We informed you earlier that Maruti Suzuki is working on an all-new premium SUV to challenge the likes of Hyundai Creta and Nissan Kicks. The SUV is scheduled to make a global debut at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo. If latest media report is to be believed, Suzuki is considering the next-gen Grand Vitara for India. What’s more interesting is that the Japanese market is planning to renew its flagship SUV.
Speaking to the Russian publication, Yuta Takahashi, CEO, Suzuki Motor Russia said that if the Grand Vitara becomes a soft-roader in the next generation, Europe may accept it, but Japan and India won’t accept this.
The company has ceased the production of the current Grand Vitara. In fact exports of the SKD kits to South America have also been stopped. The model is still in stock in some markets. For people not in the know, Suzuki had launched the Grand Vitara in India in 2003. It was pulled out of the market owing to its low sales and high pricing. The model was directly imported in India as CBU from the Iwata plant, Japan. Also See – Upcoming Maruti Cars In India
The Australian unit of Suzuki is also hopeful for the next-gen Grand Vitara. “I can’t confirm it, but based on what I’ve heard, I don’t think Grand Vitara is dead,” Michael Pachota, General Manager, Suzuki Australia (Automobiles), told GoAuto. The next-gen Grand Vitara is expected to be based on the built-in ladder frame chassis with a monocoque body.
For Indian market, Maruti Suzuki will launch a micro SUV based on the Future S Concept in the second half of 2019. Adding to it, the company will launch the next-gen Vitara SUV in 2020. The SUV is expected to be based on the modified version of the existing platform and will be loaded with all the features that are available in SUVs of same size. The company is also developing a new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine to power this SUV.
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