Maruti Kizashi Launch At Auto Expo

Maruti Suzuki plans to compete with Honda and Toyota with the launch of the Kizashi in India at the 2010 Auto Expo. The Kizashi is Suzuki’s first big car developed in-house. The car will be powered by the same 2.4L engine used in the Grand Vitara. The Kizashi will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission and a CVT automatic with paddle shifts will also be offered. The car is expected to be the first-all-wheel-drive luxury car in India in the Rs 10-13 lakh price bracket.

Maruti will pitch the Kizashi as a sports crossover – a vehicle that derives from a car platform while blends features from a sports utility vehicle. The car will sport a large tyre size of a 21 inch wheel against Honda Civic’s 15 inch. It is expected to roll out from Maruti’s sprawling 500-acre Manesar facility. Maruti engineers have already started work on Kizashi and are likely to customise the luxury sedan for rugged Indian road conditions.