Suzuki will premiere at this year NY auto show a gas-electric hybrid version of the Kizashi, called the EcoCharge. The Suzuki Kizashi Hybrid is powered by a 2.0-liter J20B DOHC I-4 engine with a Intake-VVT valvetrain that develops 144 hp / 106 kW at 6500 rpm and 127 lb-ft / 173 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm. The electric part of the hybrid Kizashi EcoCharge is a Belt-driven, liquid-cooled induction motor/generator unit juiced by a lithium-ion battery system that's good for another 15 hp / 11.2kW between 1,000 and 2,200 rpm.
Suzuki hopes the hybrid Kizashi concept will improve the fuel economy of the standard model by up to 25%, which would save quite a lot of gasoline money.
Apart from the innovative powertrain, the Suzuki Kizashi Hybrid also features a range of fuel-conserving technologies such as regenerative braking, automatic engine shut-off and fuel cut-off during deceleration. The hybrid Kizashi EcoCharge also features low-rolling resistance tires, and a specially designed advanced six-speed automatic transmission.
At this point, Suzuki did not mention whether or not they will put the Kizashi EcoCharge into production or not.
