Maruti Suzuki launches the Kizashi sedan at Rs 16.5 lakh

Maruti Suzuki India Limited, today unveiled it’s much awaited D-Segment sedan, the Kizashi. The new sedan marks the entry of the company in the upper end of the Indian car market. For starters, the Kizashi will be brought to the country as a CBU. The car may later be assembled locally if the volumes support the decision. The bookings for the car have already begun at rs 50,000. Deliveries will begin from March 2011.

Kizashi will be available in India in two variants: Manual Transmission (MT) and Continuous Variable Transmission (CVT). The Kizashi is powered by a 2.4 litre DOHC J–Series engine with peak power of 178 PS @ 6,500rpm and a maximum torque of 230Nm @ 4,000rpm. The fuel efficiency of the Kizashi has been rated at 12.53 Kmpl (CVT) and 12.45 Kmpl (6-speed MT) by ARAI.
The Kizashi will be available in three colours – Snow White, Super Black Pearl, and Premium Silver Metallic.

Kizashi’s comfort and safety features are listed below

Suzuki is touting the Kizashi as one of the best handlers in its segment, and promoting the trait as one of the USPs for the brand. Kizashi’s handling has been honed on challenging country roads in the United Kingdom and on autobahns in Nürburgring, Germany. The Kizashi has apparently been tested in some of the most extreme conditions, like cold-weather trials in Minnesota and hot-weather trials in Death Valley, USA. ‘A combination of elegance and sportiness’ are the operative keywords about the Kizashi, no matter whichever corporate communications document from Maruti you pick and see.

Speaking at the launch, Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India said, “The Kizashi is a major step forward for Maruti Suzuki. With the launch of this luxurious sporty sedan, Maruti Suzuki is able to offer an international car to top-end customers in India. I am delighted to note that most previews by auto experts here have been positive, appreciating the Kizashi’s stylish looks, sporty performance and luxurious feel. We are fully geared to delight customers in a segment where we have been absent so far.”