American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) unveiled a gasoline-electric concept variant of its Kizashi sedan at the company’s 2011 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) press conference. The Kizashi EcoCharge has the capability to deliver a 25% fuel economy gain.
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| Kizashi EcoCharge. Click to enlarge. |
The Kizashi EcoCharge Concept derives power from a 2.0-liter inline-four gasoline engine, working in tandem with a belt-driven, liquid-cooled 15-kW motor/generator unit tied to a 115-volt, 0.5 kWh air-cooled lithium-ion battery. The EcoCharge uses a six-speed automatic transmission.
The engine develops 144 hp (106 kW) @ 6500 rpm, and 127 lb-ft (173 N&iddot;m) of torque @ 4500 rpm.
To help maximize efficiency, the Kizashi EcoCharge Concept also utilizes other fuel-conserving technologies, including regenerative braking, automatic engine shut-off when the car comes to a stop, fuel cut-off during deceleration events and low-rolling resistance tires.