Re: Kizashi shared platform
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 7:46 pm
Good points, but using the GM Epsilon platform with the GM engine and transmission would have pretty much gave Suzuki a different vehicle than they were intending and would have continued the trend of basically rebadging. The little bits of the Japanese videos I've seen state the engineers from Suzuki were intent on designing the Kizashi to be all their own. Hence, it's rather conflicting and we know that many things claimed in concept models don't really happen in production cars, especially with powertrains. I think what makes most sense is that conceptually, like when we saw the Kizashi CUV and wagon, they were considering using a lot of GM components. However, by the time Suzuki actually decided to develop the Kizashi sedan, which was based on the last of the Kizashi concepts, they determined they were building it inhouse. I really don't think the actual production vehicle R&D started with the Epsilon chassis as Motor Trend suggests. I think Suzuki knew upon intending to build the sedan for production that they were doing it themselves. One day, I will get the answers by going to the Suzuki museum myself in Japan and asking curators there. I'm also sure there is a lot more documentation in Japanese about the Kizashi, especially since it was a vehicle that was also sold there.
As for the second gen XL7 that continued on in production, I think it was largely due to a special contract. That vehicle was more GM than Suzuki due to its GM Theta platform in addition to the GM engine and transmission. It was essentially a 3rd row Chevy Equinox and even assembled in Canada at the same plant. It was the only "Suzuki" made outside Japan for the USDM by that time.
Lastly, regarding Suzuki's use of the JATCO CVT: This was actually a very easy matter for them because Suzuki owns a minority stake of JATCO. The reason why Nissan, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi use JATCO CVTs is because these three companies are the owners of JATCO.
As for the second gen XL7 that continued on in production, I think it was largely due to a special contract. That vehicle was more GM than Suzuki due to its GM Theta platform in addition to the GM engine and transmission. It was essentially a 3rd row Chevy Equinox and even assembled in Canada at the same plant. It was the only "Suzuki" made outside Japan for the USDM by that time.
Lastly, regarding Suzuki's use of the JATCO CVT: This was actually a very easy matter for them because Suzuki owns a minority stake of JATCO. The reason why Nissan, Suzuki, and Mitsubishi use JATCO CVTs is because these three companies are the owners of JATCO.