Suzuki Concept Kizashi 3

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept
Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept
Suzuki Kizashi 3 Concept

Suzuki unveiled the third of three sporty concepts at the 2008 New York Auto Show. The Kizashi 3 Concept, a sports sedan, followed versions one and two exhibited at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show and last year's Tokyo Motor Show, respectively.

According to Suzuki, Kizashi 3 represents the Japanese automaker's intent to bring a large, upscale sedan to market--the next phase of its U.S. growth plan. Suzuki is riding a wave of global sales successes. In the U.S., sales have been up for four consecutive years. In India, Suzuki holds 55 percent of passenger-car market share.

CG Says...
Does this product renaissance sound familiar? A 300- horsepower sport sedan from an Asian car company who normally places affordability over luxury? Kizashi looks like the Japanese version of Hyundai's Genesis. Both companies are sailing into uncharted territory with these larger, upscale vehicles. It'll be interesting to see who sinks and who swims.

The company known in the U.S. for its compact, budget cars and SUVs is planning on taking things up a notch with a concept whose name literally means "prelude." Suzuki promises that the trio of Kizashi concepts form the basis of the its future design strategy.

Kazashi 3 gets power to all four wheels with a 300-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 and 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The concept rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase and 21-inch aluminum wheels.

This sports sedan will be the second all-new vehicle that takes the automaker's lineup into previously untested segments. Equator, Suzuki's first pickup truck, is new for 2009. Expect to see a production version of Kizashi near 2010.