Introduction

In football, it’s called a Hail Mary — a last-minute long bomb pass made in an attempt to win the game against all odds. There isn’t necessarily a lot of skill or forethought involved, but instead several yards as well as equal parts luck and divine intervention. In some eyes, Kizashi is Suzuki lingo for Hail Mary.

Back in Japan, Suzuki is a major player that sells the country’s best-selling car, and globally, the company has sold more than 40 million vehicles since the 1950s. But here in the U.S., relatively little attention has been paid to the maker of more than one underappreciated ride. With the launch of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi comes the brand’s attempt to finally break free of anonymity, as it reintroduces itself to the buying public with surprising levels of style, quality, and even a fair bit of grin-inducing capability. Time will tell if the play works, but one thing’s for sure – Suzuki’s best-ever offense has taken the field.

Photos courtesy of Suzuki