Awww Look, the Jetta and Camry had a baby!

Yeah it looks like a Jetta CC to me…

I submit that what we are seeing today is proof positive of the existence of a parallel universe as there is no way the concept and production Kizashi could in any way be related.

…and those wheels look like they’d be a total bitch to keep clean.

What a concept to reality let down. So much promise amounted to not much style.

Total YAWN. As dull a transition as the Volt turned out to be……..

how does a concept so beautiful give birth to an abortion like this?

I honestly don’t see how this could possibly be a sedan. The rear decklid is woefully, woefully short and makes it — at least with the camo — look much more like a hatchback. If the trunk of the car is really as short as it appears in the pictures the proportions are going to be waaaay off IMHO.

Like everyone says… how can you go from a completely awesome concept like that and end up with such a completely non-descript 1990s looking universal japanese sedan? I mean, it absolutely cannot be any more lacking in style or design.

This car was on highway (tollroad) 241 this morning in Orange County, California. I passed it and wondered what it was.

Maybe we should celebrate the fact it does not have the front end of the Tokyo concept? That looks like a modern interpretation of an Edsel

I though the production car is more beautiful than the concept. SUZUKI lets people down.

I don’t know, I kind of like it, but i like the Jetta and Camry’s looks, so that kind of eases me into this. I think it’s much more of a quality product than I’ve seen out of Suzuki, heck, the interior is better than the Mazda6 and doesn’t look as cheap as the Malibu’s.

Not knowing how it drives and looks completed I leave my final verdict unknown, but right now I’d take it over the new Legacy as it in someways looks like what the next Legacy should have been

I’ll wait until i see the undressed, final versions front end – since I would be interested in the wagon there is still hope that this will look ok.

Personally, I think they have a home run here if the thing is reliable and well-screwed together (seemingly always a concern with Suzuki’s cars, for whatever reason… they’re proof that not everything from Japan is solid, although Suzuki has a reputation for making a pretty solid bike). Then again, it’s likely built on the same platform as the Insignia/LaCrosse (Epsilon 2) as Suzuki is good for utilizing GM-sourced underpinnings for much of their stuff (the majority of their car lineup is based on GM Daewoo models).

My gut is that it’s the short wheelbase version of Epsilon 2 (Insignia, La Crosse, eventual Malibu replacement). I also am going to guess that the 2.4 L 4 is based on the Ecotec family (something tells me it’s going to be Direct Injection though as GM seems to be moving in this direction) whereas the article already notes that it’s using a 3.6 that is based on the Cadillac V6. In other words, if you like GM products and like the Malibu, you might very well like this.

The styling, as JakeK66 noted, looks a lot better than the new Subaru Legacy (which looks like a rehashed Chrysler Sebring more than a Subie, interior looks awesome… exterior of all new Subie’s look beyond bland/boring/dull/ugly). I also agree, the interior materials appear to make the Malibu look like an 80’s GM car by comparison. I don’t know that I’d put it in the same realms as the Nissan Altima (overpriced though due to option packages being ridiculous but still quite stylish, if not a bit “massive” in it’s visual elements) or the Mazda 6 (still think it’s the best of the bunch on styling, remains to be seen how the reliability fares) but I can see this car competing with either of them. I doubt it’ll beat Camry/Accord (who have a strong consumer reputation amongst those that buy them; their customers are very loyal) but I doubt anyone out there would’ve expected Suzuki to do that anyway. I don’t believe they have the volume to compete there. This could make a dent though and change Suzuki’s reputation and give them a larger foothold assuming it is solid. If only they can inject more of their bike’s sporty “influences” into their cars dynamics they might be able to draw more customers in.

In as far as the concept… the only company (on these shores) that I’ve seen produce a concept and then a production version that holds 90%+ true to the original is Chrysler (for better or worse sometimes, the cartoon nature of some concepts impede on production usability/sensibility for the sake of a styling statement). I don’t know that many companies have the daring to push things to that level much less Suzuki. Even Chrysler has had some duds though in which concepts they’ve chosen to put into production. You have to keep in mind that few of the concepts are done in a form follows function realm and often seem pie in the sky and idealistic vs. real. With many of the hardpoints being way off, the engineering goals being off, and the volume needs and visibility/usability concerns being askew, expecting a production car to match the concept is all but a dream in most cases. In that vain, I think Suzuki did a pretty good job of translating as much of the concept to the production car. The cues are definitely there.

looks like someone said “this concept is just a little too radical. how would Fritz do?”

This car seems to be smaller than the Accord, Camry, & other midsize offerings currently on sale. & i bet resale value will be sucky too.

It is definately toned down from the concept…and the concept looked so cool.

But wait! There’s a stick! Nice.

A.J., didn’t notice that but I’ll bet it’s for the 4 banger only.

I miss Suzuki.

Except this design looks too watered down from the concept. Then again, what isn’t?

-eat your cereal

In the midst of global automotive industrial meltdown, all the over-capacity…how in the world can there be room for Suzuki? Goodness…

Come on, it might grow on you like the new front grill on the Mazda 3

What is this? A plainly-styled sedan, aimed at the middle of the market but sized quite a bit smaller than the competition.. sounds familiar.. maybe they should call it the Esteem?