Suzuki Grand Vitara
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Suzuki Grand Vitara | |
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Manufacturer | Suzuki |
Also called | Suzuki Escudo |
Production | 1999–present |
Assembly | Hamamatsu, Japan |
Predecessor | Suzuki Vitara Suzuki Sidekick |
Class | Compact SUV |
Related | Suzuki XL-7 Chevrolet Tracker Suzuki Vitara |
Similar | Dodge Nitro Kia Sportage Nissan Xterra |
First generation | |
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Production | 1999–2005 |
Body style | 3-door wagon 3-door convertible 5-door wagon |
Engine | 1.6L 16V, 2.0L V6, 2.5L V6, 2.0L Turbo Diesel |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic |
Wheelbase | 97.6 in |
Length | 164.5 in |
Width | 70.1 in |
Height | 67.8 in |
Fuel capacity | 16.9 US gal |
Second generation | |
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Production | 2006–present |
Body style | 3-door wagon 5-door wagon |
Engine | 1.6L 16V, 2.0L 16V, 2.7L V6, 1.9L Turbo Diesel |
Transmission | 5-speed manual 4-speed automatic 5-speed automatic |
Wheelbase | 103.9 in |
Length | 176.0 in |
Width | 71.3 in |
Height | 66.7 in |
Fuel capacity | 17.4 US gal |
The Suzuki Grand Vitara is a compact SUV, namely a long-wheelbase version of the Vitara, produced by the Japanese automaker Suzuki since 1999.
As of 2004, the smaller Suzuki Vitara has been in the North American market. Sales were slow, with just 4,860 sold in 2004 for the United States. In Canada, sales were strong. All North American Vitaras were built at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario, while the North American Grand Vitaras were built in Japan, where it is the Suzuki Escudo. The 2006 model has had a structural redesign with a new ladder-boxed chassis integrated into a unibody construction. In India, it is sold as a Maruti competing with vehicles like the Tata Safari, Ford Endeavour and Honda CR-V.
The vehicle is also mass produced in Iran by Iran Khodro Manufacturing Co. [1]
[edit] 2006
The Grand Vitara was replaced in the fall of 2005 by a new vehicle using some components of the GM Theta platform, and is built in Japan. The 2006 Grand Vitara was developed independently by many of the same Suzuki engineers who developed the Theta. Although it uses some Theta componentry, especially in the suspension, it is quite different and should not be considered a Theta vehicle. Notably, it uses a longitudinally-mounted engine and is rear-wheel drive with a 103.9 in (2639 mm) wheelbase, while all other Theta vehicles are transverse engined with front-wheel drive as the default. All can also be ordered with all-wheel drive as well, however. The forthcoming Suzuki XL7 will be a true Theta vehicle, and will be built alongside the Chevrolet Equinox and Pontiac Torrent at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada. The 2001 model Suzuki Grand Vitara comes standard as a 2.0 Liter 4WD vehicle in New Zealand.
[edit] Motorsport
A heavily modified Grand Vitara participated in the 1996 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. This racing model was equipped with two mid-mounted twin-turbo V6's combined to deliver 985 hp to each of the car's four wheels, and also sported a massive wing to keep the tires on the ground.
[edit] External links
- 2007 Grand Vitara Official Site (US)
- Maruti Grand Vitara Official site
- Suzuki Escudo Specs – Suzuki Escudo Specifications from 1988 to 2000
- G.V.O.C. – Unofficial Grand Vitara Owners Club
- AutoNagar.com
Suzuki road vehicle timeline, North America market, 1985-present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
Subcompact | Forsa | Swift | Swift | Swift+ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compact | Esteem | Aerio | SX4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Reno | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Forenza | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mid-size | Verona | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mini SUV | Samurai | X-90 | Vitara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Compact SUV | Sidekick | Grand Vitara | Grand Vitara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crossover SUV | XL-7 | XL7 |