The Suzuki Kizashi isn’t the most popular small sedan on the market, and that’s too bad. We love the car’s sharp design, comfortable interior, and enthusiast driving experience. The only letdown is its straight-line performance. The standard 2.4-liter inline-four engine offers just 185 horsepower (180 with continuously variable transmissions) and 170 pound-feet of torque, which yields adequate but hardly thrilling acceleration. Suzuki’s Apex concept aims to rectify the power deficiency by turbocharging the Kizashi to produce up to 300 horsepower.
We’re big fans of the Suzuki Kizashi, admiring its smart styling, practicality, and engaging handling dynamics. The one area we’d address is acceleration, which is competent but hardly awe-inspiring, thanks to a 2.4-liter inline-four offering 185 horsepower (180 with continuously variable transmissions) and 170 pound-feet of torque. Suzuki will cater to our speed-freak side with a turbocharged Kizashi capable of up to 300 horsepower, debuting at the New York auto show. Read the rest of this entry »