We’re getting a fairly clear shot Wednesday of the Suzuki Kizashi, the family sedan for which the Japanese automaker has high hopes when it arrives for the 2010 model year.
The edgy design has relaxed a bit from the head-turning concept seen at the New York show this spring, but still looks like a solid competitor in the midsize segment.
We’re basically seeing the Kizashi unobstructed here, and it looks close to production. The stylish headlamps are apparent, as are the front fascia and subtle fender flares. In the back, there’s a dual exhaust.
Unlike most mules, there’s little plastic, tape or other clutter disguising the body features, and the intended black-and-white camouflage looks almost SEMA-esq, rather than true cover. It’s almost as if Suzuki wanted it to be noticed.
We expect power to come from an engine lineup that includes a four-cylinder unit making more than 150 hp, and possibly topped by a V6 that gets 280 hp to 300 hp. A six-speed automatic is the likely pairing.
This prototype was caught with BMWs, which leads to speculation that Suzuki might try to add some kind of premium element to the car.
Our spy shooters earlier caught what might have been a hybrid version of the car, and that could be in the pipeline as well. We’re still waiting to hear whether Kizashi is the final moniker for the car.
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