The mid-size sedan market is one of the most popular in the U.S., but tough economic conditions could be causing Suzuki to have second thoughts about joining the lucrative segment. The Japanese automaker planned to join the ranks of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord with is Kizashi sedan, but those plans have been put on hold indefinitely.
According to Reuters, Suzuki has all but cancelled its U.S. Kizashi plans. The Kizashi – which was to be based on Suzuki’s series of Kizashi concepts – was slated to launch as a 2010 model, but dwindling sales and an overall slumping market have indefinitely postponed the model’s launch.
The news that the Kizashi program could be dead in the water comes as quite the surprise as our spy photographers have spotted nearly production-ready prototypes — including a hybrid model — testing in the wild. However, money is clearly tight at Suzuki as the automaker has also announced plans to delay the start of at least two overseas production plants. But without much else to offer besides the SX4, Suzuki might find the going pretty tough in the coming years.
01/05, 12:57 PM
posted by:
JakeK66
What? Wow. This is serious because this was production ready and they stopped it. Something tells me this isn’t all Suzuki’s doing…ahhhm GM. GM is seriously thinking of axing Saturn, why do they want yet another brand getting bigger and taking sales from themselves. Just dumb.
01/05, 1:06 PM
posted by:
Struggle
This would be the best thing that ever came out of Suzuki.
Besides Motorcycles.
Yep, must be a GM call, too stupid otherwise.
01/05, 1:25 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
sucks for them. i doubt it would even do well sales wise here in the US.
01/05, 1:29 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
I dont think it would take any buyers away from honda or Toyota Maybe Kia and other american sedans in the class. Its too bad bc this is what Suzuki needed to get back in the hunt
GM
01/05, 2:34 PM
posted by:
Borat
The car I saw in the auto show would not set world on fire. I thought GM already sold all of it interest in Suzuki. I would not disagree with anyone who stipulate that GM is a retarded company, but canceling this program is probably not their doing.
01/05, 3:02 PM
posted by:
Tripleoneflipper
My Mom and I had Kizashi and Steamed Rice last night. Sum Yong Gi is my favorite Asian restraunt.
01/05, 3:13 PM
posted by:
bdizzlefizzle
GM doesn’t own any of Suzuki anymore, so JakeK66 and Struggle, that can’t be the reason.
What could be, though, is that Suzuki just spent around a quarter billion dollars buying back all of GM’s shares, so cash is probably very tight for them right now.
Still, that would only explain a delay, not a cancellation.
01/05, 4:12 PM
posted by:
Commodore
Why is everyone so quick to blame GM for canceling this? This own like what, 3% of Suzuki??
01/05, 5:24 PM
posted by:
inline6
GM doesn’t even own 3% of Suzuki anymore…it owns 0%, IIRC.
And folks, LLN’s story is vague. They aren’t cancelling the project wholesale, they’re just putting the US debut on hold.
A little clarification, please, LLN?
01/05, 5:33 PM
posted by:
acura_el2000
They would do better selling their quirky small cars from Japan
01/05, 7:25 PM
posted by:
tyler_is_aero_tt
Wow, the only product people would actually buy from them.
01/06, 12:46 AM
posted by:
DrFill
Was THE hottest car at the 2007 NYIAS
By far
DrFill
01/06, 1:21 AM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Bring back the Sidekick! And the real Swift, not that f*cking Aveo clone we get up here.
01/06, 2:33 AM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
I reckon this is a good thing because the automobile had evolved into a pos before it had even arrived. The concept photos looked amazing, but from what the photos showed.. yea…no!