Truck Trend Homepage

Suzuki SX4 gets the Road Race turbo treatment

April 23, 2008

By Nate Martinez

Suzuki has collaborated with California-based tuning company Road Race Motorsports on a concept called the SX4t, a version of its new SX4 Crossover that Suzuki says answers enthusiast pleas for more power for its all-wheel-drive hatch.


The SX4's 2.0 DOHC four-cylinder, which makes 143 horsepower and 136 lb-ft of torque in stock trim, was fitted with Road Race's custom turbo kit. Consisting primarily of a 16G GT3 Turbo and a Tial 38 mm wastegate that generates seven pounds of boost, the SX4's engine was pushed to 221 horsepower and 208 lb-ft of torque. The upgrades should push 0-60 times into the low seven second range with the five-speed manual rowing the gears.

Road Race also installed their GRIP springs, as well as 17-inch wheels and tires in an effort to improve the SX4's handling prowess. Brakes were given preferential treatment as well, with upgraded pads. Exterior changes include the addition of Road Race's CarbonTrix carbon fiber hood, custom paintwork and the removal of the roof rack and cladding.

The interior of the Suzuki SX4t features new fabric inserts on the upgraded and bolstered front seats, while drilled pedals and a Road Race shift knob finish off the interior mods. A Rockford Fosgate audio system was installed to lend a little more street-cred to the one-off Japanese crossover.

The Road Race turbo kit will set prospective SX4 owners back $5400 when it is rolled out in June, and expect another grand or so to get it fitted properly at a Suzuki dealer. Still unclear is if the installation will affect the vehicle's factory warranty.

Source: Suzuki


New Truck Price Quote
Get FREE, up-front new vehicle pricing and a no hassle buying experience.

Moab Madness: Jeep and Hummer doing it right

Posted May 5 2008 08:24 AM by Mark Williams
Much of our time is spent traveling places to drive a given manufacturer's latest and greatest. Usually that means flying to some familiar place, staying is some familiar hotel, and more times than not driving on some...  more

Refreshing or Revolting -- 2009 Subaru Forester

  Subaru has redesigned its Forester crossover for 2009 and already the SUV has placed first in our tough test of compact crossovers. The Forester may have improved functionally, but are you digging the new look or do you...more  

Driving an SUV? Trade it in now, while you still can

  Has the ever-growing pain at the pump finally gotten you thinking about giving up your V-8, seven-passenger SUV for something a little more frugal? Well you might want to get to a dealership soon, because the trade-in...more  

GM Full-Size Hybrid SUVs: Too Many Stinking Badges

  I congratulate General Motors for being first in the pool with hybrid-powered, full-size sport/utilities. These SUVs employ a true hybrid powertrain (not like the Malibu, Aura, and previous-gen GM trucks, which use what...more  

Kill the gas tax moratorium proposals

  DETROIT - This is an idea whose time has come, and quickly gone. Presidential candidates John McCain (I believe he proposed it first, so he's mentioned first) and Hillary Clinton have proposed a moratorium on the federal...more