Suzuki Kills the Kizashi

Suzuki Kizashi Prototype / Copyright by CarPix''

By Thami Masemola
January 5, 2009 10:56 PM
Filed Under: Corporate/Financial, Japanese, Rumours, Spy Photos, Suzuki

The Suzuki Kizashi concept was unveiled to the public amid much fanfare at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show. Thereafter Suzuki showed us the Kizashi 2 crossover concept and then finally culminating into a sedan version known as the Kizashi 3 concept. Breaking past concept form the sedan was approved for production as seen in these spy pictures taken while the vehicle underwent testing.

Sadly the Japanese company has shelved production plans for the car, no thanks to market pressures that are depressing sales in the auto world at the moment. Suzuki CEO Osamu Suzuki had, as early as September 2008, hinted at the idea of canning Kizashi, saying how little sense it makes to sell such a car in such a market, especially in the segment where the Kizashi would play with its 3.6-litre V6 flagship model.

Meanwhile, Suzuki's plans for plants in Thailand and Russia have also been frozen. Even investment plans in the company's India market where it commands a market share of about half, have been cut.

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Suzuki Kizashi sedan is alive again - official (2 comments

Comments

eric_92

January 5, 2009 11:30 PM

alto, swift, splash, 3 superminis when you could only have one... this car looks ready, bad decision to simply cancel it, a mid size sedan could only do them good on the market, specially in the US, where love for japanese cars is growing and specially in that category, but well what do i know?...

Iconic

January 6, 2009 12:21 AM

wow, they must be taking a big hit by axe-ing the car at this stage. That's just about a complete car under all that camo. With that said, it's probably wise to do so. Just think of the juggernauts it will have to compete with in the US. I still say they need to bring the Swift here to the US.. the Sx4 is hideous.

dom6698

January 6, 2009 1:14 AM

I've always just looked at the SX4 and the Liana and the Reno and thought that they need a competent mainstream C-segment car which is actually nice to look at. They could look at going into D-segment cars after that but such a big jump from Swifts to big sedans with 2.5 I4 and 3.6 V6 just seems a little abstract. I presume that the V6 is the 3564cc GM unit.

Cheffoe

January 6, 2009 9:39 AM

I actually liked the looks of this car very much. And because Suzuki needed a car in this segment I was looking forward to seeing it roll on the streets some time soon. You shouldn't have canceled it the Kizashi, Suzuki :(

politz

January 7, 2009 12:03 AM

Hmmm... it's always sad to see an almost ready car being canceled and all, but:

1) Suzuki is trying to extend the brand image of its motorcycle division to the car division. Their brand heritage is based on a sports oriented persona, not on comfort, safety and daddy-likes-to-drive manners, all values found in midsize sedans.

2) Family car buyers want prestige and assistance, two things Suzuki just can't offer in the US. Simple as that.

3) Being such a small company, every new car should be able to sell well in most markets. Chances are, a sports sedan is just perfect for the US, but too big for Europe and too expensive for India, Russia and Brazil, for example.

4) Everybody's turning to small cars these days. Why go the other way around? Suzuki already builds some decent small cars, like the Swift, and could just come up with something just as exciting, but fit for the american market.

So, in my opinion, the Kizashi shoud have stayed in the carshows, as a concept. Building sporty competitors to the likes of the Mini, for example, would do Suzuki some good. Even rivals for the A3 and C30, or even a sports oriented mini-minivan to take on the B-Class... there are some much more appropriate segments in the compact car territory for Suzuki to conquer before they decide to go upmarket.

Besides, people can already buy an Accord or Altima without being haunted by the phantom of the Verona.

politz

January 7, 2009 12:06 AM

By the way, I know Audi, BMW, Volvo and MB products do not actually compete with anything from Suzuki, but I thought it would be nice to name drop some benchmarks to make a point.

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