Suzuki plans to build a 260-HP V6 version of its 2010 Kizashi midsize sedan. It was at the recent launch event of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi, that the Japanese automaker announced its plans. The four-cylinder engine Kizashi sedan was declared to arrive at U.S. dealerships in coming December, and the test-drive for it was also organized. The journalists then had a chance to get behind an engineering prototype of the planned V6 sedan.

The Kizashi V6 prototype receives its engine and transmission sourced from the Suzuki XL7. The head of product planning for Suzuki America, Steve Younan said that the 3.6-liter V6 is a GM design will make around 260 horsepower. The currently launched 2010 Suzuki Kizashi has only 185-hp rating on its 2.4-liter inline-4. The V6 version is mated to six-speed automatic transmission, whereas the four-cylinder Kizashi takes either a six-speed manual or CVT (continually variable transmission). Suzuki’s test prototype is an all-wheel drive, and it is likely to be standard on its production version. For the Kizashi with the CVT, All-wheel drive is optional.

Even though Yousnan did not give any particular date for the launch of the V6-equipped Suzuki Kizashi, some intriguing stuff was left for the journalists. They were told the V6 Kizashi was on hand at the Portland International Raceway for chassis verification. Hence the engineers can gain some inkling about the way in which platform copes with the extra-power and torque.

Suzuki has come up with a distinctive front fascia treatment for the Kizashi V6. It has a sliver of a spoiler on the rear deck. On the Inside, the V6 boasts piano-black accents and additional bright metallic trim on the steering wheel. The wheels on the V6 prototype are 18-by-8 inches as on the 4-cylinder Suzuki Kizashi GTS and SLS but are of a different design. They are also wrapped in P235/45R18 94-V Dunlop SP-Sport 7000 A/S rubber. It will feature a new set of brakes that is under development by Suzuki. The V6 Kizashi has four-piston fixed front calipers instead of the four-cylinder production car’s two-piston sliding front calipers.

Steve Younan also hinted on a hybrid variant of the Kizashi sedan during the press-meet which together with the V6 version is expected to increase Kizashi’s market shares.