The Bonneville Special was built by Richard Holdener and Tom Habrzyk. They equipped a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a Turbonetics turbocharger, intercooler, new intake manifold, revised headers, and forged pistons / rods. These modifications enabled the engine to achieve 500 bhp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

According to the official Press Release: With up to 16 pounds of boost from a Turbonetics turbocharger, the Kizashi’s increased horsepower required air-to-water intercooling (and snow water/methanol injection) – while its increased output demands a new ACT clutch and pressure plate. A scattershield is added, the oil pan is welded for a new drain fitting and a new 3.5-inch exhaust is fabricated aft of the turbocharger. Additional protection for the high-boost, high-rpm turbo motor is provided by full synthetic 5W-20 racing oil from Lucas Oil.

Conditions for the Kizashi’s record-setting Bonneville run were exactly as the build team, Advanced Product Engineering’s Richard Holdener, Tom Habrzyk and Scott Bailey, expected. With temperatures topping 100 degrees, the Kizashi was running at a density altitude on the flats of 6,303 feet. After passing inspection, the 2010 Kizashi provided Mitani, Road & Track’s international editor, a perfect platform for qualifying with the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), the sanctioning club for all Bonneville records. The 203.720 mph record was achieved by calculating the average of a two-way pass at 8:40 a.m. MT on August 18, 2010.

So now the Kizashi receives a turbo charged 2.4 liter engine, along with sportier trim. Yes, smaller engine and a fancier look. Frankly, we’re a little disappointed. This “sports” version of the Suzuki Kizashi will debut later this week at 2010′s New York Auto Show.

Pricing on any of the trim levels have yet to be announced though we did find out this version will go on sale in August. Still, those at Suzuki are excited: “We’ve been thrilled with an enthusiastic reaction to the 2010 Kizashi, and we look forward to offering sport sedan buyers the newest iteration of our stylish sport sedan later this year,” said Koichi Suzuki, executive vice president American Suzuki.

Photo: USA Today

For ages, Suzuki has tried to produce a mid-level sedan. And for ages, they have kinda failed. Well today, with help from 2010′s Kizashi, Suzuki may have finally found their mythical 4-door unicorn. In a world dominated my Chevy’s, Toyota’s and Nissan’s – the life of a Mid-size sedan’s been pretty easy. Well, there’s a new dog n the street ready to fight for you love and the food stains of your 2.5 kids. The 2010 Kizashi starts off with a base $18.5 price tag that will undoubtedly bring in young families to the dealerships. It’s design takes a more advanced look from Suzuki’s lower-level rides. With a Passat-type look, Kizashi’s front end slopes down, giving the grill an intimidating look. A rear flip on its trunk gives it a sportier profile.

Inside, Suzuki uses a sports-sedan dash, with plenty of techno-savvy toys inside: 425-watt Rockford Fosgate system plus integrated USB port, Bluetooth audio for hooking up an iPhone, iPod Touch or other BT digital music player, Bluetooth hands-free calling and optional audible prompts. Under the hood you’ll find a 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder producing 185 horsepower and 170 lb-feet of torque.

Manual six transmission will get drivers 23/31 mpg versus 20/29 with the automatic.

If you’re feeling brave one can upgrade to Kizashi GTS starting at $22,499. We’re going to keep a close eye on Kizashi for 2010 and beyond, as it (hopefully) takes its place amongst the champions of suburban commuting.

Pics Via Autoblog

2009 SEMA SHOW SERVES AS BACKDROP FOR SUZUKI DREAMSCAPE

* Road Race Motorsports builds on Suzuki’s track-bred tradition.
* Delta Tech embellishes Kizashi’s premium (without the premium) assets.
* Westside Group enhances Kizashi’s European dynamic with of Europe’s dynamic.
* Import Tuner mods are both under the hood and over the top.
* ICON Vehicle Dynamics builds on Suzuki Equator’s award-winning platform.

BREA, Calif. (October 28, 2009) – While the Concept Kizashi series debuted globally over the past two years, (in Frankfurt, Tokyo and New York), U.S. anticipation for the production Kizashi was met by a number of custom builders – and members of Suzuki management – asking the proverbial “what if?” What if you melded Kizashi’s production underpinnings and artfully-crafted sheet metal with modifications fully appropriate to a concept’s debut? With European sport sedans serving as Kizashi’s inspiration, and Suzuki’s design and engineering team constructing a platform fully appropriate to a global marketplace, the all-new Kizashi serves as the perfect platform for those stylistic and performance mods integral to America’s motoring DNA. The challenge went out and four custom shops responded. The results of those combined efforts are on display next week at the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show.

Road Race Motorsport’s Platinum Edition Kizashi

As one of the first custom builders to recognize the potential of Suzuki’s vehicles, the presence of Road Race at SEMA comes as no surprise. Given the Kizashi platform’s promise – and the fluid, almost organic sheet metal clothing it – Road Race supplies its own very unique take on Kizashi.

SEMA visitors can enjoy Road Race’s Sport Body kit exterior which employs Carbontrix custom bumpers, rear spats and diffuser. Road Race has crafted a custom grill, vented hood and made the Kizashi its own ‘Platinum Edition’ graphics and a blackened roof. These visual modifications are supported by a platform perfectly suited to Las Vegas Motor Speedway or a high-speed drive on I-15 (what happens in Vegas doesn’t have to stay in Vegas…).

Progress Technology provided the sport springs and front and rear sway bars. Road Race installed its own chassis stiffeners, and Rotora brings the custom Kizashi to a stop with 330mm slotted rotors up front, supplemented by Road Race’s own 260mm slotted rotors in the rear. Under the vented hood, the sweetness continues with a proprietary custom intake system, Zeitronix ZT-2 data logging system and Road Race engine management. The modifications are concealed – until ignition – by a painted-to-match engine cover, and announced by Road Race’s own ‘Integrated Sport’ dual exhaust system. The Road Race Kizashi can be seen at the Zeitronix Booth #21212.

Delta Tech Engineering Kizashi

Delta Tech Engineering, a specialist in vehicle lighting, started with a gutted – and lightened – Kizashi body shell. While Delta Tech took care of under the hood, with cold air intake and performance exhausts, RK Sport developed a body kit, Katzkin supplied the custom seating, and Koni enhanced the Kizashi’s already composed ride with its own coilovers and shocks. Lighting, engineered in house by Delta Tech, is LED and HID. Sound equipment upgrades are provided by Kenwood. The Delta Tech Kizashi may be seen at Booth #23526 in the Central Hall.

Westside Auto Group Kizashi Soleil

Integrating vintage European elegance with the high-performance DNA of Suzuki’s Hayabusa, Westside Group’s Kizashi Soleil (French for ‘masculine sun’) incorporates numerous distinct touches, all executed to make an individualistic statement within the unique template supplied by Suzuki’s own execution. Vehicle modifications performed by Westside include custom two-toned paint (Napa Merlot/Bronzed Amber), redesigned front and rear fenders, custom air apertures, fabricated grill, shaved and modified door handles and new front fascia. In back, a redesigned rear deck lid equipped with a GT Super Car spoiler, and a redesigned rear bumper is equipped with custom Yoshimura exhaust. Planting the Soleil to the ground are early-release Bridgestone Potenza mounted on R-Worx 7-spoke wheels. The Westside Group Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Import Tuner Kizashi

No outlet speaks better to the ‘tuner’ audience than Import Tuner magazine. With its Kizashi the project build team went for the vehicular jugular, with performance enhancements under the hood, appropriate suspension mods connecting those enhancements to the ground, and cosmetic modifications to provide the appropriate visualization for Import Tuner’s own editorial visualization.

With a nod to both the SEMA Show and its own Los Angeles – based roots, the Import Tuner Kizashi provides a tune-up to an already class-leading sport sedan. The Import Tuner Kizashi will be on display in the show car area adjacent to the Las Vega

ICON Vehicle Dynamics Equator

Using Suzuki’s award-winning Equator platform as its base, ICON Vehicle Dynamics taps into a variety of Southern California-based suppliers to assemble a more aggressive interpretation of Suzuki’s off-road recipe. Under the hood, Doug Thorley long-tube headers and cat-back exhaust amplify the Equator’s class-leading 4.0 liter V6. And for off-road exploration, the Equator’s suspension is enhanced with ICON’s own performance coilovers in front and 2.5-inch piggyback shocks supporting linked to Total Chaos upper control arms.

The enhanced power – and capability – is connected to the less-traveled path with Goodyear Wrangler MT/R tires mounted to Trail Ready bead-lock wheels; the Equator’s bodywork is protected by Bushwacker fender flares. AMP Research bed extender and LightForce lights add to both utility and safety. ICON’s Equator can be seen at SEMA booth #32173.