In developing the concept, the key goal of Suzuki’s engineers was to build a sedan with substantially improved mileage but without any detriment in performance. The proof of their efforts is that the Kizashi EcoCharge has the capability to deliver a claimed 25 percent fuel economy while still retaining the production Kizashi’s dynamic handling and braking abilities.
The key is the EcoCharge’s gasoline-electric hybrid drivetrain, which consists of a 144 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine matched to a 15 kW (20 horsepower) electric motor running on lithium-ion batteries. The lightweight motor is too small to power the car exclusively; instead it acts as a booster to aid the vehicle during high load situations.
To help maximize efficiency, the Kizashi EcoCharge concept also features numerous fuel-saving technologies, including regenerative braking, automatic engine shut-off when the car comes to a stop, fuel cut-off during deceleration and low-rolling resistance tires.
Drive is sent to the front wheels via six-speed automatic transmission.
Ensuring the EcoCharge concept stands out is a white satin paint job with a subtle blue undercoat. To further set the concept apart from its production Kizashi sibling, it has also been given a specialized headlight treatment, as well as LED fog-lights.
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