The stage is set and the play is just about to begin. India’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki is bound to launch its feather-in-the-cap premium mid-size-sedan, the Maruti Suzuki Kizashi, at the upcoming Auto Expo in New Delhi in January 2010.Maruti Suzuki which will be a new player in the D-segment will be pitting its Maruti Suzuki Kizashi, expected to be priced above 12 lakhs, against cars such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in India. Maruti Suzuki will be a clear winner with its awesome price tag while the other cars in the segment cost above 18 lakhs.
But the big question still remains unanswered. Would Maruti be able to sell a high-end sedan in India? Maruti Suzuki, is associated with small, fuel-efficient cars and not with the high-end cars. The best example of Baleno backs this statement. Though the Baleno was a superb car in all ways, didn’t go very good with the consumers here in India. But the company is nevertheless going ahead with it.
The Suzuki Kizashi which is marketed in United States in both two wheel drive and four wheel drive options comes in three versions-a six speed manual, an automatic CVT and an automatic CVT with paddle shifters, while the all-wheel drive version comes with an automatic CVT for a CVT with paddle shifters. But the company here in India has kept the options open for gossips and rumors until the car will be actually launched in India during the Auto Expo.
But since there is a high demand for the automatic cars in the D-Segment in India, we guess that Maruti Suzuki will introduce only the six speed Manual version with two wheel drive (FWD) in India as the automatic is CVT. India does not have any four wheel drive sedans in this segment so far, and Maruti Suzuki is unlikely to take a risk with the new Kizashi.
The 2400 CC petrol engine produces 185 horsepower and 170 ft-lbs of torque. As far as the US reviews of the car are concerned, we have learnt that the car is reasonably good at cornering and power is adequate, and an electronic stability programme with ABS and EBD comes as standard features.
Safety and luxury wise, Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will have eight airbags including the rear outboard passenger side airbags. There are air conditioning vents at the rear. Just like the recently launched Chevrolet Cruze, the Kizashi comes with keyless push button start and entry, electric mirrors and central locking.
The steering wheel is tilt/telescopic adjustable, and features audio controls. The Kizashi has 10-way adjustable driver’s seat with three memory presets. The car also will have an option of either 17 or 18 inch alloy wheel, which might be retained for the Indian version also. The controls on the steering wheel include audio controls, cruise control, hands free mobile phone calling, and paddle shifters. Temperature can be adjusted separately for the driver and the front passenger.
If we get the all wheel drive version of the Kizashi, you can either choose to drive only in the front wheel drive mode for better fuel efficiency, and switch to all wheel drive at any speed to transfer 50 per cent of the power to the rear wheels. USB Port is a standard feature to connect the MP3 player to the car’s audio system. As per the reviews and test drive reports, the car is extremely grippy compared to other cars in the segment.
The twin silencers at the rear, integrated into the rear bumper, helps to give the Kizashi some sporty pretensions.
The interior of the car is reported to be quite spacious, similar to other Suzuki cars. This is one field where the Suzuki engineers are specialists at. The interior of the Kizashi is much more modern than the interior of the Suzuki SX4 which we have in India.
Maruti Suzuki Kizashi will not be here to win any beauty contests, as Suzuki always believed in Macho styling. Think of Maruti Suzuki SX4’s The Men Are Back TV commercial. To sum it up, Kizashi is a car which is really handsome and looks muscular at every given angle. Though the name “Kizashi” is not that macho-sounding, people here in India will certainly have a tough time pronouncing the name Ki-Za-Shi, which is so much like a tongue twister.
Now with the Auto Expo 2010 New Delhi around the corner, let the games begin. May the best manly car win the game. Good luck Kizashi, on your Indian outing.
Labels: Chevrolet-Cruze, Kizashi, Maruti-Suzuki, Maruti-Suzuki-SX4
