REPORT: Suzuki Kizashi hybrid sedan tipped for 2011 sales
2010 Suzuki Kizashi – Click above for high-res image gallery
Suzuki has big plans for its new Kizashi midsize sedan. Not only is the Kizaski going up against the best selling automobiles in America (that is, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord), it's also reportedly tipped to carry the Japanese automaker's environmentally-friendly ambitions to new heights here in the States.
According to Japan's Nikkei newspaper (via Bloomberg), Suzuki's new midsizer is slated to offer an optional hybrid powertrain for 2011. A gas-electric motivator has been mooted for Kizashi for some time, but this is the first time a firm timetable has been established for the vehicle. If there's any truth to the rumor, this will make the Kizashi Suzuki's first hybrid automobile.
There aren't any details on the expected powertrain, but rumor has it the technology will come from longtime American partner General Motors. That means the Kizashi will either come equipped with GM's BAS mild hybrid system or the much more sophisticated and fuel efficient (and therefore expensive) 2-Mode setup.
For it's part, Bloomberg rather ambiguously informs that Suzuki spokesman Hideki Taguchi "declined to deny the report."
Gallery: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi
[Source: Bloomberg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
unni 7:58PM (8/17/2009)
Never take GM's BAS mild hybrid system. People will say its better to put hybrid label on a pure ICE car than getting the bad name of being a hybrid and not deliver compared your competitor.
Put something like 2012 prius ( it should be far better than 2010 because toyota will do it ) as your base bar to jump and they only try to jump.
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Chris M 11:47PM (8/17/2009)
If it is a tenative "toe in the water" approach, they'll go with the relatively cheap BAS system, unless poor sales of the Malibu "hybrid" discourages Suzuki from trying that route.
The "Dual mode" is possible, though it would be cheaper to go with a variant of the Toyota Hybrid Synergy Drive instead.
There is the 3rd possibility of the Voltec plug-in hybrid system, but that isn't likely unless Suzuki decides to go upmarket.
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