Endless Summer: Suzuki Showcases Summertime Achievements at 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show

BREA, Calif., Nov. 17, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 Kizashi™ Ring of Fire racing game scheduled to launch on iTunes this holiday shopping season.

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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 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.  

Additional information and coverage of the Tokyo to L.A.:  The Hard Way road trip can be found online at www.suzukiauto.com/ALLPOINTS/Events/road-trip, www.motortrend.com (Motor Trend), www.4wheeloffroad.com (4-Wheel & Off-Road) and www.motorcyclistonline.com (Motorcyclist).

Suzuki Kizashi™ Ring of Fire App

Consumers at the auto show can try their hand at Suzuki's new Kizashi™ Ring of Fire iPad and iPhone app at special gaming kiosks set up around Suzuki's booth. The app is a single player racing game that combines world-class design and high performance while players experience the Kizashi in four fantasy track locations – Tokyo, Siberia, Alaska and Los Angeles – locations recently visited on the Tokyo to L.A.:  The Hard Way road trip. In the Kizashi™ Ring of Fire game, players race the 2011 Kizashi SE on the first two tracks and the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi Sport GTS on the more challenging third and fourth track.

To further enhance the experience, the app uses the iPad and iPhone motion sensors for dynamic steering and players can activate AWD to enhance vehicle handling, or use special Suzuki boosts to enter super-fast warp mode. In addition, Brass Monkey®(2) remote control technology enables users to turn their iPad or iPhone into a virtual steering wheel. The player connects the device to a computer via WiFi connection and controls the hero vehicle in the online game.    

Suzuki AllPoints

Suzuki AllPoints is a reward points and sweepstakes program offering consumers across the country the opportunity to win prizes by participating in various activities on Suzuki's website, www.SuzukiAuto.com and Suzuki's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube channels. The program runs through January 3, 2011 and will award nearly 250 prizes to registered participants, including the grand prize, a 2011 Suzuki Kizashi GTS Sport. The promotion can be accessed via http://www.suzukiauto.com/allpoints/ and complete program rules can be found at www.suzukiauto.com/allpoints/rules/.

(1) Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod Touch and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPad is a trademark of Apple Inc. and App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.

(2) Brass Monkey is a registered trademark of Brass Monkey.  

About Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 300 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com. Suzuki can also be found on Twitter (@SuzukiAuto), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/SuzukiAutomotive).

SOURCE American Suzuki Motor Corp.