autoevolution
 

Spyshots: New Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUV

Suzuki is better known for its fast bikes than its cars. As a small and struggling car company, it has to pick its fights vary carefully and it has done just that by targeting the compact SUV market.
New Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUV 10 photos
Photo: SB-Medien
New Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUVNew Suzuki Grand Vitara Compact SUV
After the new SX4 S-Cross, this is their second major soft-roading project in the past few years and it's probably even more important. the C-segment 4x4 market is absolutely huge and thanks to China, it's growing by the day. Unfortunately, the current Vitara is old, boring to look at and inefficient, so it holds only a minute share of the niche.

These are the very first shots of the new Suzuki compact SUV testing in Germany. The 4-wheel-drive prototype is fully disguised and has many components that are only temporary, like the headlights or the grille.

Although it's heavily concealed by camouflage, we believe the New SUV's design will be heavily influenced by recent Suzuki concepts. For example, the iV-4 shown last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show could lend most of its features quite well into a production scheme.

The dimensions of the SUV will likely remain pretty much unchanged from the current generation. It will measure 4.5 meters from bumper to bumper and stand 1.7 meters tall. About 100 kg of weight should be cut from the mass, by using more advanced fabrication methods.

Since Suzuki has officially pulled out from the US market, there really isn't a reason for them to continue offering the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. Both hybrid and turbo engines are technically possible, but cannot be justified by looking at the current Suzuki model lineup. The first Kizashi sedan concept , which came out in 2007, has a 2-liter turbo engine. Another, which came a little later and was called the EcoCharge, packed a 145 hp 2-liter hybrid system.

The new Grand Vitara is at least another year away from going into production, although another preview concept could be shown this year. At about 4.2 meters long, iV-4 was no bigger than some B-segment crossovers, so it might do a do a bit of growing and stretching in Paris this autumn.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories