Suzuki SX Concept Debuts at New York Auto Show
Extreme Sport Crossover Bridges Between Sports Sedan and SUV -Eric Bewley
NEW YORK, NY. -When Suzuki let the car out of the bag at the New York Auto Show, the Japanese automaker unveiled one of the most dramatic concept vehicles it has ever created. The car’s name, SX, stands for “Sport Crossover,” so called because the Suzuki combines thrilling sport sedan performance with SUV cargo-toting convenience.
A modern crossover vehicle, the do-it-all SX is a perfect symbol of Suzuki: practical fun.
The supercharged, 220-horsepower, all-wheel drive SX concept was built for two things: hauling down the road and hauling the gear of an adventure-seeking weekend warrior. Aimed at young, sports-minded individualists who don’t desire either sedans or SUVs, the high-performance SX provides its driver with a great driving experience while on route to rock-climbing, mountain-bike trails or the motocross track.
Suzuki’s latest concept car draws heavily from the firm’s sporting heritage. The engine — a 2.0-liter, all-aluminum, DOHC, 16-valve, inline four-cylinder — benefits from Suzuki’s championship-winning experience in building compact, high-revving, Superbike power plants. The supercharger (which boosts output to an exciting 220 horsepower) and traction-assisting all-wheel drive recall Suzuki’s amazing Hill Climb race winners. And the color itself, a bright, bold pearl yellow, was inspired by Suzuki’s motocross machines — from Roger DeCoster’s World Championship bikes of the 1970s to Travis Pastrana’s Supercross-winning RM125 of today.
The sharply creased Suzuki meets the road with a wide, aggressive stance thanks to big fenders that shroud fat, 17-inch alloy wheels and low-profile 225/45 tires. Peeking through the airy five-spoke rims are massive discs and big yellow brake calipers ready to slow down the SX with the aid of an advanced anti-lock braking system.
The beefy bumpers, integrated spoiler, and lower-edge skirts give the SX a look of sporty, aerodynamic refinement. Even the rear of the SX, with its practical clamshell hatch, looks seriously aggressive thanks to its dramatic V-shape styling, blacked-out license plate base, dual centerline exhausts and stinger-like radio antenna.
Interesting style highlights include contrasting panels of metallic paint on the bumpers and door handles. Distinct prism-type headlights and vertical fog lamps give the SX a futuristic front end.
The headlights, mesh grille and hood badge feature stylish, glowing green backlighting. And the pearl paint itself is designed to turn a reddish hue while the car is in shade, and project a striking, bright yellow while out in daylight.
INTERIOR
The SX interior is as bold as the outside of the car. Obvious are the sporty leather seats that are black with yellow trim in back, and yellow with black tri up front — emphasizing that while the SX seats five, it’s really a driver’s car. The famed Suzuki “S” stitched into the seat backs completes the upholstery.
The cab itself is defined by the forward-mounted A-pillars and high roofline, which provide a spacious interior and excellent visibility. Forward vision is further aided by the low line of the instrument panel — the dashboard is no higher on the driver side than on the passenger side. Complementing the bold exterior color, the IP is dark gray and yellow, while the steering pad surround is a gunmetal hue. The instruments themselves are completely digital, and include a competition-inspired, bar-graph tachometer.
Body-color paneling and metallic colored accents give the SX interior a modern, high-tech appearance and feel. And, overall, the interior design highlights the dual, crossover nature of the SX. The dark colors, offset by bright yellow, plus the metalized details, all scream sport. The fold-down rear seats, clamshell hatch and ample cargo capacity spell convenience.
Capping off the interior is an advanced GPS navigation system. The liquid-crystal display, mounted mid-dash, also serves as a television and an information center for the radio and CD player. At the push of a button, the panel glides down to reveal the hidden CD disc player.
With these solid looks and great performance features, we at ZUKIWORLD can not wait to try this beauty out on the road. Does anyone know where the keys are?
