Suzuki has officially launched its Kizashi sedan in the home Japanese market. The car hit the showrooms earlier this week.

Kizashi is the most ambitious and one of the most important launch for Suzuki yet, which until now was only famous for making small fuel efficient cars and superbikes. The new sedan catapults Suzuki straight into the big league with the likes of Toyota and Honda.

Suzuki Kizashi comes powered with a 2.4 Litre 4 Cylinder DOHC Variable Valve Timing engine with a maximum power for 188 ps and a healthy 230 nm of torque. The engine is mated to a 6-Speed transmission which sends the power to all wheels to provide smooth acceleration and superior cornering abilities.

Suzuki has also worked hard on the NVH with sound absorbing and insulating measures throughout the body and high capacity dual exhauts to supress the low frequency booming noise.

Dealership sales should begin in US in few weeks time.

Maruti Suzki is also expected to show the car at the Auto Expo 2010 in New Delhi.

Jump over for the Press Release and our coverage of the Kizashi Sedan.

For our Coverage of the Kizashi Sedan, click the the links that follow.

Suzuki Kizashi Launched

Suzuki Kizashi Hybrid 

Suzuki Motor Corporation is putting the all-new Kizashi sedan on sale in Japan

The Kizashi is Suzuki’s new flagship model. It offers bold, sporty styling; a refined cabin that’s the result of careful craftsmanship; equipment that reflects a focus on comfort; and exhilarating performance. Plus, it combines sporty handling with great ride comfort thanks to extensive testing and fine-tuning on roads in Europe and North America.

“Kizashi” is a Japanese word meaning “a sign of great things to come”. As the name of Suzuki’s new flagship model, it reflects the dynamic, forward-looking approach with which Suzuki takes up new automaking challenges.

Suzuki plans to launch the Kizashi in the United States after launching it in Japan.

Features of the Kizashi

Bold and sporty styling

• Contours that include taut shoulder lines running from the headlamps to the rear combination lamps express power befitting a car of the Kizashi’s class.
• The rear deck is contoured for both aerodynamics and aesthetics.

Refined interior design

• Features including an exquisitely designed centre console and satin-finish chrome-plated details convey both sportiness and craftsmanship in the cabin.

High performance

• The J24B 2.4-litre engine delivers maximum output of 138kW (188PS) and maximum torque of 230N•m (23.5kg•m). A variable intake system and dual mufflers contribute to superior intake and exhaust efficiency.
• Where four-wheel drive is specified, it’s delivered by an intelligent all-wheel drive (i-AWD) system that realizes smooth off-the-line acceleration and great cornering performance. Plus, a synergetic vehicle dynamics control system acts on the i-AWD system and electric power steering system to suppress body movements and keep the car stable. (Where two-wheel drive is specified, the synergetic vehicle dynamics control system acts only on the power-steering system.)

Outstanding quietness

• Sound-absorbing and -insulating measures throughout the body promote quietness while allowing the body to be optimally light.
• High-capacity dual exhaust silencers suppress unpleasant low-frequency booming noise and realize a pleasant exhaust note.

Note: All information on features pertains to the Japan-specification Kizashi. Specifications may differ for individual markets.