New York Auto Show 2008 – Suzuki Concept Kizashi 3

Respect. Suzuki gets less than it deserves. Consider some facts. Suzuki Motor Corporation took 35 years to sell 1 million vehicles per year worldwide. 15 more years to reach 2 million vehicles in 2005. Nearly 2.4 million vehicles last year. And in fiscal year 2009, expects to produce 3 million vehicles.

The growth has been led by Suzuki popularity primarily in Europe and Asia. American Suzuki Corporation is hoping to become a larger part of this picture, and the Concept Kizashi 3, at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, shows both Suzuki’s future design direction and intent to enter the sport sedan segment.

The Concept Kizashi series was developed by Suzuki’s Advanced Design Group to reflect a “dynamic athlete in motion”. Clearly the most aggressive design in American Suzuki automotive history, the Concept Kizashi 3 was met with serious applause from the press in New York. The aggressive design is highlighted by sharp angles, narrow side glass, a slightly rising beltline, and short overhangs.

Power for Concept Kizashi 3 is supplied by a 300 horsepower, 3.6 liter, normally aspirated V6 that features plated cylinders – a weight-and-space-saving technology adapted from Suzuki’s motorcycle and WRC development teams.

Suzuki claims that the Concept Kizashi 3 is the direction they will take with the production car a sport sedan intended to hit U.S. market by 2010. The challenge here will be marketing. While the style and performance appear promising, Suzuki is not amongst the usual suspects in the highly competitive sport sedan segment, and 2 years is a short amount of time to change brand perceptions.

Specifications
• Front engine with - AWD system
• Seating capacity – Five
• 255/30ZR21 tires
• Six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters
• Overall length – 4,650mm/183.1 inches
• Overall width – 1,900mm/74.8 inches
• Overall height – 1,450mm/57.1 inches
• Wheelbase – 2,800mm/110.2 inches

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