Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Wagons/Estates, Japan, Crossovers/CUVs, Suzuki
Suzuki has big plans for Kizashi Concept including Mondeo rival
click above image for more pics of the Suzuki Kizashi Concept
We were fans of the Suzuki Kizashi Concept when we stumbled across it at the 2007 Frankfurt show, and are equally interested in the Kizashi 2 Concept debuting in Tokyo soon. The Japanese automaker apparently likes the concepts so much that it will be spawning no less than three production Kizashi models, including a CUV, wagon and four-door sedan that will reportedly rival the Ford Mondeo in Europe. The sedan will be the first to arrive in 2009, reports AutoCar, with the wagon and CUV slated for production a year later. That fact that this news is being reported by AutoCar, a UK-based automotive news outlet, and that the sedan is pegged as a Mondeo rival suggests these vehicles might not be destined for U.S. consumption. On the other hand, resurging Suzuki needs something to replace the mid-size Verona sedan that's no longer on sale in the U.S.
[Source: AutoCar]
_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
graviton 5:41PM (10/09/2007)
As a rule suzuki cars suck. All they have to do is build this exactly as is and their name will become household in the automotive world.
Reply
www.Indiasucks.com 10:55PM (10/10/2007)
Suzuki are good...
Mark 5:50PM (10/09/2007)
How does the fact that it is being called a "Mondeo-fighter" make it not destined for the U.S.? The U.S. is the primary market this car is being designed for!
Reply
Tyo 6:16PM (10/09/2007)
Whats all the fuss about the mondeo anyway. It used to be nothing more than a Ford contour with a few more engine choices am i wrong? As an American, the mondeo isnt anything impressive
Steve 7:17PM (10/09/2007)
Looks like a customized 1949 Merc...
Reply
Arnie 7:19PM (10/09/2007)
Excelero eh? Does "Kizashi" mean "Stolen" in Japanese?
Reply
Dausman 7:31PM (10/09/2007)
Beauty is truely only skin deep. Its skin is highly impressive as presented...need to know much more about its true content if that has been decided.
Reply
Tim 8:11PM (10/09/2007)
What makes this vehicle even cooler is the fact that Maybach is going away anyhow...
Reply
I_Hate_China_2 3:14PM (10/15/2007)
Uhm, what does this vehicle have to do with Maybach?
Blork Mlark 9:17PM (10/09/2007)
I can tell by commentary, you missed some points awhile back, with kazashi 1.
Well, 2.0 Liter TURBOED I-4, Diesel AWD.
Over 200HP.
But, this can change, just like it was being reported this car would have a 5 door version, that was something like their( outgoing, for good) Reno 5 door(which, IMHO< looks good, minus the front end was dated...and it did NOT look like a hatch, more like a sporty coupe, but with doors)....Reno...now it's a "CUV"(PLEASE< NO MORE CUV's! You have the SX4 "CUV".,. that's enough for one company).
If they are Mondeo fighters, or Mazda6...next gen... a 5 door that looked like either of those 3 models would suffice, more than a sedan, with it's limited carrying capabilites(or a trunk-only).
Guess we will know in a few weeks!
Yes, this IS supposedly a Verona replacement...the news has been on the internet for some time....
a few future vehicles(motortrend, intellichoice.com) sites... say Verona replacement as/by 09... so...since this is all they've shown...this must be it?
As I said.... we should know more in 2 weeks, I HOPE.
Reply
ebm14 10:55PM (10/10/2007)
The Current XL-7 was a project that was developed with GM's assistance and shares the same platform with other GM SUVs. Now that GM is off Suzuki's back a pure blood CUV/SUV is highly needed.
ebm14 10:56PM (10/10/2007)
The Current XL-7 was a project that was developed with GM's assistance and shares the same platform with other GM SUVs. Now that GM is off Suzuki's back a pure blood CUV/SUV is highly needed.
Fleming in Tennessee 10:00PM (10/09/2007)
Looks a bit like the Lincoln MKR concept of a few months ago! Rather have the Lincoln!
Reply
Larry 2:50PM (10/10/2007)
You saved me from writing the exact same comment!
Kotse 10:03PM (10/09/2007)
"That fact that this news is being reported by...a UK-based automotive news outlet, and that...suggests these vehicles might not be destined for U.S. consumption."
That's what "they" said when the supposedly European market destined SX4(then "Hungarian sourced only" they said...) was NOT be destined for U.S. consumption.
Reply
3cubed minus 3squared plus1 1:08AM (10/10/2007)
Too bad the best part about the concept [for me anyways] won't make it to production.
That bad ass grill. Too bad...
Reply
ebm14 10:56PM (10/10/2007)
We need another brand to make it big in the US. It is always the same old story...Honda Honda Honda....GM GM GM...Toyota Toyota Toyota...why not someone else ?
Sorry, not Hyundai...gross.
It is time for Suzuki.
Reply