The Suzuki Vitara series has earned acclaim for stylish, city-oriented designs, compact, easy-to-manage dimensions, comfortable on-road performance, and genuine off-road capability. The series has evolved through changes in body size and powertrain, and now, more than a quarter-century after the original model's debut, the Vitara heritage is embodied in a fresh sport-utility-vehicle incarnation. The all-new Vitara has smaller dimensions to meet contemporary needs and it incorporates Suzuki's cutting-edge ALLGRIP four-wheel-drive system and advanced safety and connectivity equipment. It enables owners to express themselves by personalising its design.
The new Vitara will go into production at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in early 2015, and then will make its market debut across Europe. It will later be exported around the world as Suzuki's global compact SUV.
The performance benefits of ALLGRIP and a superior chassis
Large-diameter wheels and the high ground clearance of an SUV yield plenty of off-road capability. In addition, an ALLGRIP system with four modes that the user can choose to suit the road surface and driving conditions assures great on- and off-road performance.
Superior fuel economy
The new Vitara meets contemporary demands for great fuel economy. Weight-saving measures including extensive use of high-tensile steel make the body outstandingly light and rigid. Powertrain technologies including a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission also save fuel. The new Vitara with two-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission has CO2 emissions of just 123g/km.
Exterior design
The new Vitara expresses Suzuki's SUV styling heritage in a strong-looking design. A clamshell bonnet (a hallmark of the Vitara series) gives the front end a look of solidity, and a trapezoid-motif front bumper indicates a powerful grip on the ground. Kicked-up body-side character lines and bonnet-side air outlets form motifs from the first-generation Vitara. Shoulder lines running the entire length of the body contribute to a look of SUV toughness. Plus, Suzuki's pursuit of great aerodynamics is reflected in optimally designed bumper openings, in a roof line that slopes smoothly downward toward the rear, in flat underbody surfaces, and in side mirrors and front-bumper edges whose shapes are based on the results of airflow analysis. LED headlamps with blue projector covers attribute to energy saving while creating a cool impression.
Personalisation
From the initial development stage, the model is designed with personalisation in mind. Diverse exterior colours and a range of design details enable owners to express their individual personalities. Each customer can choose from 15 body-colour possibilities that include three brand-new colours and several two-tone combinations. Suzuki created the new colours and the two-tone combinations in line with the concept phrase "hunter mind" to express the excitement of driving the new Vitara.
Engines
The new Vitara is powered by the M16 1.6-litre petrol engine or the D16AA 1.6-litre diesel engine. With the petrol option, friction reductions combine with weight savings in the engine and related components to realize superior fuel economy together with high output and torque. For the diesel engine, a new EGR system and an electronically controlled VGT (variable-geometry turbocharger) help to realize powerful, torquey performance together with low emissions and superior fuel economy. The engines' respective performance figures are as follows:
M16A: 88kW/6,000rpm, 156Nm/4,400rpm
D16AA: 88kW/3,750rpm, 320Nm/1,750rpm
Each of the new Vitara's transmissions reflects measures to achieve excellence in terms of fuel economy, shift feel, and suppression of noise and vibration.
Manual transmissions
A five-speed manual transmission is available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine, and a six-speed manual transmission is available for the 1.6-litre diesel engine. Each manual transmission's gear ratios are optimised to help realise a superior combination of performance and fuel economy. Measures such as a shift-lever counterweight realise a smooth, positive shift action that makes for enjoyable driving.
Automatic transmission
A six-speed automatic transmission is available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine. A wide gear-ratio range permits precise control over gear ratios, so it helps to realise superior response at low vehicle speeds (for instance, when the driver pulls away from a standstill or drives slowly uphill) and enables the engine to run at low revs. An expanded lockup range promotes acceleration, fuel economy, and quietness. Plus, a manual mode enables the driver to change gear using paddles on the steering wheel.
CO2 emissions
The new Vitara's CO2 emissions are low thanks to the high-tensile steel and other weight-saving measures in the body and to an Engine Auto Stop Start system, which shuts down the engine when the car stops (for instance, at traffic lights). Suzuki targets CO2 emissions of 123g/km with the petrol engine, two-wheel drive, and the five-speed manual transmission and 127g/km with the petrol engine, two-wheel drive, and the six-speed automatic transmission.
Four-wheel drive is typically seen as detrimental to fuel economy and emissions performance, but by contrast, Suzuki's ALLGRIP system enables CO2 emissions that are remarkably low for a four-wheel-drive SUV. Suzuki's targets for the ALLGRIP-equipped Vitara are 130g/km with the five-speed manual transmission and 131g/km with the six-speed automatic transmission.
The new Vitara also has outstandingly low CO2 emissions with the diesel engine. Suzuki's targets are 106g/km with two-wheel drive and the six-speed manual transmission and 111g/km with four-wheel drive and the six-speed manual transmission.
Four-mode ALLGRIP system
Suzuki evolved its renowned four-wheel-drive technologies into a new generation that delivers driving pleasure and peace of mind in diverse conditions while promoting economy and limiting the burden four-wheel-drive cars place on the environment. Suzuki calls this new generation ALLGRIP.
An ALLGRIP system with four driver-selectable modes that permit safe, enjoyable driving on diverse surfaces debuted in the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross and has since earned a great reputation. This system—enhanced by the addition of a feed-forward function—is available with the new Vitara.
The new Vitara's ALLGRIP system uses a feedback function to send more torque to the rear wheels if it detects wheelspin at the front. The new feed-forward function gives the system the additional ability to predict front-wheelspin risks from the road-surface condition, accelerator-pedal position, and steering angle and send more torque to the rear wheels before wheelspin occurs. The system's four driver-selectable modes are as follows:
Auto - The auto mode prioritizes fuel economy in typical driving conditions. The system uses two-wheel drive by default. It switches to four-wheel drive if it detects wheelspin.
Sport - The sport mode is optimal for twisty roads. The system makes maximal use of four-wheel drive in accordance with accelerator inputs. At low and mid-range engine speeds, the system alters the accelerator/torque characteristics to optimize engine response and cornering performance.
Snow - The snow mode is optimal for snowy, unpaved, and other slippery surfaces. The system uses four-wheel drive by default. It optimizes four-wheel-drive control in accordance with steering and accelerator inputs to promote traction and stability on low-friction surfaces.
Lock - The lock mode is for extricating the car from snow, mud, or sand. It effectively limits any slipping wheel and transfers the torque to the gripping wheels.
Suspension and brakes
Suzuki has pursued a class-leading driving experience in every model. As a result the Vitara realized stable handling and robust drivability, along with its lightweight body.
Suspension
The front wheels have MacPherson-strut suspensions. A revised shape for the lower arms, a revised layout for the suspension frame, and improved struts yield higher rigidity and accordingly better driving stability. The rear wheels have torsion-beam suspension with the beam design (a closed section consisting of a pipe crushed to form a "U" shape) that Suzuki first adopted in the SX4 S-Cross. The beam design yields superior rigidity and ride comfort.
Brakes
The new Vitara has ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid disc brakes at the rear. Weight savings and drag reductions in the calipers help to enable superior braking performance and fuel economy.
Safety equipment
The new Vitara's active-safety equipment includes the Radar Brake Support (RBS) system. When driving at low speeds due to heavy traffic and such, this system detects the vehicle in front, and if it senses the possibility of a collision, it warns the driver with a buzzer sound and a notification on the multi-information display.
If the probability of a collision has increased, the system activates brake assist which increases the braking force during panic braking. If the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, it applies the brakes automatically. The system thus helps prevent collisions when the vehicle is driving at low speeds and helps reduce damage in the event of a collision.
Passive-safety equipment includes seven airbags, which protect occupants in the event of a frontal or side impact; seatbelt pretensioners and force limiters; and a mechanism that limits rearward movement of the brake pedal. Plus, the bonnet shape and new structures for the cowl top, wipers, and bumpers provide impact absorption to mitigate the extent of harm if the car comes into contact with a pedestrian.
RBS system
The RBS system monitors the road ahead by means of millimetre-wave radar. The radar technology enables it to work even at high speeds, in darkness, and in rain and other bad weather. The system prevents or mitigates a collision by means of three functions:
Warning - When travelling above approximately 5 km/h, the system detects the vehicle in front, and if there is a risk of collision, it warns the driver to use the brakes.
Brake assist - If a vehicle ahead is detected and there is a high probability of a collision, the system increases the braking force during panic braking, thereby helping to avoid the collision or reduce damage.
Automatic braking - If a vehicle in front is detected and the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, it applies the brake automatically in order to avoid the collision or reduce damage from it.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) system
The new Vitara's ACC system combines cruise-control technology with the RBS system's millimetre-wave radar to make driving easier and more relaxing. The system uses the radar to measure the distance to the preceding vehicle, and it automatically adjusts the new Vitara's speed to maintain any of three driver-selected headway distances.
Light, impact-absorbing TECT body
The body embodies Suzuki's Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept for occupant-protecting impact absorption and low weight. Extensive use of ultrahigh-tensile steel helps to make the new Vitara outstandingly crashworthy and fuel-efficient.
Body dimensions
The new Vitara's SUV packaging combines generous minimum ground clearance of 185mm with big, 215/55R17 tyres. Plus, an 18.2° approach angle and a 28.2° departure angle enable the driver to easily negotiate deeply rutted or snow-covered roads.
The luggage area has a capacity of 375 litres (VDA) with the rear seat in its upright position. The rear seat and a luggage board can be repositioned for diverse purposes.
Panoramic sunroof
Suzuki achieved a world first by equipping the SX4 S-Cross with a sunroof consisting of two individually slidable glass panels. Now, the new Vitara incorporates the same acclaimed feature. The sunroof extends over the front and rear seats, making the cabin more relaxing for all occupants. When the sunroof is closed, the glass panels have a combined length of 1,000mm. When the sunroof is open, the opening has a length of 560mm (one of the greatest in the class), giving occupants an invigorating open-roof experience.
Display-audio system with smartphone connectivity
The audio system has a seven-inch touch panel display that enables intuitive operation and can be used by people wearing gloves. A three-dimensional navigation map makes landmarks easy to distinguish. The system also allows the customers to use smartphone applications while on the ride.
Key dimensions
Overall length: 4,175mm
Overall width: 1,775mm
Overall height: 1,610mm
Wheelbase: 2,500mm
Treads: Front 1,535mm
Rear 1,505mm
Minimum ground clearance: 185mm
Luggage space: 375L (VDA)
Tyre size: 215/60R16 or 215/55R17
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