Suzuki Vitara revealed ahead of Paris debut
The new Suzuki Vitara has been revealed a full month ahead of its public debut at the 2014 Paris motor show.
Suzuki is holding back most of the details about the new Vitara until closer to its in-the-flesh unveiling. We do know, though, that the new car will feature all-wheel drive as an option, and will be powered by both petrol and diesel motors.
It's expected that the Vitara will share its engine range with the S-Cross. In Australia, the S-Cross is powered exclusively by a 86kW/156Nm 1.6-litre petrol motor, but overseas models are also available with a 88kW/320Nm 1.6-litre turbo-diesel. The Swift's 70kW/130Nm 1.4-litre petrol engine may find its way under the hood in some markets.
Design-wise the Vitara owes a lot to last year's Suzuki iV-4 concept car. This means that the next-gen Vitara features smoother body surfacing, especially around the edges and for the wheel arch flares. A clamshell bonnet with a fake air vent between it and the A-pillar helps to make a link to the nameplate's past.
The new car also features a lift-up instead of swing-out tailgate and the spare wheel has been relocated from the rear door to under the boot floor. Tail-lights, which are wider than they are tall, help emphasise this new arrangement.
As far as size goes, the next-generation Vitara should measure around 4.21 metres from end to end, meaning that it will slot in underneath both the 4.3m long S-Cross, as well as the 4.5m Grand Vitara five-door.
Suzuki says that the Vitara will be available in the UK around the third quarter of 2015. Speaking to Car Advice last year, Suzuki Australia said that the production version of the iV-4 concept would go on sale some time during 2015.
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