Suzuki Motors Corp., one of the biggest car manufacturers in Japan, has announced that it has exhibited its new Concept Kizashi project at the 62nd Frankfurt Motor Show held from September 11-23, 2007, showcasing Suzuki's new offering as it moves ahead with the second phase of its global strategy program. Kizashi, derived from the Japanese word meaning “prelude” or “foretaste”, has been engineered based on the concept of a dynamic athlete in motion, and designed to offer clients a preview of Suzuki's upcoming new offerings.
"The Concept Kizashi represents Suzuki's passion for challenges, which is a major element in Suzuki's corporate culture. This new concept car directs us to our strategic path and leverages the competitive strengths unique to Suzuki. The design theme of the Kizashi, which is a dynamic athlete in motion, reflects our drive to continue to develop and deliver products that offer the best value to our customers," said Mr. Toshihiro Suzuki, Board Member and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Automobile Engineering, SMC.
"The Kizashi integrates the critical attributes of a great athlete: dedication to sporting challenges, physical strength that comes from hard daily training, a toned physique with no superfluous weight, and the presence and dignity of a champion. As such, the Kizashi will be a valuable addition to our offerings in the Middle East, a key growth area in our global strategy. We have received tremendous feedback at the Frankfurt exhibition, and we are confident the roll-out of the Kizashi will drive sales growth and help us consolidate our strong position in the market," added Mr. Suzuki.
The Kizashi's robust body brings to mind the lean, muscular physique of a top-class athlete, while a strongly protrusive front end evokes a dignified character. The Kizashi also features large wheels and wide treads, expressing a capacity for high performance, while its bonnet shape hints at abundant engine power. Additionally, the body has been designed to optimize aerodynamics, allowing the car to punch through the air while firmly gripping the road.
The Kizashi is equipped with the newly developed 2.0L 4-valve turbo diesel engine, sequential six-speed transmission, Advanced i-AWD drive system, 255/30R21 tyres and 21-inch, nine-spoke, aluminium-alloy steering wheel. The Kizashi also features overall length of 4,650 mm, width of 1,950 mm, height of 1,400 mm and wheelbase of 2,850 mm.
Also exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show was the next-generation multipurpose vehicle Splash, the production model of Suzuki's Project Splash concept car, which targets the family car market. The Splash is also part of the second phase of Suzuki's global strategy program.
Suzuki's new range of offerings is poised to carry the momentum of the highly successful models developed during the first phase of Suzuki's global strategy, which included the sporty and compact Swift, the full-fledged four-wheel-drive SUV Grand Vitara, and the sport crossover SX4. With the new models and an aggressive global marketing campaign, Suzuki has projected in its mid-term five-year plan to top three million units for 2009.
