Suzuki reveal twin Kizashi concepts in New York

By Paul Bond

April 2011

Meet Suzuki's dream team! The Japanese brand has unveiled a pair of wildly different concepts for the New York Motor Show - both based on its stylish new Kizashi saloon.

The first is an eco-friendly hybrid, called the EcoCharge, which does away with the standard car's 2.4-litre engine in favour of a smaller 142bhp 2.0-litre petrol combined with a 20bhp electric motor and a 115V set of air-cooled lithium-ion batteries, driving the wheels through a six-speed automatic 'box. 

Suzuki claims that this new powertrain improves fuel consumption by 25 per cent over the conventionally powered car's combined economy figure of 35.8mpg.

To set it apart from other models, the EcoCharge gets some eye-catching visual tweaks, including blue chrome twin exhausts and LED running lights, bespoke alloy wheels and unique headlights. It also comes fitted with Start/Stop, regenerative brakes and low-rolling resistance tyres to make it as efficient as possible.

At the other end of the spectrum is the Apex concept - it's also based on the Kizashi, but draws inspiration from the brand's championship winning GSX-R superbikes, and boasts serious performance thanks to a new Garrett turbocharger.

Combined with a large intercooler and dual-flow exhaust system, power has been boosted to "between 275 and 300bhp" which should shave several seconds off the current model's already rapid 0-62mph sprint time of 7.8 seconds. Power reaches all four-wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox, and the company has stated that this would be the only transmission offered if the Apex did make full production.

The exterior styling has also been given an added dose of aggression, with 19-inch lightweight black alloy wheels, and the same vivid racing livery as Suzuki's motorbikes. UK sales of the Kizashi are due to start in December this year, making production versions of either of these cars a tantalising prospect.