Currently reading: Suzuki Kizashi spawns saloon, wagon, 4x4
Show car a telltale for Suzuki's new production breed

Suzuki's Kizashi concept, revealed at last month's Frankfurt motor show, will spawn three all-new production models for the growing Japanese brand, according to inside sources: a Mondeo-rivalling saloon and estate, plus a crossover 4x4.The four-door saloon will be the first to arrive in late 2009, built on an all-new platform in Japan; the estate and crossover will hit the showrooms a year later.We'll be getting more of an idea of how the crossover will look at the Tokyo show later this month when the company will be unveiling the Kizashi 2 concept, essentially a higher-riding version of the Frankfurt car, though insiders admitted that the looks of the production car will be more muted.

And then... Suzuki guns for the Focus

More details have also emerged of Suzuki's plans to launch as assault on the Focus- and Golf-dominated European C-segment. The company is currently plotting a European-designed and manufactured replacement for the weak-selling Liana. Sources say that a newly developed range of small family C-segment cars would include not just a hatchback, but also a Scenic-style seven-seat MPV. It will also probably share a platform with the next Suzuki SX4 junior soft-roader, which is set to become a bigger car itself. Unlike the current one, the next SX4 won't be built in conjunction with Fiat either, admitted a top level Suzuki source.

Chas Hallett

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