euro styling cues." The final mix of cosmetic updates has yet to be decided, but a display model is doing the rounds of Queensland dealers. Le Fevre says they have not yet decided on a price, but it will attract a premium. The special edition run will be limited to about 40 and the final package will be available sometime next month. Suzuki Australia communications manager Andrew Ellis says they are also "playing with a couple of things" and talking to suppliers to produce limited-edition models. He says the first special edition will be a Swift. Suzuki Auto Co is also considering a special edition of the Swift. The company developed a Swift Super Sport to display during the recent Australian International Rally round in Queensland. The car is designed to look like the rally car that won the Junior World Rally Championship in 2007 and 2010. "Swift lends itself to personalisation by customers and is one of the most customised cars on the market," Le Fevre says. "It has decals, tinted glass and a modified exhaust for more breathing capacity, but at the moment it is just a display model to highlight to customers the potential of what they can do. "It shows that owners are only limited by their imaginations. "If we get interest we will do a limited run of these too. About 15 minimum and no more than 40 to keep it exclusive." Its livery is inspired by the Junior World Rally Championship winning Swift hatches driven by Per-Gunnar Andersson and Aaron Burkhart. However, while the original was a three-door car not marketed in Australia, this is a four-door version.  Both vehicles are touring Queensland dealerships and the importer is inviting comment from the public and dealership staff. "We'll take their responses back to the drawing board with the intention of being able to offer a keenly priced graphics package that will be available at retail level," he says.  

The petrol-electric tease, which has little chance of going into production, is part of a Kizashi double-act that also unleashes a turbocharged Apex concept with 225 kiloWatts to feed its all-wheel drive system.Suzuki is keen to get more airplay for the Kizashi and the American concept cars are the latest effort, tapping opposite ends of the performance spectrum.The Hybrid uses an EcoCharge system with a smaller 2.0-litre engine and a 15-kiloWatt electric motor, with a lithium-ion battery to juice the system for extra acceleration. It's similar to the e-assist system used in the Buick LaCrosse and take an approach like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic.There is also a stop-start system and Suzuki claims a 25 per cent fuel economy improvement, while the visual tweaking for New York includes blue-tinged white bodywork, lightweight alloy wheels, special headlamps, blue lighting on the number plate and LED foglamps.It's ironic that The EcoCharge Kizashi is unveiled as Suzuki is pursuing powerplant choices with its new minority partner, Volkswagen.But Suzuki plans real-world tests and is not ruling out a production version.The Apex turbo is a different deal and, like the Australian-made Kizashi Turbo shown at the Australian International Motor Show last year, is a headliner intended to prove the car can cope with far more than its standard 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.It's the second time Suzuki has gone for a turbocharged concept car, but this time it is aiming to eliminate the shortcomings of the RRM package - also used on the Australian show car - with bodywork that's inspired by Suzuki's GSX-R racing motorcycles.

... to make an impact against classy rivals including the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and even the homegrown Toyota Camry. Its ultra-competitive pricing, predictable handling, high levels of safety - just upgraded to five stars with a driver's knee airbag - sporty styling and quiet refinement - even on rough country roads - make it perfect for small Australian families. The car is so well engineered, the company has already introduced an all-wheel-drive version and is thinking of a turbocharged engine using the same chassis and suspension. WANT MORE? First drive of the Sport by Paul Gover Review by Paul Gover First drive by Paul Gover

The Korean couple are still not in the sports car class, but a preview drive wrapped around the opening of the Australian International Motor   Show highlights the changes made to Hyundai's new heroes. The i45 now has a smoother, cushier ride and much-improved straight-line stability and the ix35 feels more in-touch with the road, instead   of wobbling around over broken surfaces. The changes match the character of the cars and the people who will buy them, as Hyundai owners are most unlikely to be racecar drivers but enjoy a comfortable drive. It's taken less than six months to get the cars tweaked for Australia, which shows a remarkable commitment to Australian customers. Then   again, if it was so easy then we have to ask why the suspension work wasn't done in the first place? The answer is pretty simple: the top people at Hyundai didn't know what they didn't know. The decision makers thought the i45 and ix35 were just fine for Australians and Australian roads, and only realised they had made a mistake when the Carsguide crew - and some other experienced road testers including former Wheels editor Peter Robinson - began to complain. And complain, and complain. We knew from the get-go that the i45 was wonky and the ix35 could be better. And we said it and printed it. Hyundai reacted quickly to the complaints and the changes were also accelerated when Kia, which has an ix35 twin called the Sportage, turned out a much better SUV drive thanks to local suspension work by Carsguide hero Graeme Gambold. The work has all gone into simple things like springs, shock absorbers and anti-roll bars - although the costlier Amplitude Selective Dampers are also fitted across the i45 line - which proves Hyundai was close in the first place. It also says customer research showed no complaints about the way the i45 and ix35 drive. But Carsguide knows the difference, even between an i45 and a Toyota Camry - without worrying about a Mazda6 or Honda Accord Euro or Suzuki Kizashi - and that's why we joined the push to have things improved. Now the job is done and Hyundai has changed forever in Australia. It's an important switch and one which will make things even tougher for its opposition.

The company pulled the wraps on a Kizashi turbo concept car and now asks customers whether they want one.  Suzuki Australia boss Tony Severs says they started working on the concept project after initial positive media feedback for the car’s chassis and handling dynamics.“There was one minor criticism; that this car can handle more power,” he says.  “We have listened and acted.”He says it is now up to motor show visitors to provide feedback before they make a decision to go into production.  The turbo version features a Californian Road Race Motorsport turbo used in other Suzukis and Mitsubishi Lancer.It pumps out 179kW, 48kW more than the standard version with 330Nm of torque, up 100Nm.  Company spokesman Andrew Elllis says the turbocharger is available for about $7000, so the premium over the standard model would be more than that for the extra labour and other features.They include a lower ride height, uprated brakes, a front strut brace for increased rigidity, new rear deck spoiler and 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 40-series low profile sports rubber.The concept model comes in front-wheel drive with a six-speed manual, but company spokesman Andrew Ellis says Road race Motorsports is now working on an AWD version and a CVT model.Queensland importers Suzuki Auto Company did not know the concept was being produced.  New boss Adam Le Fevre it was “testament to the forward thinking of the company as a whole”.“We would be interested in it, but reliability would have to be up there with the Suzuki standard,” he says.Suzuki also showcased the updated Swift unveiled this month at the Paris Motor Show.  It comes with 1.2 and 1.4-litre direct injected petrol engines and a 1.5 litre K Series petrol engine, but Devers says powertrains have not yet been confirmed for Australia.  It is expected to arrive in the first half of next year. Prices are also yet to be confirmed.Devers says the model will have better performance, economy and emissions and come standard with ESP, seven airbags including a knee airbag and will has achieved a five-start Euro NCAP safety rating.“It will have the most comprehensive safety packages in its sector,” he says.  He says Suzuki has increase sales this year by 25 per cent while the market had risen 15 per cent, mainly due to the success of Swift.“It reached the magical one million sales mark faster than any car in the company’s history and racked up 63 car of the year awards in 19 different countries,” he says.“It also provided the basis for Suzuki’s dominance in the Junior World Rally Championship, securing two driver’s and manufacturer’s titles.  And we’re on target for a third in 2010.” Concept Kizashi Turbo specificationsEngine                        Turbocharged and intercooled JB24 2.4 litre in-line fourBoost                         7psiPower                        179 kW at 4800 rpmTorque                       330 Nm at 4400 rpmTransmission              Six-speed manualWheels                      19 inch Enkei RPF1 alloysTyres                         245/40 x 19 inch Pirelli P-Zero

Hopefully – the nimble Suzuki Kizashi is getting some heavy duty performance upgrades for the Australian International Motor Show. Suzuki’s nifty little number successfully shoehorned its way into the mid-sized sedan segment this year and is presently giving the Honda Accord Euro and Mazda6 some solid competition.  The Kizashi Turbo Concept is the product of specialist Suzuki tuner Road Race Motorsports’ bespoke intervention. The addition of a 16G turbocharger, Extreme spray injector, blow-off valve and a Velocity air intake, has taken the standard Kizashi 2.4-litre engine’s output of 138kW up to an altogether more inspiring 216kW – and right into Subaru Impreza WRX STi and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution territory. Bigger, 19-inch wheels running Dunlop high-performance tyres, a Delta Tech Engineering rear wing and lowered suspension complete the picture externally.

He is - or was - Hirotaka Ono - a visionary who re-invented the Japanese brand and changed everything, from boosting the quality of its cars to creating the can-do attitude among senior managers that's essential for the success of any car company. Ono had a giant advantage because he was married to the daughter of company founder, Osama Suzuki.He was able to use his family connection to ramrod a range of changes which would have been impossible for anyone else, especially a 40-something revolutionary in a country which usually puts age and experience ahead of youth and enthusiasm. Even so, he still had to walk the walk on everything from design and driving enjoyment to bottom-line financial deals.The award winning Suzuki Swift is an Ono car, so too is the current Grand Vitara, as well as the Kizashi. His track record also includes the less-successful second-generation XL7, thankfully only sold in the USA, but everyone makes an occasional mistake. Ono died too early at the end of 2007, but not before he inspired the cars coming through Suzuki today and forecast the global financial crisis - as well as planning the way his company would react to the challenge."Thanks to Mr Ono we have learned what we can do. He inspired us," says Tak Hayasaki, managing director of Suzuki Australia. Hayasaki has his own challenges in trying to lift Suzuki's share of Australia's annual car sales from its current 2.4 per cent to around six per cent, but he knows he has the strongest lineup in the company's history.The Alto is too small for a lot of people, but a $12,990 driveway bottom line makes plenty of sense with six airbags, ABS and ESP, as well as alloy wheels. The Swift is getting very old but is still a good car, the Grand Vitara is a safe choice and the SX4 does a good enough job.Kizashi is the game-changer for Suzuki, the same as the first Mazda6 and Accord Euro were for Mazda and Honda, combining Euro-type driving enjoyment with Japanese quality.This week the company is adding an all-wheel drive car to the Kizashi line, the Sports, and believes it can boost its sales by 100 cars a month. That's 50 per cent of the current volume. It's a big call for a car which already goes head-to-head with Mazda6 and Euro and now faces up to the might of the Subaru Liberty, the car that convinced Australians about all-wheel drive.As he looks forward, with a new Swift before the end of the year - not   that you would pick it as all-new from pictures - Hayasaki knows where the credit goes. "I have to thankyou to Mr Ono for what he has given us. He proved that we can do it."

After leading the world on so many fronts - from quality to comfort and reliability - they have been hit badly by the global financial crisis.  Toyota and Honda and many of the others wound back dramatically at the onset of the GFC, not just on their production lines but also in their motorsport programs - F1 was the first casualty - and new-product development.We are now seeing the results in Australian showrooms, where the Corolla and Civic are now mid-pack in the small-car class and former pacesetters including the Mazda6, Honda Accord Euro and even the locally-made Camry are struggling against newer and better rivals.  They are fine for everyday transport, but not as impressive as they were just five years ago.Subaru has also cut costs and its latest styling work - particularly on the Liberty and Outback - reflects a desperate desire to win sales in the USA.  Contrast all of them against the Suzuki Kizashi, which comes from one of the few Japanese brands that held its nerve through the GFT. Suzuki has cut its production targets, and admits that extra Kizashi models are on the back-burner, but is going to do brilliantly well with the car.Toyota and Honda, in contrast, are relying on value-added deals to keep customers coming in Australia. They are recovering from the economic downturn but nowhere near as rapidly as some of their rivals  - particularly Hyundai.In Australia, many of our Japanese cars are now also actually built in Thailand. It's not a major drama, because the quality is much the same, but it shows how the battle to cut costs is influencing the Japanese makers. The Thai drive also shows that Japan Incorporated is now happy to produce bland transport modules instead of appealing cars, going for numbers first - in showrooms and on the balance sheet. It's a reasonable response to the GFC but is going to cause problems in coming years.Why? Because Australia is seeing so many classy European cars at more affordable prices - look at the Volkswagen Polo - and because Korean is coming up fast.  Hyundai is now doing a better job than Toyota at building Toyota-style cars, with adventurous styling, classy quality and great prices. It's latest, the i45 replacement for the dowdy Sonata, is really good on every front except its awful steering and lacklustre front suspension.The i45 is a Camry done better and, like the Kizashi, one of the stars of 2010. And it's not the end for Hyundai, which has all sorts of new models coming from the baby i20 to an overdue sporty car sometime in 2012.And that's whan the Japanese really could be in trouble. It's not because Hyundai has something new but because the Japanese wound their development programs back during the GFT and the results of that conservative risk management will not really be known until we see - or don't see - the work which should have been done over the past two years.Follow Paul Gover on Twitter!