Suzuki Kizashi Prototype Caught Out in the Open

The Suzuki Kizashi could well be the most important model in the brands history, we generally associate the Japanese company with motorbikes, small cars and small SUVs but with the development of this all-new mid-size sedan, we see Suzuki is looking to move into one of the most competitive areas in the market.

Suzuki began the long term development process with a set of three concept: Kizashi 1, Kizashi 2 and Kizashi 3, each received a positive response from the media as well as the public which inevitably led to the confirmation of a full production version.

The model caught here is still wearing a thick layer of black clad camouflage but we can still spot a few interesting details. The front fascia appears to have retained much of the aggression from the final Kizashi concept, the diagonal criss-cross grille and large lower air intakes lay testament to this fact. Under the hood we expect to find a 3.6-liter V6 boasting a power output of around 300hp, there is likely to be a four-cylinder 2.5-liter engine made available as well.

The Suzuki Kizashi will be built in Sagara, Japan and will arrive in US dealerships in early 2010, where it will battle against the likes of the Toyota Camry, Chevrolet Malibu and the Mazda 6.