Suzuki SA going big time with new Kizashi

The car is due for South African release in the second quarter of 2011, a new entry in the mid-size market and a substantial step up in size from the Suzuki Swift and SX4 that are the company’s staples right now. The local dealers’ only ammunition in the larger market so far has been the […]

The car is due for South African release in the second quarter of 2011, a new entry in the mid-size market and a substantial step up in size from the Suzuki Swift and SX4 that are the company’s staples right now.

The local dealers’ only ammunition in the larger market so far has been the Vitara SUV – not everybody’s cup of tea as an economical family car.

The name Kizashi, Suzuki says, means “a sign of great things to come” and the automaker says it has invested twice as much in this car as it did in the Swift; it’s the company’s most extensive development plan yet and I think the result is a smart new body on an almost entirely new platform

The Kizashi is phase three of what Suzuki calls a product revolution.

The 2.4-litre engine has been developed from that of the Grand Vitara but revised to deliver a claimed 131kW and 230Nm on only 7.9 litres/100km. The Vitara was capable of 122kW/225Nm and 8.9 litres/100km.

The CVT Ltd model adds heatable leather seats with 10-way power adjustment, a Rockford Fosgate audio system, rain sensing wipers and auto lights – again, in New Zealand. Suzuki SA still has to sort spec v. price for its local market..

South Africa, Suzuki SA, is likely to get both the entry-level Kizashi with a six-speed manual gearbox and an auto with – a Suzuki specialisation – constantly-variable transmission.

The Kizashi is phase three of what Suzuki calls a product revolution, with Swift, Vitara and SX4 the “sporty” phase one, Alto the “family” phase two, and Kizashi the “status” car.

Suzuki NZ marketing manager Tom Peck said: “The challenge is that this is an unknown product and most buyers don’t associate Suzuki with mid-size cars.”

He should, however, cut back on the “power of an athlete” tag lines and draw fewer Audi comparisons. The Kizashi is neither a sports car nor an Audi-beater and too great an emphasis on talents it lacks may cause customers to overlook its advantages.

Suzuki brought along an equivalent Mazda6 and Toyota Camry to try out against its new car. As expected, there was lots of body roll from the Mazda – yet it remained well planted and pleasant to drive. Also as expected, the Camry was shown up as a complete wallflower in this company.

Will it get to Nigeria? We don’t know for sure but we at Sunday Trust have mixed feelings about how well it will do in the Nigerian market.

Culled: www.motoring.co.za