The FINANCIAL -- After an adventure-packed summer, which included a record-setting run at the Bonneville Salt Flats and an InterContinental road trip through Japan, Russia, Canada and the U.S., American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) continues its whirlwind tour with a stop at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show to celebrate the auto show debut of the 2011 Kizashi, which recently was named a Consumers Digest Best Buy.

Suzuki also will offer automotive and gaming enthusiasts a sneak peek at its new KizashiTM Ring of Fire racing game scheduled to launch on iTunes this holiday shopping season.

"In addition to its specialty vehicles, Suzuki’s full line of 2011 vehicles will be on display in its South Hall exhibit (S-405), including the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack athletic hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV and award-winning Equator pickup truck," Suzuki Motor Corp. informed.

“Suzuki has definitely had an eventful last few months with our Tokyo to L.A.: The Hard Way road trip and land speed record at Bonneville – two activities that illustrate our adventurous brand spirit,” said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president of American Suzuki Automotive Operations. “We’re excited to show off the fruits of our labors and further advance the visibility of the Kizashi.”

2011 Suzuki Kizashi and Kizashi Sport

As AutoPacific’s 2010 Vehicle Satisfaction Award and Ideal Vehicle Award winner, the Kizashi redefines the traditional performance sedan and moves the Suzuki brand upscale without abandoning Suzuki’s traditional emphasis on content and value. This year, the Kizashi is enhanced with the addition of 18-inch alloy wheels fitted to the popular SE trim level. Furthermore, its active and energetic DNA is augmented by the vehicle’s overall mission to provide a strong, refined and safe urban performance.

For 2011, Suzuki brings the Sport trim to the GTS and SLS models, adding a host of external and internal modifications, including a more muscular front fascia (with chrome accents) and lower grille, body side sill extensions, lower body side molding with chrome accents, a trunk-mounted spoiler, custom lightweight 18-inch alloy wheels appropriate to a flagship vehicle, unique sport steering wheel and contrasting stitching on the leather seats, shift boot and emergency brake boot. The end result is a sport sedan with crisp handling enveloped in a well-controlled ride, one typically found in more expensive, premium sport sedans.

2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville Special

Piloting ASMC’s modified 2010 Suzuki Kizashi Bonneville Special, Road & Track’s Sam Mitani injected the Kizashi into the record books with his 203.720 mph run at this year’s Bonneville Speed Week, exceeding the previous record of 202.301 mph. The 203.720 mph record was achieved by calculating the average of a two-way pass at 8:40 a.m. MT on August 18, 2010.

Beginning with interior safety and instrument modifications, the Kizashi Bonneville Special underwent several refinements to make it salt ready. Once the work was completed, the build team, Advanced Product Engineering’s Richard Holdener, Tom Habrzyk and Scott Bailey, installed an SCTA-approved roll cage, an aluminum bulkhead in the rear, racing seat, seat harnesses and window net. Next, it was time to take a look under the hood. The motor was disassembled to confirm the stock measurements, while the cylinder head was flowed and ported. The Kizashi Bonneville racer benefits from a new intake manifold, a tuned ‘long tube’ header and forged rods and pistons for high rpm endurance.

With up to 16 pounds of boost from a Turbonetics turbocharger, the Kizashi’s increased horsepower required air-to-water intercooling (and snow water/methanol injection) – while its increased output demands a new ACT clutch and pressure plate. A scattershield is added, the oil pan is welded for a new drain fitting and a new 3.5-inch exhaust is fabricated aft of the turbocharger. Additional protection for the high-boost, high-rpm turbo motor is provided by full synthetic 5W-20 racing oil from Lucas Oil.

The Kizashi platform was morphed into a salt-specific recipe with new coilovers, steel wheels seam welded, and speed-specific 15x7-inch Goodyear Front Runner® rubber. An air dam kept the Kizashi’s nose planted, window straps and hood pins ensured the hood and glass stayed in place, and a parachute could bring the high speed show to a controlled and shortened stop. Finally, a dual fire system provided the extra assurance so important for Mitani, with more than 500 boosted horses but only a few feet in front of his high-speed capsule.

Tokyo to L.A.: The Hard Way Kizashi

In August, Suzuki and the editors of Motor Trend, 4-Wheel & Off-Road, and Motorcyclist magazines embarked on an international adventure, putting the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi (along with its pickup counterpart, the Equator and V-Strom sport-touring motorcycle) through the ultimate long-term test drive, through nearly 7,500 miles of asphalt, gravel and mud. The month-long adventure began at Suzuki’s new Sagara plant in Japan before heading to Russia for a trek through Siberia. The Kizashi’s refinement was put to the test on the arduous ground of eastern Russia, beginning at Russia’s Vladivostok port and ending at Magadan nearly ten days later. The Kizashi was then airlifted to Anchorage, Alaska, where the Kizashi was piloted through the 49th state, down British Columbia and on to the finish line in Brea, Calif.

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