NEW YORK — Suzuki, struggling to position itself for a comeback in the U.S. market, unveiled an improved and radically redesigned 2007 XL7 on Thursday at the New York International Auto Show.
The company said the new model will range in price from $23,000 to $29,000, with an on-sale date in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Suzuki scrapped the previous XL's rear-wheel-drive architecture in favor of a new front-wheel-drive setup based on General Motors' Theta platform, which moves the SUV into the crossover category. The automaker also ditched the puny '06 model's 2.7-liter V6 that only returned 185 horsepower.
The '07 XL is powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 that makes an estimated 250 hp at 6,500 rpm and 243 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic with clutchless shifting. The EPA estimated the XL7 will return 18 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive version and 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the all-wheel-drive model. The XL7 has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Premium and luxury trim levels are planned, Suzuki said. Options include a DVD entertainment system.
What this means to you: From the looks of the '07 XL, Suzuki just may have been given a reprieve from its death sentence here.
The company said the new model will range in price from $23,000 to $29,000, with an on-sale date in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Suzuki scrapped the previous XL's rear-wheel-drive architecture in favor of a new front-wheel-drive setup based on General Motors' Theta platform, which moves the SUV into the crossover category. The automaker also ditched the puny '06 model's 2.7-liter V6 that only returned 185 horsepower.
The '07 XL is powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC V6 that makes an estimated 250 hp at 6,500 rpm and 243 pound-feet of torque at 3,200 rpm. The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic with clutchless shifting. The EPA estimated the XL7 will return 18 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway for the front-wheel-drive version and 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for the all-wheel-drive model. The XL7 has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.
Premium and luxury trim levels are planned, Suzuki said. Options include a DVD entertainment system.
What this means to you: From the looks of the '07 XL, Suzuki just may have been given a reprieve from its death sentence here.
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