Kelley Blue Book has announced its picks for the Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. To make the list, the editors at KBB.com thought like consumers, picking cars that they felt were safe, good in fuel-economy, interior size, comfort, technology and fun-to-drive.

Now remember just because a vehicle is listed first doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the cheapest or the coolest on the list. All cars on the list are considered cool and are under $18,000. They are just listed in alphabetical order.

All the cars on the list were chosen using Kelly Blue Book’s New Car Blue Book Value which reflects real transaction prices and provide a useful comparison to the MSRP of the car.

Let us know what you would buy in the comments section below.

Click through for press release and the list.

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Adding a navigation system while purchasing a new car with some automakers can run up the price of your vehicles by a quite a few hundred dollars. Suzuki is about to break that barrier and will offer the first car in America under $16,000 with navigation as a standard option.

The 2009 Suzuki SX4 and SX4 Crossover will feature an integrated standard navigation with other technological features such as Bluetooth, lowest price gas station locater, weather details and real-time traffic info.

The 2009 SX4 is scheduled to arrive in dealer showrooms this summer.

Click through for the press release.

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Grandson of Michio Suzuki, 60-year old Rick Suzuki, will resign his position as the Chairman of American Suzuki. In a letter to employees this past Friday, Rick Suzuki said he will step down “to bear responsibility” for the automaker’s poor sales and earnings.

He also wrote that the company will reduce its U.S. work force of 675 by 55 employees through voluntary retirement plan.

“With the recession in the picture, ASMC must anticipate further sales declines,” Suzuki wrote.

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Suzuki surprised us all with Kizashi 3 concept at the 2008 New York Auto Show yesterday. The best looking Kizashi concept out of the 3, the all-new sedan is due for U.S. sale by 2010. Suzuki’s U.S. sales were up 101,884 in 2007 and the new mid-sized sedan will help it take a step towards increasing U.S. sales in the next few years.

“This is no mere exercise in styling; this vehicle is showing you the direction we are going with a future production vehicle,” said Gene Brown, marketing vice president for Suzuki’s U.S. division.

The concept has a 3.6liter DOHC V6 producing 300-hp+ and a six-speed automatic. A four cylinder will likely for an entry level model.

Suzuki Kizashi 3:

   

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R. Kelly may have 12 chapters of Trapped in the Closet, but Suzuki’s 3 chapters of Kizashi Krazzi-ness impress us more. Suzuki’s other Kizashis may have been some funky far out rides from the Far East, but the Kizashi 3 really strikes us as foreboding of an impending Suzuki mid-sizer.

Suzuki threw around a few some words like ‘near luxury’ and ‘up to 300-hp’, but this car seems like a good looking alternative to mundane Fusions, Camrys and Sebrings. Probably will be a little smaller but priced right. Front wheel drive with optional all wheel drive are what we expect. The concept has a 3.6liter DOHC V6 and a six-speed automatic and we don’t see any reason the eventual production version won’t. A four cylinder will likely be the base motor though to match offerings from other mainstreamers.

So while R. Kelly is still hiding in the closet, Suzuki’s ready to knock down the front door.

Suzuki Kizashi 3:

   

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Covering the New York International Autoshow sure is a good way to work up an appetite. Well a few automakers offered up some snacks [thanks for the black & white unity cookies, Nissan!] and Honda & Suzuki actually had some lunch for us. Well we’re not gonna comment on Honda’s lunch cause our veggie staff member [hint: the one writing this] couldn’t eat anything there, but Suzuki had what we like to call the ‘Kizashi Platter’. Some sushi, some noodles, beef for the carnivores and tofu for Mr. Veg right here. And some fancy Kirin Japanese beer to wash it down with.

Suzuki sure isn’t afraid to honor their Japanese heritage, that’s for sure. I mean, heck, Volkswagen touts their ‘German engineering’ so why not? It’s actually kind of refreshing, especially since people are starting to finally realize that World War II is over and the Japanese are our buddies now.

Suzuki will be displaying its complete Kizashi concept lineup at the New York Auto Show later this month with the addition of the Concept Kizashi 3. Suzuki says that the Kizashi 3 hints at a future design direction and a ‘closer-to-production’ vision to offer a larger more upscale sports sedan model.

The Suzuki Kizashi 2 will also be making its North American debut along with the Kizashi 3.

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Gallery:

 

Click through for the press release.

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The Suzuki Kizashi concept that was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show is said to be the basis of three new models, all which will hit showrooms before the end of the decade.

According to inside sources at AutoCar, the Suzuki Kizashi will spawn a Ford Mondeo rival sedan and wagon as well as a new 4×4 crossover. The four-door sedan is expected to hit roads in Europe by late 2009. The wagon variant will follow a year later.

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Since we didn’t give you enough stuff to drool over this Thursday, we decided why not provide you with some auto news on Saturday. So here it goes. Suzuki will be unveiling 3 concepts at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show including the Suzuki PIXY + SSC, X-HEAD and the Kizashi 2.

Suzuki X-HEAD: According to Suzuki’s Japanese press release, this HUMMER rival looking concept will appeal to a variety of lifestyles. Suzuki says the X-HEAD is for the off-roader, the camper, the life saver and the fashion freaks, although we think you would looked pretty stupid rolling around in this thing thinking you’re cool.

PIXY + SSC: This two part concept consists of the PIXY, which is a low-speed single-person ride and a part of Suzuki’s ‘SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY.’ The SSC is a low-speed “portable tool” for the PIXY. Yes, the two little PIXY’s fit inside this big SSC which works as a docking station.

Suzuki Kizashi 2: A sequel to the Suzuki Kizashi shown at Frankfurt earlier this month, the Suzuki Kizashi 2 embodies a more off-roading style with a smaller grille. Power comes from a 3.6 liter V6 unit and according to the press release, a hybrid version will also be available.

Okay we did our best to translate this Japanese press release. Click through for some images.

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Suzuki showed off their new Kizashi concept at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. The Kizashi concept shows the direction Suzuki will be taking in its third phase of their world strategy as they expand into mid-size and full-size cars.

Although Suzuki is known for their compact cars and four-wheel-drive SUVs, they are now getting ready to introduce more models into their lineups.

It was previously said that the Kizashi concept hints at a production model that will debut in 2010.

Suzuki Kizashi Concept Gallery:

   

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Suzuki today unveiled an official sketch of the Kizashi, a new mid-level sedan that will make its debut at Frankfurt next month.

Of course we doubt the real concept would look as aggressive as shown in the sketch. The concept is a preview of a production model that will debut in 2010.

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China is the second largest automotive market in the world and is expected to exceed the US and become the largest car market by 2020. While all the auto makers are rushing over to increase production in China, some have had tremendous success while some have failed miserably.

Take the Acura TL for instance. With its huge success in the American market, Honda thoguht it would be wise to sell the car in China. Unfortunatley, since its launch last September, the Acura TL has sold less than 200 units during the first six months of 2007.

Click through for the list of the Top 10 Most Unpopular Cars in China.

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Suzuki is working on a new mid-sized car for North America and Europe, that will compete with the likes of Ford Mondeo. Suzuki’s Europe spokesman says that the car will be offered in many body styles including a sedan, hatchback and wagon.

Currently, Suzuki sells only small cars and SUVs in Europe. The new mid-sized car is expected to replace the Suzuki Verona in the US.

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