Jalopnik
Today in New York, Suzuki unveiled the third, and seemingly last, Kizashi: the Kizashi 3 Concept. Whereas Kizashi was a low-slung GT and the Kizashi 2 was a hatchback/crossover, the Kizashi 3 is a true sports sedan that's supposed to be close to production. Similar to the other Kisashis, power comes from a 300-horsepower V6 mated to a six speed automatic. Press release and photos below.
LIVE! FROM NEW YORK: SUZUKI DEBUTS CONCEPT KIZASHI 3NEW YORK (March 20, 2008) - Performing onstage at this year's New York International Auto Show in front of a packed house, American Suzuki Motor Corp. hosts the world debut of its sleek and athletic Concept Kizashi 3, which completes the company's star-studded cast of media-acclaimed Kizashi concepts. In addition to the North American reveals of Concept Kizashi and Concept Kizashi 2, the global introduction of Concept Kizashi 3 coincides with Suzuki's announcement that it will produce a sport sedan derived from the Concept Kizashi 3 design.
The Concept Kizashi series was developed by Suzuki's Advanced Design Group to reflect a dynamic athlete in motion, taking design cues from a strong, honed physique while displaying the performance, strength and style befitting a flagship vehicle. The design theme began with Concept Kizashi, which made its debut at the 2007 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, and the Concept Kizashi 2, unveiled at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show, which further revealed Suzuki's new design language.
"Kizashi means 'prelude' in Japanese, and that's exactly what this design represents for Suzuki from both a business and a product standpoint," said Mark Harano, president, American Suzuki Automotive Operations. "Concept Kizashi 3 illustrates our brand character and personifies our heritage, design strength and engineering prowess. With customers in 192 countries and regions, Suzuki is truly a global brand, and the coming model carries on our mission to build the image of our automotive products in North America and eventually match our bikes' reputation."
Known primarily as a maker of small vehicles, Suzuki intends for the production derivative of the Kizashi series to serve as the company's flagship vehicle, strengthening its current product line of small cars, trucks and SUVs with a sporting, more accommodating sedan. The future production model will be built at Suzuki's brand-new Sagara plant in Japan, currently under construction, and provide an accessible alternative to the near-luxury segment. While a firm timetable has not been announced, Suzuki will deliver the Kizashi-influenced sport sedan to North American dealers by 2010.
The Concept Kizashi Series
Evoking the physical superiority and dignity of a world-class athlete, the Concept Kizashi series was developed to create a substantial presence that redefines the traditional performance vehicle and moves the Suzuki brand upscale. The overall design theme suggests physical strength from intense daily training, with the strong will, commitment and presence of a champion.Each of the Concept Kizashi vehicles strikes a balance between driver comfort and sportiness, with roomy cabins melded to lean, dynamic exteriors. The hood and body style of all three Concept Kizashis hint at abundant engine power and wind-splitting aerodynamics, while the long wheelbase, aggressive wheel/tire combinations and abbreviated overhangs communicate a performance-oriented, energetic image. A powerful-looking body profile is incorporated throughout the series to convey underlying strength, with large wheels and a wide tread expressing a capacity for superior performance. Beyond its exterior architecture, the Concept Kizashi series constitutes a four-wheeled continuation of Suzuki's exciting, performance-oriented motorcycle heritage, represented best by its dynamic, world-renowned line of GSX-R sportbikes. Those bikes, some two decades after their introduction, continue to dominate the sportbike segment and have achieved iconic status.
[Source: Suzuiki]
Comments
Kizashi, is that the organic breakfast cereal?
ok Suzuki, we get it- you can create gorgeous, awesome concepts. Now actually give us these, and we'll believe you can make more than motorcycles.
And damn you for destroying my dream of sparking the most remarkable corporate design turnaround since 90's Chrysler. Maybe even more so than them.
Drive of the Navigator
("but I don't wanna be the navigator!")
Need more pictures, looks alittle too "DUB" for me right now but has potential.
I still don't dig the cow catcher.
With GM still owning at least a part of Suzuki, I'd be surprised if the production version even comes close to this concept. My money is on a re-hash of a Daewoo.
What happened? The first one was a Maybach knock-off, and now it's an audi knock-off?
Daddy like!
I still think that if they wanted their cars to have the heart of a GSX-R, it would look a lot like a KTM Crossbow.
If only Suzuki would rise up to the occasion and bring some of their concepts, heck some of their concept IDEAS, into actual production pieces. Until then, I'll remain only briefly impressed. Bah to you!
Present me a Suzuki at a dealership i'd want to buy and i'll eat my bonnet.
Gaping maw.
But I really want to give Suzuki a chance. I like Suzy. They're quality isn't suspect, their year-over-year sales are fantastic, and they're...different.
I also really want a Jimny. Effyou, Consumer Reports; effyou all to hell.
@UDMan: 3% interest- hardly a controlling amount. The General wouldn't be what's holding them back on these (especially considering the turnaround attitude there), something else would. Like a lack of commitment to the American market, which is what has held them back since the beginning.
straight out of Audi's Styling Handbook: when out of fresh ideas, fill it with grill.
Looks like the Japanese version of Audi. Please let the production version be close to this!
@sliderule: Get out of my head!
So the production version will be a rebadged Daewoo????
This looks quite smart apart from the Audi-style grille. I'll be surprised if it ends up looking anything like this though. Consider the LIANA and the SX4 saloon...
@OldeEnglishD: not sure whether to laugh sheepishly or cry. will do both.
When did Audi start building Camrys?
And Moses stretched out his hand over the grill; and the LORD caused the grill to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the grill a Big Maw, and the headlights were divided.
Too bad the production version won't have those awesome rims and that sweet Audi grill.
you Audi wouldnt be a bad place to start getting ideas
Suzuki is actually one of the more stable of the Japanese marques and the win hands down in the kei car market in Japan..If they took those small and efficient cars and bring them here (Swift GT) they would make a killing in light of today's gas prices..They make great bikes (Hayabusa) and they are making headway in the WRC..and need I mention the Escudo or Monster Tajima????
I think the Kizashi is the righr step in direction AWAY from the Verona and they should start making their own cars again for the US. Bring over the Suzuki GT as a more affordable choice over the Mini Cooper S.The Wagon R Turbo can be great alternative to the Honda Fit and Toyota Yaris.The Jimny would be sweet too
Slushbox only??? Booo!!!
Isn't the SX4 kind of a hoony little beast, at least in all-wheel drive trim?
@yellofury: +1
I would completely consider rocking a rally-spec SX4, and the Swift GT looks pretty good. Remember the old Swift GTi, with its 1.3 litres of no-torque madness? Now THERE was a 4-wheel bike.
@Brian B: It didn't say "only". But it didn't not say "only", either.
Now if the new maxima looked like this instead of the abhorrition that it is..
@Seth L: It is.
@Bento: Actually, Suzuki is building a new plant in Japan, with an expected production capacity of 240,000 cars per year.
@Seth L: I've owned mine since December 2006, and I truly enjoy it. Fortunately, Arizona has plenty of twisty mountain roads....
@Seth L: Yeah, it's cool little beasty if you want cheap AWD. Plus I think it's got high and low range (!?). But the mileage is terrible for a subcompact. I'd rather have FWD and an extra 8-10 mpg.
Suzuki building this car would like Mazda actually building a production version of the Furai. Ain't gonna happen. Maybe Daewoo will give them a rebadged Ssangyong Chairman to play with.
@brandegee: Tri-mode: AWD, 4WD (locked), FWD. Mileage isn't bad if you only drive it in FWD mode.
@brandegee: And I think you're underestimating Suzuki's aspirations for the US market. They're not similar to Mazda.
my bottom libbid is hanging down to my kneebies!
I like it. Notice the lack of strange details, unlike some other new Japanese designs cough-accord-cough-maxima.
@graverobber: Ah,that's what the body is reminding me of...a camry!
Knowing they aren't building anything close to this either, why didn't they just stick with the beauty that was the original Kizashi
This must be the non GM-DAT Verona replacement. I'd say...make it, Suzuki.
But a V6 gas engine...in 2010?!
Black gold (though as of this writing, it went down below $100/bbl today) is trading at the "century" mark range. And it's only the 1st Qtr of '08(wait come summer)...
2010!?
For all practical reasons, Suzuki should be working on a diesel engine for this car by this time...a diesel hybrid(like VW, etc) IMO would be a better proposition.
[www.inner-live.com]
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