At 143 hp, the all-wheel-drive Suzuki SX4 crossover already had the most horsepower in its class. So the logical thing to do, of course, was to add more power.
This SX4t concept takes that 2.0-liter four and adds a turbocharger. The result is a tire-squealing 221 hp--and a whole lot of fun behind the wheel; we were reminded how many world problems can be solved by adding unholy horsepower. What had been a perfectly adequate entry-level five-door utility vehicle lost in a sea of adequate five-door utility vehicles is transformed into a wheeled glee machine. When you step on the throttle, the SX4t squirts through holes in traffic like a highly caffeinated minx.
The throttle response alone is fun enough, but Road Race Motorsports of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., which put together this concept, also added its GRIP springs and performance brake pads. As with most aftermarket applications that change the springs but don't match the shocks, this one bounced a little. But the lower ride height looked cool, and that's half the point. Road Race also shaved off the roof rack and added a carbon-fiber hood and some trim pieces.
Suzuki commissioned the project, but it is not an official option. Road Race (www. roadracemotorsports.com) has a full line of Suzuki accessories and will happily sell you a package like this for $5,400.
