Known mainly for its compacts, Suzuki will try to break into the B-segment market with the launch of its first midsize sedan, the Kizashi, at the 3rd Philippine International Motor Show on Aug. 20.

The Kizashi is envisioned to be the car brand's flagship model, said Suzuki Philippines Inc. president Satoshi Uchida. In Japanese, Kizashi translates to "a sign of great things to come," reflective of how it is seen to inspire the look of future models. Combining a sporty exterior with elegant handling, the production car is targeted for the "emotionally driven" active clientele.

The Kizashi is already available in Japan, Australia and the US, but Filipinos will have to wait longer as no definite date has yet been set on its availability in the local market. "It can be as early as next year," said Arvie Fugoso, Suzuki assistant manager for automobile marketing.

"The unit in display at the PIMS is almost the production model," he added.

The last in the Kizashi concept car series, it was introduced at the 2008 New York Auto Show and has recently been  making the rounds in ASEAN car shows, with stops that include Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.