Suzuki Adds New Jimny SZ4 to UK Lineup

The higher-specification Jimny SZ4 is the latest addition to the small off-roader's lineup in Great Britain. The new model comes equipped with specific 15-inch alloy wheels, rear window privacy glass, upgraded part leather upholstery and two-tone black and silver roof rails. It is available in four metallic pearl colors that include 'twilight purple', 'graphite gray', the two-tone 'bluish black' and the 'nocturne blue' - those marketing folks sure come up with some interesting names.

Priced from £10,990 on the road, the four-wheel drive Jimny SZ4 is powered by a 1.3-litre petrol engine with variable valve timing that returns an average fuel consumption on the combined cycle of 39.2mpg Imp. (7.2lt/100km or 32.6mpg US) with corresponding CO2 emissions of 171g/km.

Suzuki Adds New 1.6L Petrol and 1.9L Diesel to facelifted Grand Vitara 3d Range

After the launch of the facelifted Grand Vitara model range with the 166HP 2.4-litre engine in October 2008 (for details and photos, click here), Suzuki is now expanding its UK lineup with the addition of a 1.6L petrol and 1.9L diesel engine to the three-door model range. The 1.6-liter gasoline unit which is linked to a 5-speed manual gearbox, makes 106HP at 5,900 rpm and a peak torque of 145Nm at 4,100 rpm offering a 0 to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of 14.4 sec and a top speed of 99mph or 159km/h.

The entry-level petrol model that comes with a four-wheel drive system as standard achieves a combined fuel economy of 34.5mpg UK or 8.2lt/100km in the European cycle.S

The second addition to the Grand Vitara 3d lineup is the 1.9-liter DDiS diesel unit. that produces an output of 129 horsepower at 3,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 300Nm at 2,200 rpm. The four-wheel drive model accelerates from standstill to 62mph or 100km/h in 12.8 seconds and achieves a top speed of 106mph (170km/h) while returning 40.4mpg UK or 7.0lt/100km in the combined European cycle.

As with the rest of the range, both models feature a revised front end treatment and new door mirrors with integrated turn indicators while interior changes include a new multi-information display and revised air conditioning control panel.

In the UK, the 1.6-litre three-door manual is priced from £13,600 while the 1.9 DDiS diesel starts from £16,200.

New Suzuki Kizashi Sedan Spied Inside and Out by Carscoop Reader

Looks like Carscoop's readers are on a roll lately as only a week after Peter Mcabe spotted the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi in Virginia, Michael Kalkofen picked up these shots of the mid-size sedan at a hotel somewhere in Kansas. Michael told us that he found three lightly camouflaged Kizashi prototypes, two in dark silver and one in a red, parked right outside the hotel. Wasting no time, Michael managed to bag some excellent interior shots of the Kizashi prototype models that you can check out in detail below.

The photos reveal that Suzuki's Honda Accord challenger gets an Alfa Romeo-like instrument panel with two deeply set gauges. The dashboard is uncluttered with all controls neatly concentrated on the center stack.

The prototype models seen here have their front and back ends covered, but it doesn't take a pro to see that the production version will be less aggressively styled than the Kizashi 3 concept car that was shown in New York last year.

Official details on the range of engines remain scarce but look for a detuned version of the concept-car's 300HP 3.6-liter V6 that will power all four wheels and an entry-level four-banger that will most probably be offered in front-wheel drive form only.

Suzuki is expected to officially unveil the Kizashi before the end of the year.

Hat tip to Michael Kalkofen for the pics!

2011 Suzuki Kizashi: Reader Spies Mazda6 Sedan Rival in Virginia

Peter Mcabe is the latest addition to our list of eagle-eyed Carscoop readers that have managed to bag a set of spy shots of a future model. The quick-witted reader spotted a camouflaged prototype of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi sedan parked behind the Olive Garden restaurant off of Midlothian Turnpike, in Richmond, Virginia. The Kizashi, which was wrongly reported dead by Japanese media earlier this year, is based on the Kizashi 3 concept car shown at the New York auto show in 2008.

Sadly, as we suspected upon seeing the official sketches of the Kizashi that were registered by Suzuki at the European trademark office in 2008, the mid-size sedan's appearance looks to be severely toned down compared to the head-turning concept.

The Kizashi 3 prototype had an all-new, 300HP 3.6-liter, naturally-aspirated V6 engine with power delivered through a six-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The road-going model will most likely be offered with a detuned version of the V6 as well as an inline four-cylinder engine producing somewhere north of 150 horsepower, the latter driving the front-wheels.

In North America, the Kizashi will compete against the likes of the Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Mazda6 sedans. In accordance to the latest reports, the Kizashi will hit U.S. showrooms by the end of year, meaning that we'll probably see it making its global premiere at a major international motorshow this fall, perhaps at the Tokyo Salon in October.

Suzuki has yet to confirm when (and if) the Kizashi will reach European shores, but if it does, the Japanese automaker will have to enhance the sedan's lineup with smaller sized gasoline and diesel engines if it wants to rival family sedans like the Opel Insignia, Toyota Avensis and Citroen C5.

Kudos to Peter!

Japan-Only Special Edition Suzuki Escudo "O'Neil Limited"

Suzuki has joined forces with surf wear and equipment brand O'Neill to introduce a special edition version of the Escudo SUV (we know it as the Grand Vitara) exclusively for the Japanese market. Based on the 2.4L XG model and available in a limited run of 600 units, the Escudo 'ONeil' is offered in three exterior paint jobs (black, blue and white) with matching interior trim. O'Neill badges aside, the limited edition Escudo's features include waterproof seat fabrics and floor mats, gunmetal-gray alloy wheels, chrome grille, skid panels in a matt aluminum finish and upgraded standard equipment.

VIDEO: Top Gear Assembles Fleet of Police Cars

In one of their television flicks, Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard -I love Rod Stewart's 1980s spiky hairpiece- Hammond create a fleet of police cars in their own unique way. The cars of their choice are a previous generation Lexus LS, a Suzuki Vitara 4x4 and a Fiat Coupe. Hit the jump and enjoy the two-part video.

2010 Suzuki SX4 and SX4 Sedan Facelift Revealed in China

Suzuki's joint-venture in China, Changan-Suzuki, has released a facelift version of the SX4 crossover for the domestic market. Not surprisingly, both the hatchback and sedan variants of the updated SX4 feature the same aesthetic changes as the European version of the car that was scooped undisguised last December. These include the redesigned bumper, reworked grille and concave surfaces above the fog lights as well as a new skid-plate at the rear of the hatchback.

For those that like to pay attention to insignificant details, the China-market and, from the looks of it, the European-spec 2010 SX4's subtly redesign front-end is no different than the one found on the North American market SX4 that has been around since 2006...

The Chine-spec SX4s also feature updated interior trim and a new GPS navigation system.

Video: 2009 Suzuki Alto Mini

Suzuki performed the global debut of its all-new Alto mini car at the Paris show. If you were expecting to see a production version of the A-Star Concept that made a splash at last year’s Tokyo Show, then you’d definitely be disappointed with the outcome. At any rate, measuring just 3.5 meters in length the 2009 Alto is powered by the same three-cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine that’s already in the Splash delivering an average fuel economy of 4.5 lt /100km or 52.2 mpg US. Watch the video after the jump. -Continued

2009 Suzuki Alto fully Revealed

Revealed for the first time at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, the 2009 Alto is the fifth and smallest member of Suzuki’s European lineup. The all-new Alto has an overall length of 3,500mm, width of 1,600mm, height of 1,470mm and a wheelbase of 2,360mm, so it’s roughly the same size as the Fiat 500. Suzuki’s new mini car is powered by a three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol engine with an output of 68 PS that was initially launched on the Splash. Fuel consumption is low at 4.5 lt /100km or 52.2 mpg US / 62.7 mpg UK on the combined cycle while CO2 emissions are 103g/km. -Continued

When the new Alto goes on sale in Europe during the first quarter of 2009 it will be offered with a standard five-speed manual transmission and optionally with a four-speed automatic transmission. According to the Japanese automaker's officials, Suzuki aims to achieve annual sales of 60,000 units of its Indian-built minicar in Europe.