Suzuki Grand Vitara



The Grand Vitara is Suzuki's more powerful version of the Suzuki Vitara. 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, Canada, while the North American Grand Vitaras were built in Japan, where it is the Suzuki Escudo. For 2006, it is currently Suzuki's entry-level SUV, until the SX4 takes over from the Grand Vitara as Suzuki's entry-level SUV for 2007.

In India (it is sold as a Maruti), it is a popular SUV, competing with such vehicles as the Tata Safari, Ford Endeavour and Honda CRV.

The vehicle is also mass produced in Iran by Iran Khodro Manufacturing Co.. 

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 Equinox and 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.

Racing History
A "Grand Vitara" participated in the annual Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in 1996, although it could be argued by some that it has been so heavily modified and changed that it bears no resemblance to the road model. This racing model was equipped with two twin-turbo V6's in the middle of the chassis that 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.

This racing Grand Vitara has been featured in every Gran Turismo game since Gran Turismo 2 as the Escudo Pikes Peak, and it is often regarded as a "newbie car" used by those with no skill at racing, though it has been argued that you need skill to afford its 2,000,000 price tag. It is also featured in Rallisport Challenge 2, although it is accompanied by other extremely powerful hillclimb vehicles and so does not sport the "holy grail" image that Gran Turismo's version does. It is interesting to note that RS2's version of the GV Pikes Peak does not have GT's red paint scheme as any one of its 4 skins.

Reliability

 * RECALL ALERT: Suzuki recalls over 46,000 XL-7 and Grand Vitara SUVs due to faulty pulleys

Awards

 * 2008 Overlander Best Compact SUV
 * 2008 4X4 Australia Best Compact SUV
 * 2009 Overlander Best Compact SUV
 * 2009 4X4 Australia Best Compact SUV