Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special Unveiled

[SonicAerio]

Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special unveiled

Damn. If only the real Suzuki XL7 was this awesome. The car you see below is the machine that Monster Tajima hopes to break the current Pikes Peak Hill Climb record in. While the Suzuki Sport XL7 Hill Climb Special has about as much in common with the regular XL7 as a funny car does with a production vehicle, it does indeed have one of the GM-sourced 3.6L V6es under its bodywork, only this one's a fully worked-over, twin-turbocharged unit dishing out over 1000 horsepower. The target is Rod Millen's 1994 record of 10:04.06. The 2007 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb takes place this weekend, so we'll know soon enough if Monster's new ride has what it takes to put a new entry in the record book. In the meantime, we'd like to suggest that Suzuki add a "Hill Climb Special" checkbox to the list of available XL7 options for the rest of us.

Autoblog







Specs:

Body
Base model - SUZUKI XL7
Frame - Steel space frame
Cowl - Carbon and Kevlar composite
Front wing & Rear wing - Carbon and Kevlar composite

Engine
Model - N36A
Type - Liquid cooled V6 4 valves DOHC + 2 turbo, dry sump
Bore x stroke - 94.0~85.6mm
Capacity - 3564cc
Maximum horsepower - 1007ps(993hp)/8500r.p.m (Sea level)
Maximum torque - 102.0kg-m/6250r.p.m�iSea level�j

Pics courtesy of Suzukisport

Suzuki races in the "Unlimited" category and hopes this year to "Beat the Record"

[SonicAerio]

Here is a pic to get an understanding of the size of this vehicle with 1000Hp in it

[69Firebird400]

I must say, that looks as much like an XL7 as a NASCAR Car of Tomorrow Impala looks like the street version.

Quite the diffuser in the front, no?

[guitarlix]

That's what I was going to say. Where's the XL-7?

[SonicAerio]

Looks more like the discontinued Aerio SX


I think it is cool that they retained the 3.6 found in the current XL7 and sourced from GM, only modified...GM should add a decal on there

[69Firebird400]

I realize that it's a purpose-built race car, but can you imagine the mockery someone would endure if they ever drove something that looked like that on the street? Not only does it have the mother of all diffusers, but the wing is half a step behind a sprint car's.

Also, in the shot next to the driver, it looks like it's half the size of a real XL7.

I wonder what a twin turbo 3.6 liter could do in production form, with DI. Probably pretty easily somewhere around the numbers that Ford is throwing out there for its TwinForce V6s (~420 horsepower) without breaking much of a sweat. A twin turbo V6 would be the absolute best choice (IMO) in any kind of future Buick performance car, in a nod to the GNX.

[mrfunji]

Nice! It's like an update to the old Suzuki Escudo Pike's Peak Edition (anyone who played the Grand Turismo games knows what I'm talking about.)

[Butz]

I like the engine

[2000 GTP]

[quote=mrfunji]Nice! It's like an update to the old Suzuki Escudo Pike's Peak Edition (anyone who played the Grand Turismo games knows what I'm talking about.)
QUOTE]

I was just thinking the same thing! Thi XL7 is new modern day Escudo!
Go to youtube and you can find some video's of that car in real life.
It's a monster!!!

[ctsmo]

Originally Posted by mrfunji

Nice! It's like an update to the old Suzuki Escudo Pike's Peak Edition (anyone who played the Grand Turismo games knows what I'm talking about.)

i miss the gran turismo days. this car went like 200 sumthin on the track in that game when fully moded.

[SonicAerio]

[quote=2000 GTP]

Originally Posted by mrfunji

Nice! It's like an update to the old Suzuki Escudo Pike's Peak Edition (anyone who played the Grand Turismo games knows what I'm talking about.)
QUOTE]

I was just thinking the same thing! The XL7 is new modern day Escudo!
Go to youtube and you can find some video's of that car in real life.
It's a monster!!!

The Escudo is the name of the Grand Vitara sold in japan...same vehicle just diferent name...kind of like Mitsubishi Montero to the Pajero

As such the tru successor to the Escudo is the Grand Vitara they raced last year:




There was also an Aerio/Liana version raced in 2003:


If u notice the new XL7 edition is similar to the previous Grand Vitara, Aerio, and Escudo versions.... I think that they use the same basic archetecture, but what makes this one different is that it has the GM sourced 3.6 that is actually offered on the current vehicle(just heavily modified) I think prev versions had 2 smaller V6s(2.7s offered on prev models) - one powering the front and the other the rear

[AndrewGS]

Needs a bigger spoiler.

I agree though, it should have a "Powered By GM" decal. I'd like that TT3.6L in a new CTS.

[SUPERBADD75]

that thing is insane!! i love it, excess in its highest form. 1000hp, huge spoilers front and rear, and everything between is completely purpose built to race up a 14,000 ft. mountain. AWESOME!!

[GotAWD]

Originally Posted by SonicAerio

Here is a pic to get an understanding of the size of this vehicle with 1000Hp in it

LOL alright but how tall is the driver???

[SonicAerio]

Originally Posted by AndrewGS

I agree though, it should have a "Powered By GM" decal. I'd like that TT3.6L in a new CTS.

Or atleast one of those little silver GM labels on the doors near the front wheels