The Kizashi concept, introduced at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, illustrates Suzuki’s progress toward developing a new D-segment entry. The D-segment is divided into two categories: family-oriented cars characterized by cabin roominess and compact “entry luxury,” offering performance, prestige and quality. The new value that Suzuki will provide is unique to the segment in that it combines affordability and emotional appeal.
The Kizashi concept illustrates a high degree of “status” by featuring an appealing blend of cabin roominess, graceful styling, dynamism, character and a passionate spirit matched to Suzuki’s user-centered functionality and performance engineering excellence. Suzuki realizes that there’s no point in entering the D-segment unless it can offer new value that can’t be given by any of the existing brands. It might be argued that all existing D-segment cars whose affordability is a selling point are chosen by customers because they offer a good balance of pricing on one hand and the rational factors of equipment, driving performance, and cabin roominess on the other.
But the Suzuki D-segment car will be different. With the D-segment entry, Suzuki is targeting emotional appeal as a way to deliver a level of customer satisfaction far higher than what might be expected from the car’s price point. In other words, Suzuki is the first carmaker to target an uncompromised combination of affordability and emotional appeal in the D-segment. For sportiness, the car’s dimensions need to reflect a priority on performance. So while ensuring the cabin roominess that is essential in the D-segment, the car is as lean as possible. And with regard to design, Suzuki has thoroughly studied the nature of sporty, exciting styling in the D-segment and has concluded that the design of the new car should have two themes: grace and dynamism.
After being previewed by a trio of concept cars over the last two years. Maruti Suzuki’s Kizashi has finally been officially introduced. Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s thoughtfully crafted exterior design is best described as the seamless melding of European style and Japanese craftsmanship. Tailored for the driving enthusiast, Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s bold and aggressive stance is complemented by available 18-inch alloy wheels; contemporary styling – with its lean proportion and minimal front overhang – injects the sophistication appropriate to a performance-oriented sport sedan. As with the Concept Kizashi series, the front end of the production Maruti Suzuki Kizashi expresses both strength and style, while the vehicle’s impeccably engineered body reflects Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s underlying strength and distinctive combination of capability and refinement.
At Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s rear, the architecture accentuates the ‘sport’ aspect of Suzuki’s sport sedan. The visual dynamic is enhanced with the addition of an integrated dual sport exhaust, communicating – both visually and aurally – the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s performance-imbued spirit. The track-tuned suspension has been designed to get the best of the sedan to allow it to compete with more performance-oriented rivals like the Mazda Mazda6 and Subaru Legacy and Suzuki promises high-end Akebono-sourced brakes and optional 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in performance rubber. Interestingly, the all-wheel-drive system can actually be switched off to allow power to only go to the front wheels, presumably for a marginal fuel and wear-and-tear savings. Suzuki says the system is based heavily on its i-AWD system in the smaller SX4.
Inside, the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will offer cloth or leather seats, as well as a 425-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system with iPod connectivity and Bluetooth capability. Eight airbags, ABS and stability control will be standard across the lineup. The Kizashi will be built at the automaker’s Sagara, Japan, assembly plant. The interior of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi seems to be very luxurious and spacious in comparison to other cars in this segment which are Toyota Corolla, Skoda Laura, Volkswagen Jetta, Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata Transform. The dashboard and instrument cluster of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi are in all grey which looks rock solid and gives Kizashi very upmarket look.
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine offering a more potent standard engine than many competitive best-sellers. The engine employs both an aluminum block and cylinder heads, providing a lightweight installation; aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings deliver improved power and efficiency. Dropped-forged connecting rods, rotating on a forged steel crankshaft, contribute to the inline four’s durability, and a balancer shaft delivers improved engine balance and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). In addition to this excellent new powertrain, and to even further enhance the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s strong efficiency story, Suzuki is developing an even more fuel efficient hybrid version that will be added to the lineup in the future.
An exceptionally rigid steel unibody – with reinforced front suspension and multi-link rear suspension constructed with embedded aluminum – allows for crisp, nimble handling with excellent stability, sophisticated ride and reduced chassis vibration. Engineered from conception to be all-wheel-drive capable, the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi offers a newly developed advanced all-wheel-drive system with highly advanced controls that evokes and promotes a natural sense of heartfelt driving enthusiasm and safety. Maruti Suzuki Kizashi’s sophisticated braking system offers standard four-wheel disc brakes and includes suppliers such as Akebono, a world-leader in NVH control and analysis and a leading brake supplier for automotive and high-speed rail applications.
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will be available in six colours:
Silver- Grey
- Maroon
- Light Blue
- Black
- White
Maruti will formally launch its Kizashi sedan on February 02nd. Maruti will import the Kizashi as a CBU from Japan. The pricing of Kizashi is likely to be between Rs14 – Rs18 lakhs. Kizashi will come in both manual and automatic transmission. Powered with 2.4L petrol engine this would be fastest Maruti ever launched.
“This (Kizashi) is our attempt to be future ready, as we believe the A4 and A5 segment (luxury) is going to grow. It is small at the moment but the way the economy is growing, this segment is going to be big,” Maruti Suzuki India Managing Executive Officer (Marketing & Sales) Mayank Pareek told. There are nine million Maruti Suzuki customers at present. Many of them want to move up and have been asking after the SX4, what next? What we are doing here is to provide them options in luxury segment,” Pareek added.
Stay tuned to bharathautos.com for more details, exact specifications, photos and price of Maruti Suzuki Kizashi after official launch.
