| Aggressively styled and pleasingly proportioned, it | | | | dual-zone climate control and a split-folding rear seat |
| previewed a semi-upscale "D-segment" sport sedan. | | | | with a pass-through for long objects such as skis. |
| In the global auto business, the C-segment is | | | | Standard safety features include Electronic Stability |
| compact cars, and the size-up D class is what we | | | | Program (ESP), anti-lock brakes with electronic |
| know as midsize-the incredibly competitive field of | | | | brake-force distribution and a class-leading set of |
| both family and sporty sedans. And, with a powerful, | | | | eight airbags. |
| aero-slick design theme characterized as "a dynamic | | | | The next-level SE adds the CVT automatic |
| athlete in motion," this concept clearly showed that | | | | transmission, 17-inch tires on alloy wheels, a 10-way |
| Suzuki's coming flagship sedan would be aimed at the | | | | power driver?s seat with three-position memory, |
| emotional end of the scale. Japanese automaker | | | | cruise control and leather wrapping on the steering |
| Suzuki chose the mid-2007 Frankfurt (Germany) | | | | wheel, shifter and parking brake lever. The |
| Motor Show to unveil a most interesting new | | | | sport-oriented GTS offers 18-inch wheels and tires, |
| concept car called Kizashi. They said its name was | | | | power moonroof, fog lamps, a 425-watt |
| Japanese for "prelude" or "foretaste" and that it | | | | Rockford-Fosgate audio system with integrated |
| foretold of something coming from a company | | | | Bluetooth hands-free phone capability and a choice of |
| known better here for its motorcycles, ATVs and | | | | manual or CVT transmission, the latter with paddle |
| outboard motors than for its small cars and SUVs. | | | | shifters for manual gear selection. The top-of-the-line |
| An even more aggressive Concept Kizashi 2 followed | | | | SLS features leather seating, three-stage heated |
| at the October Tokyo Motor Show then a third | | | | seats, a four-way power passenger seat, heated |
| variation debuted at the March, 2008 New York Auto | | | | mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors and |
| Show. This one, Concept Kizashi 3, was much tamer | | | | automatic on/off headlamps. |
| and more production-realistic. It looked, in fact, a lot | | | | We spent 7 days driving a 6-speed manual AWD |
| like the real thing is now hitting the market and | | | | Kizashi GTS locally and beyond and came away |
| demonstrated Suzuki was serious about taking on | | | | impressed. We have found Suzuki's small cars and |
| the well-established entries in the U.S. market's most | | | | SUVs lively in spirit, especially the sporty AWD SX4s, |
| competitive car class. Inside, the fits and materials | | | | and good in most ways-but we had no idea what to |
| are generally good, though not up to typical | | | | expect from their first foray into midsize sedan |
| Euro-sedan standards, and the seats are handsome | | | | territory. |
| and nicely supportive with available leather trim. The | | | | We found it less than plush yet surprisingly comfy |
| instrument panel's major gauges have a precision | | | | and quiet, well put together and fun to drive. The |
| look: Its faux brushed-aluminum-rimmed center stack | | | | manual gearbox shifted surely and crisply, and the |
| echoes the front grille's rounded-V shape, and its | | | | 4-cylinder engine performed well at lower RPMs but |
| controls are intuitively easy to see, reach and | | | | tended to run out of breath at higher engine speeds. |
| operate. We appreciated the nicely cushioned | | | | On-road handling was good, steering precise, and |
| three-spoke steering wheel with handy | | | | braking strong and stable as needed. A bit smaller |
| spoke-mounted audio and other controls. | | | | inside and out than typical midsize sedans, it?s no limo |
| The only engine residing beneath that power-dome | | | | but sufficient in back for full-size adults. |
| hood for now is a willing 2.4-liter aluminum four good | | | | We later enjoyed an opportunity to put a group of |
| for 185 horses with a standard 6-speed manual | | | | Kizashis (manual and CVT, FWD and AWD) and key |
| transaxle, or five ponies fewer with the available | | | | competitors through a series of handling tests and a |
| continuously variable transmission (CVT). Rare in this | | | | handful of laps at Virginia International Raceway |
| size and price class, the option of Suzuki's latest | | | | (VIR), near Danville, VA. They performed |
| "intelligent" all-wheel drive (i-AWD) can improve both | | | | impressively and (not surprisingly, since the tests |
| bad-weather traction and cornering capability. The | | | | were designed by enthusiastic Suzuki engineers) |
| systems constantly variable front-to-rear torque split | | | | better overall than the selected high-volume |
| is a function of a number of factors, including wheel | | | | competitors on hand. The highlight was a couple of |
| slippage, throttle and steering input. | | | | fast track laps in a prototype V-6 powered Kizashi |
| Standard on the sub-$20K base Kizashi S are | | | | that likely foretells of future availability. |
| push-button start, steering wheel audio controls, | | | | |