Suzuki Launches New Escudo (Vitara) in Japan

Next-Generation Grand Vitara to Still Feature Full Off-Road Capability

After almost seventeen years of production and several facelifts, Suzuki has just announced the replacement for its Escudo compact

Suzuki has just announced the replacement for its Escudo compact SUV, known in North America as the Grand Vitara. (Photo: Suzuki Canada)

SUV. The Escudo, also known as the Vitara (variations include the V6-powered Grand Vitara and the extended-wheelbase XL-7) and in its early years as the Sidekick, gained international fame as one of the first mass-produced compact SUVs, bringing four-wheel drive and off-roading capabilities to market in a civilized, refined and value-priced package. In its years in production, Suzuki paired up with GM to produce variations on the original, successfully selling them as Chevrolets, Asunas, and even GMCs.

The new Escudo, which was introduced in Tokyo earlier last week, is essentially the production version of the Concept-X2 which debuted during the first half of 2005 at the New York Auto Show. From concept to production, only a few minor changes have been made, including less aggressive front and rear air dams, and reworked details such as lighting and mirrors to meet local market requirements. Suzuki's new design language, launched with 'Project 357,' gives the new Escudo a stocky but friendly appearance that should hopefully help it

Suzuki hopes to lure in new buyers with a tempting array of new technologies, a few of which are industry firsts on vehicles of this size. (Photo: Suzuki Canada)

obtain the same success that it had with the first generation.

Like that first generation vehicle, Suzuki hopes to lure in new buyers with a tempting array of new technologies, a few of which are industry firsts on vehicles of this size. Most compact SUVs use a car-based monocoque chassis to ease the cost of development and improve structural rigidity. However, the original Escudo utilized a more durable, traditional ladder-on-frame-style chassis. For the next generation, Suzuki has followed in the footsteps of Land Rover and its LR3/Range Rover Sport, by putting together a hybrid unibody ladder-frame chassis which combines the best of the car and truck worlds, improving on refinement as well as on-road dynamics and crash test performance.