SUZUKIPHILE CENTRAL

CheetahDC, a member at GMInsidenews.com passed the following tip to me:

"While the SX4 crossover has been available with FWD for a year-ish (which the article fails to mention), it will gain a "SportBack" variant. The "SportBack" will be FWD, have the same ride height as the sedan (sedan has 6.3 inches vs. 6.9 for the crossover according to Suzuki's website), sportier suspension (from the Sport model, perhaps, but the article doesn't mention if it's the Sport model's tuning or just the plain sedan's tuning), no roofrack, and some sort of "aero body package" (body kit and a wing of some sort, I guess)."

Here's the SOURCE

Per Edmunds it will also have a new 2.0L engine with more power (and hopefully the same or better fuel economy).? If you were waiting for a hatch version of the SX4 without the heavier AWD and extra price tag of built in accessories you don't need (say, if you live in a particularly flat part of Texas that hardly ever sees snow), then this may be the perfect car for you --- something along the lines of a Toyota Matrix but with a competitive Suzuki pricetag and Suzuki cool factor.

In other words, this appears to be more or less a hatch version of the sedan with a closer to base level of trim - or an urban version of the SX4 hatch in an environment of fluctuating gas prices that is rejecting crossovers and SUVs.

I took the following photos of a Kei truck driving around in Texas, where I'm pretty sure they are, unfortunately, not street legal.? Discussion over at GMInsidenews.com.? My heart jumped at the thought of buying one here legally!

Spy shots for the Suzuki Kizashi mid-size car are starting to show up around the web as the vehicle approaches production readiness.? Head over to AutoBlog for the latest photos HERE.

It's not nearly as radical as the Kizashi Concept that's been discussed here at the Suzukiphile blog -- in fact it looks more like a modern Esteem than a bold new vehicle -- but from what can be seen in the spy photos it seems like an attractive replacement for the Suzuki Forenza which has left a big hole in Suzuki USA's sales.

I look forward to seeing the final vehicle, especially in wagon or 5-door form.? Competing with Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mistubishi with just another typical mid-size Japanese sedan would be tough, so I'm hoping Suzuki brings something new to its Kizashi.