The Indian auto giant Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL) is all set to launch its long awaited premium sedan – Kizashi – in the Indian market, in the third week of January 2011. The Maruti Kizashi model will be placed in the C-segment of cars where it will be fighting for space with the likes of Honda Civic, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corrola and Chevrolet Cruze. The new Kizashi sedan will be sporting a 2.0L petrol engine and will possibly be placed in the price segment of sub Rs 12 lakh. It will be carrying both manual and automatic transmission versions.
The company had showcased this model at the Delhi Auto expo in January 2010, where the car had attracted a large number of car enthusiasts and visitors. At that time, the car was displayed as powered by a 2.4L engine. But after analyzing the buyer’s response for other cars of premium sedan segment in the country, the company had subsequently changed its plans and decided to offer it with a slightly smaller 2.0L engine.
The Suzuki Kizashi was introduced in the European market in year 2007 where it has been performing considerably well. In India, Kizashi will be the first-ever Maruti car to be rolled-out in executive segment where the Indian auto giant Maruti is yet to make a mark.
Meanwhile, the company is gearing up to launch its first-ever fully made-in-India small car by year 2012. The new small car will be shelved in the price segment of sub Rs 2 lakh where it will be locking horns with Hyundai’s upcoming 800CC car.
MSIL is currently market leader in the compact and mid-size segment of cars in the Indian auto market and accounts for over 50 percent market share in the country. The popular cars of the company in the country include Maruti Alto, Wagon R, Swift and Swift Dzire.
