2011 Suzuki KizashiPeter Mcabe is the latest addition to our list of eagle-eyed Carscoop readers that have managed to bag a set of spy shots of a future model. The quick-witted reader spotted a camouflaged prototype of the 2011 Suzuki Kizashi sedan parked behind the Olive Garden restaurant off of Midlothian Turnpike, in Richmond, Virginia. The Kizashi, which was wrongly reported dead by Japanese media earlier this year, is based on the Kizashi 3 concept car shown at the New York auto show in 2008.

2011 Suzuki KizashiSadly, as we suspected upon seeing the official sketches of the Kizashi that were registered by Suzuki at the European trademark office in 2008, the mid-size sedan's appearance looks to be severely toned down compared to the head-turning concept.

The Kizashi 3 prototype had an all-new, 300HP 3.6-liter, naturally-aspirated V6 engine with power delivered through a six-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The road-going model will most likely be offered with a detuned version of the V6 as well as an inline four-cylinder engine producing somewhere north of 150 horsepower, the latter driving the front-wheels.

2011 Suzuki KizashiIn North America, the Kizashi will compete against the likes of the Chevrolet Malibu, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Mazda6 sedans. In accordance to the latest reports, the Kizashi will hit U.S. showrooms by the end of year, meaning that we'll probably see it making its global premiere at a major international motorshow this fall, perhaps at the Tokyo Salon in October.

Suzuki has yet to confirm when (and if) the Kizashi will reach European shores, but if it does, the Japanese automaker will have to enhance the sedan's lineup with smaller sized gasoline and diesel engines if it wants to rival family sedans like the Opel Insignia, Toyota Avensis and Citroen C5.

Kudos to Peter!

2011 Suzuki Kizashi 2011 Suzuki Kizashi


9 Comments

  1. Anonymous » June 25, 2009  

    we need a decent suzuki sedan in the UK

  2. Anonymous » June 25, 2009  

    nice! next plz give front/head shots :D
    im working for suzuki in israel and i need something to show the clients about the car that is going to be the big sedan...

    hope the will get rid of their habit of making fat ass'd cars the 3rd concept was very good looking :)

  3. Anonymous » June 25, 2009  

    why couldn't this guy get a shot of the inside?. maybe he ran out of film

  4. Anonymous » June 25, 2009  

    LOL Because I was so caught off guard and had others in the car. I should have, just wasn't thinking. I will do better next time.
    Peter

  5. Anonymous » June 25, 2009  

    why mid-size sedan? Suzuki plans to release hybrid model?

  6. Taglane » June 25, 2009  

    Looks more like a Mazda3 Competitor. We'll see.

  7. John » June 26, 2009  

    You did fine Peter - most people wouldn't even have noticed

  8. Sue @ Used Cars » June 26, 2009  

    I don't like this at all, but thats just my thought one it, I would not even think twice at not buying it

  9. Anonymous » June 29, 2009  

    The spy photog didn't think of walking up to it and snapping the interior?!

Post a Comment