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26 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday July 9, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Hot Days. Hot Deals. Hot Cars. (You sensing a theme here?) 2008 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa By Rob Beintema OAKVILLE BEAVER GRAND VITARA 4WD / Power Windows / Power Locks / Power Mirrors / Remote Keyless Entry / Air Conditioning / V6 13.0 L/100km (22 mpg) city 9.5 L/100km (30 mpg) highway NEW CASH PURCHASE PRICE $19,995 OR PURCHASE FINANCING 0% FOR 72 MONTHS PLUS $1000 CASH INCENTIVE 2008 GOLD KEY AWARD BEST NEW COMPACT SUV L'ANNUEL DE L'AUTOMOBILE MSRP $25,595* JLX MODEL SHOWN FINALIST BEST NEW SMALL CAR 2008 THE ALL NEW 2008 SX4 SEDAN PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS SX4.ca 9.2 L/100km (31 mpg) city 6.5 L/100km (43 mpg) highway Air Conditioning / Power Windows / Power Locks / Power Mirrors / Remote Keyless Entry 0% $ DOWN PAYMENT ON LEASE 0 LEASE FROM $ 205 @ 1.5% FOR 60 MONTHS ** SPORT MODEL SHOWN 2008 MOST FUEL EFFICIENT AWD IN CANADA 8.7 L/100km (32 mpg) city 5.8 L/100km (49 mpg) highway JLX AWD MODEL SHOWN SWIFT+ PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 72 MONTHS Cargo Area Cover / Standard Front & Seat Mounted Side Airbags / AM/FM/CD/MP3 Player (4 speakers) 0% 2008 SX4 S MODEL SHOWN CROSSOVER 9.9 L/100km (29 mpg) city 7.1 L/100km (40 mpg) highway Intelligent AWD / Power Windows / Power Locks / Heated Power Mirrors / Cruise Control / Remote Keyless Entry / Air Conditioning LEASE FROM PURCHASE FINANCING FOR 48 MONTHS 0% $ DOWN PAYMENT ON LEASE 0 $ 235 @ 2.28% FOR 60 MONTHS ** Visit suzuki.ca for your nearest dealer. Every new SUZUKI comes with 5-year 100,000 kilometre powertrain limited warranty and 5-year unlimited kilometre roadside assistance Suzuki of Oakville 2219 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, ON L6L 5L7 905-469-2429 · Toll Free 1-866-229-3897 fax 905-469-4562 CONSUMERS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING: Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Limited time offers are subject to change without notice. *Limited time lease and purchase finance offers available to qualified retail customers on approved credit (O.A.C.) on a new 2008 Swift+ with manual transmission (MODEL STR48C8). As shown $16,295 MSRP for 2008 Swift+ S with manual transmission. MSRP for New 2008 SX4 sedan with manual transmission (MODEL S3L83J8). As shown $18,995 MSRP for 2008 SX4 sedan sport with manual transmission. New 2008 SX4 JX AWD with manual transmission (MODEL H3N80J8). As shown $22,695 MSRP for 2008 SX4 JLX with manual transmission. New Grand Vitara JA with manual transmission (MODEL LLN81S8)/as shown $29,745 MSRP for 2008 Grand Vitara JLX. Destination and delivery of $1,195/$1,250/$1,250/$1,395, administration fee, $75/$75/$400 fuel conservation tax, taxes, license, insurance, and registration are extra. Cash purchase price for a new 2008 Grand Vitara JA (LLN81S8) in-stock base model with manual transmission includes $1,000 (pre-tax) cash incentive available only to cash customers and cannot be combined with subvented lease and finance offers. Destination and delivery of $1,395, administration fee, $400 fuel conservation tax , taxes, license, insurance, and registration are extra. **For SX4 sedan and SX4 JX AWD lease offers, monthly payment is $205/$235 (including $1,250/$1,250 destination and delivery). $0/$0 down payment or equivalent trade-in, $0 security deposit, $72 PPSA, $350 acquisition fee, administration fee, $75 fuel conservation tax and first monthly payment due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $12,298.55/$14,099.98 including down payment. Taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra. 20,000 km / year total mileage allowance ($0.10/km for excess mileage). 0% purchase financing is available for 48 months on any 2008 SX4 sedan and any 2008 SX4 hatchback. 0% purchase financing is available for 72 months on any 2008 Swift+. Finance example: $10,000 at 0% APR for a 48-month term; the monthly payment is $208.33; cost of borrowing is $0.00; total obligation is $10,000.00. Administration fee, $75 tax for fuel conservation, other taxes, license, insurance, and registration are extra. Limited time purchase financing offers available to qualified retail customers on approved credit (O.A.C.), on new 2008 Grand Vitara models, except base model (LLN81S8). MSRP's for 2008 Grand Vitara JX with manual transmission (LLN81J8)/2008 Grand Vitara JX automatic transmission (LLN8EJ8)/2008 Grand Vitara JLX automatic transmission (LLN8EV8)/2008 Grand Vitara JLX-L (LLM8EX8) automatic transmission are $26,145/$27,445/$28,745/$29,745 and include $1,000 Suzuki incentive. Representative Finance Example: MSRP $26,145, financed at 0% APR equals $363.13 per month for 72 months. Cost of borrowing is $0. Total obligation is $26,145. For all models, including base model, destination and delivery of $1,395, administration fee, $400 tax for fuel conservation, other taxes, license, insurance, applicable fees and registration are extra. Down payment or equivalent trade may be required. Retailers are free to set individual prices. These offers cannot be combined with any other offer except for the Suzuki Graduate Program. With the Suzuki Graduate Program, recent university or college graduates may be eligible for an allowance on the purchase or lease of certain models. Dealers may lease or sell for less. See Suzuki of Oakville for details. Offers end July 31st, 2008. Anyone having business at Suzuki Canada's head office will probably follow a predictable pattern. After checking in with the receptionist, they will turn to the waiting area, walk towards the chairs and magazines and then, inevitably, turn and veer off course to stop and stare, drawn and distracted by the beast that glimmers there under a pool of light in the lobby. This is the Hayabusa, low-slung and sexy, resplendent in Candy Max Orange and more than just a little intimidating in muscular lines and legend. I knew that Suzuki Canada also had an Indy Blue model on hand destined for corporate demo rides. Which, hmmm, was almost as nice. But imagine my delight when they pushed that burnt orange beauty out from the lobby and through the door for me to test. I felt the usual anticipation mixed with the touch of unease that lies in the vague territory between fear and desire. It is usually inspired by only a few bikes and the Suzuki Hayabusa is one of them. "Don't let me bend it" thoughts mixed with a little "don't let it kill me" dread. But I am more of an old pilot than a bold pilot so it didn't take much to tamp down any unease. I wasn't the first to stand there in a bike-induced trance. The Hayabusa has enraptured a surprising number of riders over the years. Japanese-named for the peregrine falcon, the swift hunter that feasts on lesser fliers, notably blackbirds (which was probably a tongue-incheek dig at the Honda competition), the Hayabusa's curvaceous and aerodynamically bulbous body drew mixed initial reviews a decade or so ago. There's never been a shortage of opinionated prats among the biking set. But there has always been unanimous consent about the bike's power and performance. And the new 2008 Hayabusa is better and badder than ever. The 1299cc engine has been stroked an additional 2mm to a larger 1340cc and the powertrain has received numerous upgrades, tinkering and tweaks to keep up with the competition. Exotic lightweight materials, finicky component weight changes measured in grams and a myriad of other changes have helped the increased displacement bump engine power from around 173 hp to an alleged 194 hp with a corresponding 8.5 percent increase in torque to 114 lb-ft. Other improvements include better cooling from the new curved rad, a torsionally more rigid chassis, stronger stopping power, a slightly raised windshield and dropped tank for better aerodynamic helmet tuck-in and a myriad of other details best delved into by downloading the specs and brochure from Suzuki's website. The Hayabusa comes with selectable engine mapping, a Suzuki Drive Mode Selector (S-DMS) controlled by a switch on the right handlebar that lets you select one of three settings to regulate the ignition and fuel injection ­ A, B and C. You could think of the settings this way: A ­ "Let's see what this baby can do," (full power). B ­ "Yikes, that was a little scary, maybe I'll switch down to B," (slightly reduced power, more linear torque). C- "As long as it's raining, might as well go to C," (power regulated even further, also known as the "Chicken" setting). My intro ride usually starts with the least favourite stretch of crosscity highway that seems to come complete with a zero maintenance policy and bumps big enough to unbike the unwary. But I settled in, found the right roads, commuted on the bike and even used it to carry my camera bag from assignment to assignment. And I started to get into that zone of just right corner-carving smoothness and bottomless power. It's always a shame that the tests seem to end too early, just when you get into the rhythm of the ride and the bike becomes more of a friend than an acquaintance. But I won't claim that this bike is just one big pussycat. Because the beast is always just a twist of the throttle away. if you come across this latest evolution of one of the ultimate sport bikes - the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa, - don't be surprised if you find yourself standing there like I did at first, gape-mouthed and just staring. Try and snap out of it. See if someone will hand you the keys.