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KIZASHI WINS NEW ZEALAND MOTORING AWARD
Brea, Calif. (Dec. 8, 2010) -
The Suzuki Kizashi saloon has been declared overall winner of the 2010 AA Motoring
Excellence Awards, mirroring the international acclaim for the new model. Not only did the
Kizashi take out top honours in the medium size car class, it was judged the Supreme Winner in
the annual award which is regarded as one of the most important in the New Zealand motor
industry.
Launched locally in May 2010, the European-inspired Kizashi has been praised by North
American and Australasian writers and is already the recipient of several international
awards. Sixty new model vehicles were assessed by an independent team of local motoring writers
during a five-day test programme within the Taupo region. Seventeen brands of cars were
evaluated in the latest award which is in its fifth year.
Beating a class field of rivals that included the Subaru Outback 2.5, Subaru Legacy 2.5
Sport Wagon, Hyundai i45 2.4 Elite, Volkswagen Passat CC TDi, Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSi
DSG and Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Kizashi impressed the expert panel of judges.
The Automobile Association says the results are intended to assist New Zealand motorists
with their car purchases, with voting criteria including design, performance, dynamics,
practicality, execution, value for money and safety.
"Kizashi is Suzuki's first entrant into the medium segment class which has a number of
very strong competitors," said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New
Zealand. "We knew the Kizashi was a great all round car but to have the AA Motoring
Excellence Award judges confirm this is a highly special result," he said. "Suzuki especially
values the outcome of the Automobile Association award because the results are determined by
a panel or judges rather than the assessment by just one journalist," said Tom Peck.
The award was made to the GLX, manual 6-speed version of the Kizashi which the judges
said was "a very good affordable vehicle". The judges praised the car's refinement, quietness
and comfort and said dynamically it was easily the best in the medium car class. They were also
impressed by "the astonishing attention to detail both inside and out".
Tom Peck said Suzuki wanted to build a world-class sports sedan with superb dynamics at
a price the average motorist could afford. "A huge engineering investment by Suzuki shows
what can be achieved," he said. "As Suzuki's first world-class medium car in its 100 year history,
the Kizashi had to be right, first time out."
"We are convinced the 2.4-litre Kizashi is the best handling, best value mid-size sedan in
New Zealand and the outcome of the AA awards simply confirms this," said Peck.
Five versions of the premium four-door Kizashi are available in the local market. The range includes a
Sport AWD variant with selectable four wheel drive and a lavish level of standard appointment.
2010 Suzuki Auto Product Line
Suzuki Auto's versatile line of vehicles includes the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack athletic hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equator pickup truck and performance-oriented Kizashi. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki's standout virtues of durability, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2010 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.
About Suzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 300 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com. Suzuki can also be found on Twitter (@SuzukiAuto), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/SuzukiAutomotive).
The Suzuki Kizashi saloon has been declared overall winner of the 2010 AA Motoring
Excellence Awards, mirroring the international acclaim for the new model. Not only did the
Kizashi take out top honours in the medium size car class, it was judged the Supreme Winner in
the annual award which is regarded as one of the most important in the New Zealand motor
industry.
Launched locally in May 2010, the European-inspired Kizashi has been praised by North
American and Australasian writers and is already the recipient of several international
awards. Sixty new model vehicles were assessed by an independent team of local motoring writers
during a five-day test programme within the Taupo region. Seventeen brands of cars were
evaluated in the latest award which is in its fifth year.
Beating a class field of rivals that included the Subaru Outback 2.5, Subaru Legacy 2.5
Sport Wagon, Hyundai i45 2.4 Elite, Volkswagen Passat CC TDi, Skoda Octavia 2.0 TSi
DSG and Toyota Camry Hybrid, the Kizashi impressed the expert panel of judges.
The Automobile Association says the results are intended to assist New Zealand motorists
with their car purchases, with voting criteria including design, performance, dynamics,
practicality, execution, value for money and safety.
"Kizashi is Suzuki's first entrant into the medium segment class which has a number of
very strong competitors," said Tom Peck, General Manager of Marketing for Suzuki New
Zealand. "We knew the Kizashi was a great all round car but to have the AA Motoring
Excellence Award judges confirm this is a highly special result," he said. "Suzuki especially
values the outcome of the Automobile Association award because the results are determined by
a panel or judges rather than the assessment by just one journalist," said Tom Peck.
The award was made to the GLX, manual 6-speed version of the Kizashi which the judges
said was "a very good affordable vehicle". The judges praised the car's refinement, quietness
and comfort and said dynamically it was easily the best in the medium car class. They were also
impressed by "the astonishing attention to detail both inside and out".
Tom Peck said Suzuki wanted to build a world-class sports sedan with superb dynamics at
a price the average motorist could afford. "A huge engineering investment by Suzuki shows
what can be achieved," he said. "As Suzuki's first world-class medium car in its 100 year history,
the Kizashi had to be right, first time out."
"We are convinced the 2.4-litre Kizashi is the best handling, best value mid-size sedan in
New Zealand and the outcome of the AA awards simply confirms this," said Peck.
Five versions of the premium four-door Kizashi are available in the local market. The range includes a
Sport AWD variant with selectable four wheel drive and a lavish level of standard appointment.
2010 Suzuki Auto Product Line
Suzuki Auto's versatile line of vehicles includes the spirited four-door SX4 Sport, all-wheel-drive five-door SX4 Crossover, SX4 SportBack athletic hatch, refined Grand Vitara compact SUV, award-winning Equator pickup truck and performance-oriented Kizashi. Every vehicle in the line provides Suzuki's standout virtues of durability, leading-edge style and high-end features at very competitive prices. All 2010 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: a 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.
About Suzuki
The Brea, Calif.-based Operations of American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) was founded in 1963 by parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation (SMC) and currently markets its vehicles in the United States through a network of approximately 300 automotive dealerships and numerous other motorcycle, ATV and marine distributors in 49 states. With global headquarters in Hamamatsu, Japan, SMC is a diversified worldwide automobile, motorcycle, and outboard motor manufacturer. In 2009, SMC sold more than 2.3 million new cars and trucks and more than 2.8 million motorcycles and ATVs. Founded in 1909 and incorporated in 1920, SMC has operations in 196 countries and regions. For more information, visit www.media.suzukiauto.com. Suzuki can also be found on Twitter (@SuzukiAuto), Facebook (www.Facebook.com/SuzukiAuto) and YouTube (www.YouTube.com/SuzukiAutomotive).