Suzuki To Build V6 Kizashi

PORTLAND, Oregon — Suzuki plans to build a V6 version of its new Kizashi midsize sedan. The company let journalists drive an engineering prototype of the V6 sedan at a recent launch event for the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, which will have a four-cylinder engine only when it arrives at U.S. dealerships in December.

Suzuki sourced the engine and transmission for the Kizashi V6 prototype from the Suzuki XL7. This 3.6-liter V6 is a GM design, and Steve Younan, director of product planning for American Suzuki, says it's making "around 260 horsepower." This is quite a bit more than the 185-hp rating on the 2.4-liter inline-4 in the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi.

The V6 prototype has a six-speed automatic transmission, whereas four-cylinder Kizashis take either a six-speed manual or continually variable transmission (CVT). Suzuki's test mule is also all-wheel drive, and it's likely AWD will be standard on the production version. All-wheel drive is optional on four-cylinder Kizashis with the CVT.

Although Younan wouldn't get specific on timing for the launch of a V6-equipped Suzuki Kizashi, journalists were told the car was on hand at Portland International Raceway for "chassis verification" so that engineers can see how the platform copes with the additional power and torque.

It's evident that the Suzuki Kizashi V6 is pretty far along in development, though, as Suzuki has already come up with a unique front fascia treatment for it, along with a sliver of a rear deck spoiler. Inside, the V6 car is identifiable by its piano-black accents and additional metallic trim on the steering wheel.

The wheels on the prototype are a different design, too, but they're 18-by-8 inches just as on the four-cylinder Suzuki Kizashi GTS and SLS and they're wrapped in the same P235/45R18 94 V Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S rubber. Suzuki is trying out some different brakes on the engineering prototype, though: Instead of the two-piston sliding front calipers on the four-cylinder production car, there are four-piston fixed front calipers.

Inside Line says: Handling is excellent on the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, but the chassis seems fit for bigger and better engines than the 2.4-liter inline-4. — Erin Riches, Senior Editor