The all-new Maruti Suzuki Vitara will make its global debut in July, will be a truly international model
The upcoming Hyundai Creta-rivalling SUV from Maruti Suzuki, Vitara, will make its global debut in July while launch is expected to happen sometime in August. It will be close to the heels of its upcoming cousin, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, that is set to debut on 1st July.
Sources said the upcoming SUV, which is jointly developed with Toyota, will be a truly international model exported to both Africa and Europe. It will replace the current international Vitara which is due for an update.
Like the debut, the launch of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder will happen first followed by the Vitara in August. Both the SUVs are in for a good show in the popular C+ segment.
As Toyota already has good presence in the premium end of the spectrum, this project is the most important and crucial 1 for Maruti Suzuki after failed attempts with the Grand Vitara, Kizashi, and S-Cross. The Maruti Suzuki still couldn’t get out of the ‘small car maker’ tag.
The upcoming SUVs from Toyota and Maruti Suzuki will be built on Suzuki’s Global-C platform that currently underpins the Brezza (slated for launch soon), Ciaz, S-Cross, the new international S-Cross, and the international fourth generation Vitara.
While it was earlier confirmed that both the SUVs will get Maruti Suzuki’s recently introduced mild-hybrid K15C engine on the lower variants, the latest update is that the same K15C engine will also power the strong hybrid variants albeit with Toyota’s hybrid system.
In the lower mild-hybrid trims, the K15C is expected to exert the same 101.64 HP as the new Ertiga. But, in the strong hybrid variants, the motor will add 13 more horses taking the output to 114.41 HP. The system will come mated with an eCVT gearbox.
The K15C on the lower mild-hybrid trims will come mated to a 6-speed manual or an automatic transmission with an option of ‘Suzuki All-wheel Drive’ system too, probably, taken from the Jimny. We believe the autobox would the same torque converter the Ertiga sports.
