Suzuki concept drives straight down the middle

Kizashi 3 previews Suzuki's plans to enter the hotly contested medium passenger car segment with a sports sedan.

The concept is powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine featuring plated cylinders - a weight and space-saving technology that evolved from lessons learnt by Suzuki's MotoGP and World Rally Championship motorsport teams.

The engine is teamed with a paddle-shift six-speed automatic gearbox and Advanced i-AWD (All-Wheel Drive) system.

Suzuki says Kizashi - a Japanese word meaning prelude or foretaste - is a clear sign of things to come from the brand.

"This concept represents a new direction for Suzuki in that it takes our expertise with smaller, sporty vehicles and translates that into the midsized segment," said Suzuki Australia General Manager Tony Devers.

"We believe Kizashi will break the mould of typical mid-sized or family vehicles when it goes into production next year."

Suzuki grew sales to over 2.3 million motor vehicles world-wide last year and says a new medium segment car is essential to achieve further sales growth.

In Australia, Suzuki sold more than 21,000 vehicles to become the fastest-growing brand in the country.

While a firm timetable is still to be announced, Suzuki says production of the exciting new mid-sized sedan will begin in late 2009.

"Our engineers are also considering the possibilities of hybrid-powered and state-of-the-art clean diesel versions of the car," said Devers.

The Concept Kizashi series was developed by Suzuki's Advanced Design Group to reflect, it says, "the strong, honed physique of a dynamic athlete in motion."

"The bulging bonnet, wide-track abbreviated overhangs and aggressive wheel and tyre combinations convey an underlying strength and performance orientated image," said Devers.

The Kizashi 3 joins a fast-growing line-up of advanced design concepts and new production models scheduled to debut at this year's show.