Suzuki Kizashi has been finally launched in the Japanese market, and the model will hit the US roads by December this year. The new sedan is the latest entrée from Suzuki in the mid-sized sedan segment with base price starting at $20,000 or Rs. 9.40 lakh. The Kizashi, manufactured in Japan at Suzuki’s newest and most modern assembly plant, is built from the ground up with Suzuki calling the shots - no partnership agreement with another automaker.

The Kizashi will sport a 2.4 litre petrol engine, but a diesel option is also on the cards. It comes fully loaded with the latest gizmos and exciting features like nine airbags, cruise control system and parking sensors. The wheels on the prototype are a different design, too, but they're 18-by-8 inches just as on the four-cylinder Suzuki Kizashi GTS and SLS and they're wrapped in the same P235/45R18 94 V Dunlop SP Sport 7000 A/S rubber.

With Suzuki's next midsize entry, the Japanese company will try to shed the dull image and continue the sporty and higher quality product renaissance that it began by the SX4. Suzuki has also announced a hybrid powertrain developed in partnership with General Motors to arrive in 2011. Though not confirmed, a V6 is expected to join the lineup in a couple of years as well.