Kizashi May Be Suzuki Auto's Last Hope

What heck is this POS? You got to be kidding me right? Even Hyundai make more exciting and sporty car than this. Here is the link of what the concept look like http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/suzuki20kizashi20320concept20-20live20reveal201.jpg

I can't belief how UGLY this thing look compare to the concept one. I hate to said it, but it look like buy Suzuki in the American Market. If they make the exterior design closer to the concept form I would test drive and might even buy one.

But this is a No NO.... What a Dud.

— Lexus (View Profile)

Posted on 7/31/2009 5:49:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

I say they should just stick to motorcycles

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/31/2009 5:50:08 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

They might consider giving it a name that most people can pronounce. Sounds like a crunchy energy bar, or the name of a Japanese drag queen.

— 204E60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/31/2009 6:16:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

I looks more upscale than a Lexus HS250H, should sell a bit.

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/1/2009 2:16:56 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

It

— MSP6 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/1/2009 2:17:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Too little too late.
Suzuki will have to pull out within a couple years.
Together with Mitsubishi.

— ceric (View Profile)

Posted on 8/1/2009 2:22:55 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

ceric, I think if they bring their Swift over they can recover.

This is a very good last hope, It will be a shame if it doesnt work out.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/1/2009 8:26:04 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Who Knows, they might turn that front end into an aftermarket kit.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/2/2009 7:48:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Very nicely done!
Ofcourse it's not as svelte looking as the Kizashi Concept car but that's pretty much a given, 90% of concepts are toned down for mass-appeal purposes. Tell Toyota that a "normal" appearance in a sedan doesn't sell!!! lol
As for this car saving Suzuki, there seems to be a mis-perception that Suzuki isn't doing well, and while sales are down for the American division, this doesn't apply to Suzuki worldwide which is doing just fine, infact better than some of the other Japanese brands. Suzuki is posting records sales in many countries and emerging markets such as India where Suzuki commands over 50% of the auto sales in that country!!!
Also remember that the sales figures for the American division of Suzuki are being negatively affected by the fact that Suzuki decided to discontinue the sales of GM/Korean re-badged cars under the Suzuki logo (ie - forenza, verona, reno) because GM never fulfilled their end of the deal to "vastly improve" the quality control of their Korean manufacturing plants.
In addition Suzuki discontinued selling the GM re-badge Suzuki XL-7 due to changing market conditions.
So think of it this way. Suzuki on its own decided to stop selling 5 of the 7 vehicles it was offering at its dealerships, most of this BEFORE the downturn in the economy, and NOT related to the subsequent slow down in car sales overall in the US.
Suzuki just wasn't happy with the lack of quality control of the re-badges it was selling and how THAT was affecting the overall reliability ratings of the Suzuki nameplate.
So Suzuki decided that even though it would drastically affect sales figures for Suzuki North America, it would still be a better off in the long run to just drop all the GM products completely and instead focus on developing its own vehicles targeted towards North America as well as its own Global Platform.
Right now, Suzuki North America is at the low point of this strategic decision, but this was expected since discontinuing 5 of the 7 vehicles you sell has a very predictable outcome.
Now... on the other hand, we also know that there is already positive results coming from this difficult but necessary sacrifice.

1st - Back when Suzuki was selling GM re-badges, it greatly affected Suzuki's reliability rating, with JD powers putting Suzuki dead last in reliability/customer satisfaction ratings.
SO WHAT HAPPENED ONCE SUZUKI STOPPED SELLING GM?
> Suzuki jumped to Top Ten! on the JD Power Associates Quality Study 2009 <
> Suzuki,.. "most improved namplate in 2009 for Quality and Reliability" <
> Suzuki did better than - Infinity, Nissan, Acura,Subaru, Mazda, Misubishi, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Volvo <
http://www.automedia.com/cs/blogs/auto_news/archive/2009/06/23/jd-power-2009-initial-quality-study-detroit-rocks.aspx

US Compact car sales down in US, EXCEPT > Suzuki SX4, sales increase by 50%!!!!!!!! Only 1 other car came close to SX4 increase in sales which was Hyundai Ac

— fit4life (View Profile)

Posted on 8/3/2009 3:50:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

US Compact car sales down in US, EXCEPT > Suzuki SX4, sales increase by 50%!!!!!!!! Only 1 other car came close to SX4 increase in sales which was Hyundai Accent with sales up 32%.
http://www.subcompactculture.com/2009/04/subcompact-sales-for-march-09.html

And to all of this, Suzuki is about to release the newest version of the SX4, which will offer a new 6-spd manual, as well as a 5-spd auto with CVT, for 2010.
In addition the 2.0 litre engine is getting a boost in output, from the current 143hp, to 150hp, while at the same time it will get better gas mileage, anywhere from 2mgp to 3mpg better than current models!.

Another new for 2010 addition to the SX4 line-up will be a new Sport-Street version of the SX4 hatch, which will be strictly FWD, with lowered suspension, re-worked gearing, 17" alloy rims, and slick body kit.

One thing that won't be changing for 2010 is that SX4 will not only be the LOWEST PRICE AWD DRIVE VEHICLE IN NORTH AMERICA, but also the Lowest Price Vehilcle In North America that comes with navigation standard!

Even better yet, Suzuki has just introducted the new Suzuki Equator, (think of it as a Nissan Frontier, but with a much better warranty lol)
a multi-purpose truck which is built on the Nissan frontier platform but with some specifications that are geared towards Suzuki enthusiats.
It wasn't an easy decision for Suzuki to outsource for a truck platform, specially considering the bitter expirience Suzuki went thru after selling re-badged GM products.
So for that very reason, Suzuki decided to go with a more reliable and better quality brand when it entered into an agreement with Nissan to bring the Frontier into the Suzuki line up.
Even though Nissan didn't score as high as Suzuki did in the last JD Power Initial Quality Study (see JD Power 2009, Suzuki Ranked top ten, Nissan ranked #13, it was still a good match.
The main purpose of introducing this truck was to provide loyal Suzuki customers that own Suzuki outboards, Suzuki motorcycles, Suzuki ATV's.... etc, something to tow their gear in to their destination but with the Suzuki nameplate.

But in addition to this, Suzuki has found that many Nissan customers have also opted to go with the Suzuki Equator rather than the Nissan Frontier because they can get a much better deal for a Suzuki Equator because of the great rebates that Suzuki offers, but also, and to some people more importantly, the much better warranty that Suzuki offers on the Equator, that Nissan just can't match on the frontier!!!
SUZUKI WINS!!!

Now to this great base, Suzuki is introducing the new Suzuki Kizashi, a Suzuki designed and engineered mid-sized sedan which is going to be comparably equipped but priced lower that the competition, and ofcourse with a better warranty too LOL.

Great for the times, it will come with a newly developed 4-cyl engine that provides good torque and will be highest output for it's size and class.
Soon after the introduction of th

— fit4life (View Profile)

Posted on 8/3/2009 4:01:28 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Great for the times, it will come with a newly developed 4-cyl engine that provides good torque and will be highest output for it's size and class.
Soon after the introduction of the 4-cyl, Suzuki will be bringing over the hybrid-4, which will also be priced less than all the current offerings of hybrids in the same class!

Next, Suzuki is in the last stages of testing and fit/trim for the 2011 Suzuki Swift to be sold in North America!!!

If you don't already know about the new Suzuki Swift, you might want to check out how this car has been breaking sales charts all around the world, receiving "car of the year award" or "best selling compact, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, in more countries world wide that I can count on both hands!

So THIS is a more balanced picture of what is going on with Suzuki North America, and where things are going to go.

Btw, the story doesn't end there.... 2 new, un-announced models not currently in Suzuki North America's line-up may soon be hitting our shores..... stay tuned ;)

— fit4life (View Profile)

Posted on 8/3/2009 4:56:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

There are some rumors out that VW will takeover Suzuki in the next months...

— tom43 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/3/2009 7:15:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Turn out the lights, ...

— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/3/2009 5:29:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Well the SX4 is the size I as an Accent Driver advocate for Hyundai to make the Accent. Its a Euro Style B-Segment MPV, which I think is The best way to make a good American B-Segment car.

I saw the New Hyundai North America CEO John Krafick in an interview giving a hint that the Next Gen Accent was going to be a big 5 door hatch like the SX4. "Big Hatches are the best utlization of space, and value." He says. "The Accent is the best car in its class thats limited due to it not having a 5 door Hatch."

I almost bought an SX4 believe it or not. Then I thought about Suzukis reliablity trating at the time, which was like in the high 20s out of 34 makes. Hyundai at that time was tied with Lexus and Honda for 1st place reliablity. The Accent the reliable stallwart in which I had much familiarity with was a no brainer purchase on that alone. Plus the old EPA ratings rated the Accent at 32 city/ 37 Hwy, which the SX4 was rated at 23 city/ 31 Hwy.

The SX4 was a good job by Suzuki in everything except the MPG.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/4/2009 5:38:18 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Suzuki builds cars as if it is an aspirational luxury make, I think they need a Genesis like car to make it official. The Koreans are kind of like the Germans, the rest of them outside of Hyundai and Ssassanyong should just make it official and aspire to build cheap Luxury cars for the masses.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/4/2009 5:42:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

You got a point Fit.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2009 8:23:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2