A Japanese newspaper revealed in one of their issues that Suzuki might release a hybrid version of their 2011 Kizashi sedan. The Kizashi is expected to compete for sales with the likes of Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, and the Ford Fusion, among other cars of the segment.

The first versions of the Kizashi will sport a four cylinder engine with 2.4L of displacement that will be coupled with a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable gearbox. Consumers will also have an all wheel driver option for the Kizashi.

The hybrid Kizashi being developed by Suzuki is done in close tie-up with General Motors. The American car maker has a long history working with the Japanese brand since they had a twenty percent stake with Suzuki back in the 1980s. These shares were sold last year when the recession forced a lot of businesses to do some maneuvering to stay afloat.

The hybrid version of the Kizashi is expected to have a 20% better fuel mileage compared to its internal combustion siblings.

Last July, Suzuki disclosed that they will be selling gas versions of the Kisashi to their U.S. market by winter. They did not give a specific date though for the release of the Kizashi hybrid, hoping to compete with hybrids that are already market leaders by car makers Toyota and Honda.

The Japanese car maker was able to sell about 26,000 vehicles in the United States from January to July this year. This is a 60% drop compared to their sales figures last year. Suzuki is hoping that their new Kizashi models will spark renewed interest with their line of products.