Suzuki flagship makes debut

A day after the all-new Suzuki Kizashi was leaked, the mid-sized sedan has been officially announced, delivering "Japanese quality and European flair," according to the media statement.

The name Kizashi is said to translate to 'something great approaching' and at it's unveiling in the States, Kevin Saito, the president of American Suzuki, had this to say: "In developing and naming our newest automotive introduction, the Japanese word 'Kizashi', which tells that something great is coming, seemed appropriate for the vehicle.

"Now that the production model Kizashi has arrived, we expect the name and the product itself to clearly demonstrate the bold statement this company knew it would be making with the debut of this vehicle -- while also simultaneously suggesting what will emerge in the Suzuki lineup as we look ahead to the future."

Slated to arrive in Australia in the first half of 2010, Suzuki's flagship sedan is monocoque design with independent front and rear suspension, powered by a 2.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine.

It will compete in the same mid-sized segment as vehicles like the Honda Accord Euro, Mazda6, and Toyota Camry and will move "the Suzuki brand upscale" according to the Japanese car maker.

At this stage Suzuki has not revealed performance or output figures, but the four-pot engine is expected to deliver around 130kW of power.

Suzuki claims it has a "more potent standard engine than many competitive best-sellers" which suggests that there may be a 'non' standard engine on the way, presumably the six-cylinder unit that has been 'delayed'.

With the engine block, cylinder heads and cylinders made from aluminium, the powerplant is expected to be light weight and relatively quiet. Either a six-speed manual or continuously variable transmissions will get the power to the ground.

Both front- and all-wheel drive setups will be offered to North American buyers, but at this stage Suzuki Australia is still finalising details on what will be available locally.

Interestingly, the media statement makes mention of "an even more fuel efficient hybrid version that will be added to the lineup in the future," that will rival the upcoming Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Safety systems include "class-exclusive" eight airbags as standard, plus an electronic stability program ESP, quad disc brakes with ABS and a tyre pressure monitoring system.

The standard feature list for the US model is strong, with 18-inch alloy wheels, keyless start, iPod connectivity and sports seats. Options such as Bluetooth enabled streaming audio and a booming Rockford Fosgate stereo system should appeal to the tech heads..

The interior design is described as contemporary and upscale but compared to some of its rivals it may struggle to convince drivers of such claims.

Kizashi's exterior design is clean and distinct, important in the mid-sized car market. The short front overhang, large wheels and unique exhaust pipes create a formidable road presence, and the front end shows off familiar genes.

Arriving in Australia in the first half of 2010, expect the Suzuki Kizashi flagship sedan to be priced at around $30,000.

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