Suzuki’s Kizashi-based sedan to challenge Camry, Malibu

Posted Thu Feb 21 2008 6:55 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Most carmakers are rushing to launch new models in the burgeoning crossover and lifestyle vehicle segments but Suzuki still sees significant room for growth in the crowded and competitive midsize sedan market. The carmaker rolled out two new sedan concepts in the past six months, the previous Kizashi 1 and Kizashi 2 concepts, and is now planning a third variant for the upcoming New York Auto Show.

The midsize sedan market in the U.S. for instance has seen more than 20 new models introduced in the past couple of years. The competition proved so tough that Suzuki pulled out its previous Verona sedan (a staid Daewoo-based model) back in 2006 but now it plans to fight back, American Suzuki vice president Gene Brown revealed to Ward’s Auto. “Verona was not a Suzuki-built product, and it didn’t necessarily represent our brand as well as we’d like,” Brown explained. “If we do move into a larger sedan category again, as we are looking at, we would do it with our own product.”

Suzuki realizes it can’t compete with segment leaders like the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Chevrolet Malibu, so to differentiate its new model the carmaker is thinking of fielding a slightly smaller model than the rest of the competition. “Average midsize is right on the cusp of fullsize,” Brown said. “That’s probably a larger vehicle than Suzuki needs.”

Brown said expect to see a production version of one of the Kizashi concepts, a future D-segment sedan that will eventually be available with a hybrid option.

MotorAuthority