Suzuki Vitara shows its face ahead of Paris debut

Thu, 28 Aug 2014

The death of Suzuki's American automotive operations can be chalked up to many, many things. One thing it cannot be blamed on, however, is the arguable goodness of its products. The company's criminally underrated offerings included the Kizashi sedan, the SX4 compact and your author's personal favorite, the Grand Vitara.

The GV rode on a radically different version of General Motors' Theta platform, which underpins the American manufacturer's current crop of crossovers, like the Chevrolet Equinox. What made the Grand Vitara special, though, was that it wasn't just another run-of-the-mill CUV. Buying the cheapest model meant living with rear-wheel drive rather than the Theta's typical front drive. Spend a bit of money, though, and you'd end up with an honest-to-goodness off-roader, sporting selectable four-wheel drive complete with low-range gearbox. It also comfortably sat five, was reasonably efficient and was quite handsome. We aren't totally sure how it turned into this.

This, of course, being the new Vitara (it replaces the Escudo, the vehicle Americans know as the Grand Vitara), and it will make its global debut at October's Paris Motor Show, which has ditched its four-wheel-drive system for a part-time all-wheel-drive system called Allgrip.

Suzuki is planning on launching the new CUV in the UK in the spring of 2015, although specific details beyond that are scarce. Of course, we expect to know more in just over a month, when the new Vitara debuts in Paris.

SUZUKI UNVEILS VITARA: ALL-NEW SMALL SUV AT THE 2014 PARIS MONDIAL DE L'AUTOMOBILE

At the 2014 Paris Motor Show, Suzuki Motor Corporation will hold the global premiere of its all-new small and stylish SUV model.

The new five door car is named Vitara and it marks the return of the famous badge first used by Suzuki more than 25 years ago, also on a small SUV.

The Vitara is the production model based on the iV-4 concept; which was first exhibited at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013.

On sale in the UK next spring, the all-new Vitara will be available with optional ALLGRIP intelligent four wheel drive with petrol and diesel engines that offer low CO2 emissions as well as outstanding fuel economy in the sector.

Vitara will have a striking road presence with distinctive design. Customers will have the option of personalising the car with various colour and trim customisation options. Further details of these, as well as final specifications will be available closer to public launch.

Further information will be disclosed at the Suzuki press conference, scheduled on: -

Thursday 2nd October 2014 at 2:00pm
At Stand 511, in hall 1.0.

By Brandon Turkus