MANILA, Philippines – Known primarily as a maker of small cars such as the Celerio and Swift as well as motorcycles, Suzuki Philippines takes a bold step forward with the introduction of the Kizashi sports sedan. Marking the company’s first foray into the highly competitive, brand conscious executive sedan market, the Kizashi comes extremely prepared: it’s benchmarked against some of the world’s best cars including those from European brands. Meaning “a sign of things to come” in Japanese, the Kizashi delivers a unique blend of performance, design and craftsmanship into the executive sedan segment.
At the heart of the Kizashi’s performance package is a new 2.4-liter inline-4 engine built at Suzuki’s brand-new manufacturing facility in Sagara, Japan. The all-aluminum construction makes it lightweight and compact while drop-forged connecting rods and a forged steel crankshaft provide durability. All in all, the Kizashi delivers 185 horsepower and 230 Nm of torque which certainly puts it at par with its rivals’ four-cylinder offerings.
Though the Kizashi is offered with a choice of six-speed manual or continuously variable transmission (CVT) in other markets, the Philippine model will be made available solely with the CVT. Equipped with the CVT, the Kizashi should be able to deliver both the driving experience and fuel efficiency today’s drivers demand without compromising the character preferred by enthusiasts. The CVT also has paddle shifters, offering ultimate driver control regardless of speed or driving environment.
Setting itself apart from the rest, the Kizashi features Suzuki’s next-generation all-wheel drive system: i-AWD. This sophisticated all-wheel drive system provides outstanding traction in inclement weather while providing enhanced cornering abilities. Operated via a dashboard button, the i-AWD can, for example, send power to the rear wheels immediately upon acceleration. It also has the ability to split the power between the wheels depending on several factors including wheel slippage, throttle and steering input.
Aside from this advanced all-wheel drive system, the Kizashi also features an extremely rigid steel uni-body with reinforced independent MacPherson Struts upfront and multi-links at the back. Constructed with embedded aluminum, it allows for crisp and nimble handling with excellent stability as well as a sophisticated ride and reduced chassis vibration. The Kizashi’s chassis advancements were validated with extreme testing done on Germay’s Autobahn, Switzerland’s Alpine corners, the cobblestones of rural England and even the legendary Nürburgring race track.
Inside, Suzuki has taken advantage of its expertise in the compact car segment to efficiently execute a large interior that affords comfort and practicality without the wasted space. Along with the cabin proportions that reward comfort and roominess, the Kizashi has a contemporary and upscale feel with features such as standard sports seats which are all in line with the car’s performance-oriented characteristics. In addition, enthusiasts will appreciate the Kizashi’s sporty instrument panel while passengers will revel in the generous creature comfort features such as automatic climate control, premium quality material and a quietly serene cabin thanks to the extensive use of sound insulation material to suppress road, tire and wind noise.
Besides being athletic, comfortable and sophisticated inside and out, the Suzuki Kizashi is also built from the ground up to be one of the safest in its class. With the company’s proprietary Total Effective Control Technology or TECT, it already meets the stringent US safety standards put in place for the 2014 model year which includes rigorous side pole crash and rear offset collision tests. The Kizashi’s reinforced body is completed by a myriad of safety features including standard daytime running lights, four-wheel Akebono disc brakes, anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and a tire-pressure monitoring system.
In designing and developing their latest automotive creation, the “Kizashi” name is certainly very appropriate. With eye-catching looks and exemplary performance, the Suzuki Kizashi is set to redefine the traditional sports sedan. Above all, it successfully moves the Suzuki brand upscale without abandoning their traditional core competence of providing excellent content and value. Furthermore, the Kizashi reiterates the brand’s active and energetic identity while providing strong and refined performance.