Suzuki Vitara News

Suzuki has revealed a new "self-charging" hybrid option for its Swift Sport light hatch and Vitara and S-Cross small SUVs, but whether or not it becomes available in Australia remains to be seen.

Suzuki Australia has confirmed the new-generation Suzuki Jimny small off-roader and Vitara Series II SUV will launch on January 26.

A new Suzuki Vitara has been unveiled overseas, with the Japanese brand's updated mid-size SUV pencilled in for an early 2019 launch in Australia.

The Suzuki Swift GTI — a cult car from the 1990s — is finally poised for a comeback.

Are you tired of getting stuck behind an SUV? If you can’t see through them, you may want to join them.Australia is going to be crawling with a new type of SUV from next year: city-sized soft-roaders. Or as we like to call them, faux-wheel drives.They have the same tall driving position as a full-size SUV (to better navigate the traffic rather than the great outdoors) and yet have the economy of a small car because often they don’t even have all-wheel drive. Handily, they also fit in the same size parking space as a Toyota Corolla.The Suzuki SX4 (now known as the S-Cross) in many ways pioneered this segment; Holden and Nissan followed with pocket-sized high-riding hatchbacks with unusual designs.But Mazda’s CX-3 is the first one that appears to look just right. Due in March, it will soon be joined by the Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, Renault Captur and the reborn Suzuki Vitara (a sign of the times, now with car-like underpinnings rather than a 4WD chassis).Most of these vehicles will be priced between $20,000 and $30,000, the heart of the new-car market — and put SUVs in the driveways of those who want one but, until now, couldn’t afford it.If you thought it was already difficult to choose a new car in the world’s most competitive market, it’s about to get even tougher.

The born-again Vitara is set to plug the gap between the new suburban S-Cross and the off-road Grand Vitara in Australia, starting below $30,000.It's just been previewed in advance of the Paris auto show, where it will be pitched as the Suzuki's new family-focused escape machine.Suzuki has released no mechanical information and just one image. The Vitara is expected to be front-wheel drive with petrol and diesel engines and, on higher-spec examples, optional on-demand all-wheel drive."This is (completely) a new car. The current Grand Vitara stays on, and this is a different car altogether," says Suzuki Australia spokesman Andrew Ellis."Suzuki is showing the European car at the Paris show but we're not expecting any major differences for Australia. We're expecting it in quarter two, next year."Ellis says the Vitara fits between the Jimny and Grand Vitara, although he concedes it's more likely to be pitched at a similar group to the buyers for the S-Cross."There is a gap there, and that's where the market is growing in compact SUVs. It sits below Grand Vitara," he says. "They have stayed pretty close to the iV-4 concept car from the Frankfurt show in 2013."The coming Vitara may yet share its platform and all grip drivetrain with the S-Cross. "We're looking at on-demand all-wheel drive, with (primarily) front-drive. So no low-range off-road gears," Ellis says.The Vitara comes as Suzuki accelerates its new-model program following the lean years immediately after the global financial crisis.It's already committed to the replacement for the Alto, the Celerio, in 2015. Now with the Vitara, Ellis says, "It's going to be a big year for Suzuki. There's a lot happening."

Suzuki is finally getting into gear with some much-needed improvements to its product line-up for Australia. After more than two years with nothing beyond Sport models for the Swift and Kizashi, it's readying three all-new additions to the showroom line-up from the middle of next year until the start of 2015.The headliner is the iV-4 SUV concept just unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show but it will be book-ended by the compact S-Cross that takes over from the $18,990 SX4 and a renewal of the tiny $11,790 Alto.The iV-4 takes a totally new direction, as it was developed for Europe and will be built in a factory in Hungary. It's also a new look for a company that is notoriously conservative on the styling front. It can be seen as a re-invention of the Vitara in the Suzuki line, as its size - 4.2 metres long and 1.65 metres tall - drops it into the open space between the current Jimny and Grand Vitara.But don't expect the iV-4 badges -  to reflect individuality, vehicle and four-wheel drive at Frankfurt - to make it to the road. "We're expecting a different name for the production car," the spokesman for Suzuki Australia, Andrew Ellis, tells Carsguide. "The timing will be 2015 for Australia. At a stretch, it could just make it into the back end of next year."He confirms the position of the iV-4 and the re-working of the other models. "This is an addition to the range, not a replacment for anything we already have. The SX4 is getting replaced by S-Cross next year and we also have a replacement for the Alto."Ellis says Suzuki Australia is still waiting for a full product plan from Japan, as there is not even a confirmation of engines - beyond a claim for class leading CO2 emissions - from Frankfurt. "All they have said at the moment is that it will be produced for Europe in Hungary. We will be taking S-Cross from the factory at Maygar Suzuki, but we don't know yet about the production model of the iV-4."The change to the SX4 is a big one, as the S-Cross promises to be much more youthful. For people who cannot decide, there will be a choice for much of 2014. "The two models will run in parallel for a while next year, as we're expecting the S-Cross at the start of 2014 and the SX-4 will continue in production for a few months," says Ellis. "The S-Cross is aimed squarely at the Nissan Dualis. It's on a new platform."Looking to the iV-4, Ellis says Suzuki is expecting a genuine four-wheel drive that can trace its roots back to its original LJ off-roader in the 1970s, on through the SJ in the eighties, then the Vitara, Jimny and Grand Vitara. The company is also planning an extensive personalisation program, under the catchtag 'Grab your Field', extending beyond wheels and tyres to exterior parts, colours and even textures of some body panels.This reporter is on Twitter: @PaulWardGover 

Suzuki has again started making a two wheel drive version of its Grand Vitara something they have been doing for years with previous models, none of which made it to Australia.That's changed with the appearance of the new "twobie". Suzuki is a survivor and realises you have to diversify to survive in the 21st century car market and that means you really do need a two wheel drive (quasi) SUV.It caters directly for the needs of urbanites seeking the tough 4WD look but who never, ever go off road. Two wheel drive versions of SUVs are gaining momentum as punters realise they don't need nor do they want to pay for an all-wheel-drive capability.But Suzuki has taken a different track with its 2WD Grand Vit'. Unlike direct competitors and apart from Mitsubishi's Challenger 2WD the little Zook drives through the rear wheels and not the front.Does it matter? Probably not except for the fact that a rear wheel drive will tow better than a fronty and there is always the drive feel question which favours powered rear wheels. The 2WD Grand Vitara is available in five door, long wheelbase with a 2.4-litre petrol four cylinder engine and a choice of five speed manual and four speed automatic transmission.Hopefully they can scrounge up a more modern auto before too long. Aisin makes one. The 2WD Zook sells for $26,990 (two grand under the 4WD model) and comes well equipped to mid-spec of the fourbie model.The four pot engine is good for 122kW/225Nm output and because the 2WD Grand Vitara weighs less than the 4WD model, it will use less fuel, (around 8.0-litres/100km) and perform better. Grand Vitara also gains a styling refresh with a more purposeful looking grille and headlights and detail changes throughout the vehicle.

It looks the same, drives the same but by removing its 4WD system Suzuki will save buyers a massive $4500. This is the first time Suzuki has removed its 4WD system from its five-door Grand Vitara wagon and reflects a growing trend for buyers wanting the look and versatility of a 4WD, without the need to go off the road. The 2WD versions now account for almost half of all 4WD sales. Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers says it's in response to customer demand. “In the past couple of years the proliferation of 2WD models has maintained SUVs as the fastest growing segment in the market; not just in Australia but around the world,” he says. Suzuki will brand its new wagon version as the Urban. Prices start at $26,990 drive away. This compares with the 4WD version at $31,490. It will only be available with a 2.4-litre petrol engine and a five-speed manual or optional four-speed automatic transmission. A diesel model is not being considered at this stage. The Urban competes with 2WD versions of SUVs such as the Nissan Dualis, Jeep Patriot, Kia Sportage, Hyundai ix35 and Volkswagen Tiguan. But the Suzuki is the only one to feature rear-wheel drive. The others are front-wheel drive. Devers says it makes the Grand Vitara Urban a logical choice for customers wanting a 2WD but still looking to tow. It retains the Grand Vitara 4WD's towing capacity of 1850kg.