Suzuki's Turbo Kizashi Designed to Boost Ratings

BREA, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- After an impressive debut in U.S. showrooms during the first quarter of 2010, Suzuki's all-new Kizashi takes to the track – and small screen – with racing champion Tommy Kendall. Kendall, host of the Speed Channel's "Test Drive," goes both behind the wheel and under-the-hood of the 2010 Kizashi in "Test Drive"'s most recent edition.

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The new Kizashi delivers a premium package and experience without the premium price tag, providing a unique blend of dynamic performance attributes and features more appropriate to the near-luxury sport sedan segment. Kendall takes those performance attributes and near-luxury features to the hills of Malibu, California for one segment of the "Test Drive" episode. Taking a 180-degree turn, Tommy is then off for the high speed roadwork available at the High Desert's Willow Springs raceway outside of Lancaster, California.

At Willow Springs, Kendall – and his production Kizashi – were joined by Road Race Motorsports' concept turbo Kizashi variant, Suzuki Superbike champion Tommy Hayden and Car and Driver's Technical Editor Aaron Robinson. With the sun overhead and a turbo under the hood, hot laps take on a whole new meaning – one that's amplified with Kendall behind the wheel.

Road Race Motorsports, one of the chief suppliers of go-fast goods for Suzuki automotive enthusiasts, began the concept Suzuki turbo project with an early pre-production prototype Kizashi. Boost to the production heads and block is supplied by a 16G turbocharger, while temp is kept in check with Road Race Motorsports' own high flow intercooler. Other adds on the hardware menu include custom fuel management, Road Race's Sleeper blow-off valve, Velocity air intake and Extreme spray injector. The equal length turbo manifold is custom crafted, while the 38mm wastegate is supplied by Tial.

The enhanced power is boosted to 290 hp and is connected to the track pavement via 19-inch Dunlops. Those are kept connected to the course by Road Race's own sport springs, working in combination with Kizashi's ultra-rigid unibody and all-independent suspension. High-speed stability is enhanced with the addition of a rear-mounted spoiler supplied by Delta Tech Engineering. The end result on the track – with Kendall, Hayden, Robinson or the Suzuki enthusiast behind the wheel – is the need for speed suddenly and fully satisfied.

Air dates for the newest edition of Speed Channel's "Test Drive" begin on April 30, 2010. For a complete schedule, visit the Speed Channel website – www.speedtv.com.

About Suzuki

The Brea, Calif.-based Automotive Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corp. was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corp. (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 400 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 193 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/SuzukiAuto).

SOURCE American Suzuki Motor Corp.