New York's International Auto Show saw Suzuki unveil two concepts with two very different takes on the company's Kizashi saloon. They're called the EcoCharge and the Apex.
The EcoCharge is a hybrid powered by a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, mated to a 20hp liquid-cooled electric motor; power is fed through a six-speed automatic gearbox.
The electric motor is said to boost fuel economy by up to 25 per cent, but also provides extra shove during hard acceleration. The EcoCharge's green bias sees the use of regenerative braking, automatic engine shut-off, fuel cut-off during deceleration and low-rolling resistance tyres.
White-on-blue luminescent paint, revised headlights and LED fog lights subtly mark it out from the road-going saloon. As does its eco-aware interior.
'Subtle' is not the word we would use to describe the Apex. Suzuki says it encapsulates the link between the firm's road cars and its championship-winning motorcycles. Its livery emulates that of Suzuki's GSX-R superbike, which certainly helps us make the connection. Meanwhile the interior is shod in black leather and laser blue Alcantara
Livery aside, the Apex's main talking point is its ballpark output of somewhere between 275- and 300hp. This is delivered thanks to a turbo that pumps out up to 0.6 bar of boost and is fed cool air by an air-to-liquid intercooler.
The intercooler's design apparently gives faster throttle response, lower turbo lag and, as a result, better driveability than most traditional air-to-air systems. The Apex also features a new free-flow exhaust.
Grippy Yokohama tyres on 19-inch rims and a six-speed manual gearbox galvanise the Apex's racy intentions.