Suzuki has unchained its over-the-top concept Kizashi here at Frankfurt. Rather than take too much time trying to describe or explain the madness that Kizashi embodies, we thought we would let Suzuki describe it in their own, exquisitely chosen, words.

Kizashi can be understood to meet three key goals…

1. Overwhelming presence that breaks the D-segment mould - The body brings to mind the lean, muscular physique of a top-class athlete, and a strongly protrusive front end communicates a dignified character.

2. An energetic look that immediately gives an idea of the car's dynamic performance - Large wheels and wide treads express a capacity for high performance. The bonnet shape hints at abundant engine power. And the body hints at aerodynamics that enable the car to punch through the air while firmly gripping the road.

3. A sense of character and status befitting Suzuki's flagship car
The detailing of individual parts gives a sense of exquisiteness and quality.

…We’re still mulling over how the killer crazy front end communicates anything other than getting out Kizashi’s mad way, fast.

(Click on the link below to launch a high resolution gallery of Kizashi images or on the jump to read Suzuki’s official--and highly entertaining--press release.)

Suzuki Concept Kizashi, the World Premiere

The Third Phase of Suzuki's World Strategy
With the Swift, Suzuki began the first phase of its world strategy and gave undiluted form to the attribute that was the theme of the first phase: sportiness.

The Swift won awards around the world by virtue of its superior dynamics and design. Suzuki subsequently pursued sportiness in the Grand Vitara and SX4, and both cars enjoy enormous success

The Splash is making its world debut at the 2007 Frankfurt show and will become the first model in the second phase of Suzuki's world strategy. In this phase, the theme is families. Having focused on sportiness in the first phase, enhancing Suzuki's image in the process, Suzuki is now building upon what they have already achieved while refocusing on its main traditional strength: family-oriented user-friendliness. The next model coming after the Splash is the next-generation Alto, which combines environmental compatibility with agility

The D-segment initiative which is now being revealed represents the beginning of the third phase of the world strategy. The main objective of this phase is status. The brand has developed to such an extent that it's able to communicate status, and Suzuki has overcome the great challenge of　making cars that give their owners a feeling of status.

1. Why is Suzuki Entering the D-Segment?
Suzuki has made a name for itself in the compact car and sport utility vehicle segments. Its customers spread in 168 countries and regions around the world. The annual sales have shown steady growth, rising from about 1,654 thousand units in fiscal 1997 to an estimated 2,405 thousand units in fiscal 2007.

Under the mid-term five-year plan, Suzuki is targeting sales of 3 million units in fiscal 2009 (the last year of the plan). The Japanese carmaker achieved consolidated sales of 3 trillion yen in fiscal 2007, meaning that the company is close to a mid-ranking position in the worldwide motor industry.

But despite the progress, Suzuki has not been able to accommodate many of the customers who have expressed a desire to stay with the automaker when purchasing subsequent, larger cars. Suzuki has entirely owed its customers for the growth since its founding in 1909. The carmaker feels obliged to respond to increasing expectations and is convinced that it's essential to offer a wider product range in order to accommodate customers' diverse lifestyles. Consequently, Suzuki has decided to expand its lineup to cover all segments from A to D in the next few years. Suzuki's first-ever D-segment car will stand at the top of the range.

Another major factor behind the D-segment entry is to more fully exploit the high level of Suzuki's technological competence and thus enhance its brand image

2. Suzuki's D-Segment Entry
Suzuki realises that there's no point in entering the D-segment unless it can offer new value that can't be given by any of the existing brands.

Suzuki paid close attention to the fact that the D-segment is broadly divided into two parts. In one part, there are family-oriented cars that are relatively large and reflect an emphasis on cabin roominess. In the other part, there are “entry luxury