Latest news with #Vitara
The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Suzuki Vitara electric, hybrid SUVs locked in for Australia
The current Suzuki Vitara is gaining a hybrid powertrain next year, when the unrelated but similarly named electric e-Vitara will join the Japanese small car brand's local lineup. Both small crossover SUVs are due in Australia during the first quarter of 2026. The e-Vitara will be Suzuki's first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, but for now the brand isn't publishing pricing or specification details. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed in November 2024, the e-Vitara is built on the Heartect-e platform developed in collaboration with Daihatsu and Toyota. Depending on the market, it'll be offered in a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive configurations: one with a 49kWh battery and a 106kW/189Nm electric motor, the other with a 61kWh battery and outputs of 128kW and 189Nm. There's also a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant that gains a 48kW rear motor, bumping total outputs up to 135kW and 300Nm. It's offered with the larger of the two batteries. All-wheel drive variants feature a Trail mode that's said to offer the functionality of a limited-slip differential. The e-Vitara measures 100mm longer, 25mm wider and 25mm taller than the combustion-powered Vitara, riding a 200mm longer wheelbase. It weighs between 1702kg and 1899kg. It will serve as a rival to the likes of the Chery E5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger, and Kia EV3. The Vitara Hybrid was originally confirmed for a late 2024 launch in Australia back in early 2024, but has been the subject of delays. Suzuki subsequently revealed a facelift for the Hungarian-built Vitara in April 2024, bringing upgrades to its suite of active safety and driver assist technology, as well as a larger 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a refreshed front fascia. The Vitara is offered in Europe with a choice of two powertrains, both offered with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system opens the range, producing 95kW of power and 235Nm of torque. Optional is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 75kW and 138Nm, mated with a 24.6kW/60Nm electric motor, a 140V lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed automated manual transmission. Arriving before the e-Vitara and Vitara Hybrid is the new Fronx light crossover SUV (pictured below), which goes on sale nationwide on September 1, 2025. Suzuki says this Fronx – short for 'Frontier Crossover' – will solidify its presence in the light SUV segment and "open the doors to younger buyers looking to upgrade from a smaller hatchback to an SUV". Revealed in January 2023, the Fronx measures 3995mm long, which slots it between the pint-size Ignis (which is in runout mode) and the Vitara. Production of the petrol-powered Vitara and Ignis ended for Australia earlier this year, along with the S-Cross and Swift Sport. The Ignis and Swift Sport were at the end of their life cycles, but the others live on in other markets. Production ended due to these vehicles – along with the three-door Jimny off-roader – lacking autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems that meet performance standards mandated in Australia from March 1, 2025. Suzuki Australia confirmed in February it had enough stock of the aforementioned vehicles to last into 2025. We've contacted Suzuki Australia to confirm how much stock is left of these. MORE: Explore the Suzuki Vitara showroom Content originally sourced from: The current Suzuki Vitara is gaining a hybrid powertrain next year, when the unrelated but similarly named electric e-Vitara will join the Japanese small car brand's local lineup. Both small crossover SUVs are due in Australia during the first quarter of 2026. The e-Vitara will be Suzuki's first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, but for now the brand isn't publishing pricing or specification details. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed in November 2024, the e-Vitara is built on the Heartect-e platform developed in collaboration with Daihatsu and Toyota. Depending on the market, it'll be offered in a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive configurations: one with a 49kWh battery and a 106kW/189Nm electric motor, the other with a 61kWh battery and outputs of 128kW and 189Nm. There's also a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant that gains a 48kW rear motor, bumping total outputs up to 135kW and 300Nm. It's offered with the larger of the two batteries. All-wheel drive variants feature a Trail mode that's said to offer the functionality of a limited-slip differential. The e-Vitara measures 100mm longer, 25mm wider and 25mm taller than the combustion-powered Vitara, riding a 200mm longer wheelbase. It weighs between 1702kg and 1899kg. It will serve as a rival to the likes of the Chery E5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger, and Kia EV3. The Vitara Hybrid was originally confirmed for a late 2024 launch in Australia back in early 2024, but has been the subject of delays. Suzuki subsequently revealed a facelift for the Hungarian-built Vitara in April 2024, bringing upgrades to its suite of active safety and driver assist technology, as well as a larger 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a refreshed front fascia. The Vitara is offered in Europe with a choice of two powertrains, both offered with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system opens the range, producing 95kW of power and 235Nm of torque. Optional is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 75kW and 138Nm, mated with a 24.6kW/60Nm electric motor, a 140V lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed automated manual transmission. Arriving before the e-Vitara and Vitara Hybrid is the new Fronx light crossover SUV (pictured below), which goes on sale nationwide on September 1, 2025. Suzuki says this Fronx – short for 'Frontier Crossover' – will solidify its presence in the light SUV segment and "open the doors to younger buyers looking to upgrade from a smaller hatchback to an SUV". Revealed in January 2023, the Fronx measures 3995mm long, which slots it between the pint-size Ignis (which is in runout mode) and the Vitara. Production of the petrol-powered Vitara and Ignis ended for Australia earlier this year, along with the S-Cross and Swift Sport. The Ignis and Swift Sport were at the end of their life cycles, but the others live on in other markets. Production ended due to these vehicles – along with the three-door Jimny off-roader – lacking autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems that meet performance standards mandated in Australia from March 1, 2025. Suzuki Australia confirmed in February it had enough stock of the aforementioned vehicles to last into 2025. We've contacted Suzuki Australia to confirm how much stock is left of these. MORE: Explore the Suzuki Vitara showroom Content originally sourced from: The current Suzuki Vitara is gaining a hybrid powertrain next year, when the unrelated but similarly named electric e-Vitara will join the Japanese small car brand's local lineup. Both small crossover SUVs are due in Australia during the first quarter of 2026. The e-Vitara will be Suzuki's first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, but for now the brand isn't publishing pricing or specification details. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed in November 2024, the e-Vitara is built on the Heartect-e platform developed in collaboration with Daihatsu and Toyota. Depending on the market, it'll be offered in a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive configurations: one with a 49kWh battery and a 106kW/189Nm electric motor, the other with a 61kWh battery and outputs of 128kW and 189Nm. There's also a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant that gains a 48kW rear motor, bumping total outputs up to 135kW and 300Nm. It's offered with the larger of the two batteries. All-wheel drive variants feature a Trail mode that's said to offer the functionality of a limited-slip differential. The e-Vitara measures 100mm longer, 25mm wider and 25mm taller than the combustion-powered Vitara, riding a 200mm longer wheelbase. It weighs between 1702kg and 1899kg. It will serve as a rival to the likes of the Chery E5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger, and Kia EV3. The Vitara Hybrid was originally confirmed for a late 2024 launch in Australia back in early 2024, but has been the subject of delays. Suzuki subsequently revealed a facelift for the Hungarian-built Vitara in April 2024, bringing upgrades to its suite of active safety and driver assist technology, as well as a larger 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a refreshed front fascia. The Vitara is offered in Europe with a choice of two powertrains, both offered with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system opens the range, producing 95kW of power and 235Nm of torque. Optional is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 75kW and 138Nm, mated with a 24.6kW/60Nm electric motor, a 140V lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed automated manual transmission. Arriving before the e-Vitara and Vitara Hybrid is the new Fronx light crossover SUV (pictured below), which goes on sale nationwide on September 1, 2025. Suzuki says this Fronx – short for 'Frontier Crossover' – will solidify its presence in the light SUV segment and "open the doors to younger buyers looking to upgrade from a smaller hatchback to an SUV". Revealed in January 2023, the Fronx measures 3995mm long, which slots it between the pint-size Ignis (which is in runout mode) and the Vitara. Production of the petrol-powered Vitara and Ignis ended for Australia earlier this year, along with the S-Cross and Swift Sport. The Ignis and Swift Sport were at the end of their life cycles, but the others live on in other markets. Production ended due to these vehicles – along with the three-door Jimny off-roader – lacking autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems that meet performance standards mandated in Australia from March 1, 2025. Suzuki Australia confirmed in February it had enough stock of the aforementioned vehicles to last into 2025. We've contacted Suzuki Australia to confirm how much stock is left of these. MORE: Explore the Suzuki Vitara showroom Content originally sourced from: The current Suzuki Vitara is gaining a hybrid powertrain next year, when the unrelated but similarly named electric e-Vitara will join the Japanese small car brand's local lineup. Both small crossover SUVs are due in Australia during the first quarter of 2026. The e-Vitara will be Suzuki's first electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, but for now the brand isn't publishing pricing or specification details. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Revealed in November 2024, the e-Vitara is built on the Heartect-e platform developed in collaboration with Daihatsu and Toyota. Depending on the market, it'll be offered in a choice of single-motor front-wheel drive configurations: one with a 49kWh battery and a 106kW/189Nm electric motor, the other with a 61kWh battery and outputs of 128kW and 189Nm. There's also a dual-motor all-wheel drive variant that gains a 48kW rear motor, bumping total outputs up to 135kW and 300Nm. It's offered with the larger of the two batteries. All-wheel drive variants feature a Trail mode that's said to offer the functionality of a limited-slip differential. The e-Vitara measures 100mm longer, 25mm wider and 25mm taller than the combustion-powered Vitara, riding a 200mm longer wheelbase. It weighs between 1702kg and 1899kg. It will serve as a rival to the likes of the Chery E5, Hyundai Kona Electric, Jeep Avenger, and Kia EV3. The Vitara Hybrid was originally confirmed for a late 2024 launch in Australia back in early 2024, but has been the subject of delays. Suzuki subsequently revealed a facelift for the Hungarian-built Vitara in April 2024, bringing upgrades to its suite of active safety and driver assist technology, as well as a larger 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a refreshed front fascia. The Vitara is offered in Europe with a choice of two powertrains, both offered with either front- or all-wheel drive. A 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system opens the range, producing 95kW of power and 235Nm of torque. Optional is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid with 75kW and 138Nm, mated with a 24.6kW/60Nm electric motor, a 140V lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed automated manual transmission. Arriving before the e-Vitara and Vitara Hybrid is the new Fronx light crossover SUV (pictured below), which goes on sale nationwide on September 1, 2025. Suzuki says this Fronx – short for 'Frontier Crossover' – will solidify its presence in the light SUV segment and "open the doors to younger buyers looking to upgrade from a smaller hatchback to an SUV". Revealed in January 2023, the Fronx measures 3995mm long, which slots it between the pint-size Ignis (which is in runout mode) and the Vitara. Production of the petrol-powered Vitara and Ignis ended for Australia earlier this year, along with the S-Cross and Swift Sport. The Ignis and Swift Sport were at the end of their life cycles, but the others live on in other markets. Production ended due to these vehicles – along with the three-door Jimny off-roader – lacking autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems that meet performance standards mandated in Australia from March 1, 2025. Suzuki Australia confirmed in February it had enough stock of the aforementioned vehicles to last into 2025. We've contacted Suzuki Australia to confirm how much stock is left of these. MORE: Explore the Suzuki Vitara showroom Content originally sourced from:
Mint
a day ago
- Automotive
- Mint
New Maruti Suzuki Escudo SUV expected to launch soon: Here's what to expect
Maruti Suzuki, long hailed as the 'small car king' of India, is now firmly tightening its grip on the SUV space. The automaker is reportedly preparing to expand its utility vehicle portfolio with a brand-new compact SUV, likely to be named the Maruti Suzuki Escudo. According to industry sources and recent trademark filings, the Escudo is a moniker the company registered last year alongside 'Torqnado', reported HT Auto. Notably, Suzuki uses the Escudo name for the Vitara in markets like Japan. However, in the Indian context, the Escudo is expected to be a fresh product, tailored for local buyers and positioned strategically between the Brezza and the Grand Vitara. As per the publication, the new SUV is anticipated to arrive during the upcoming festive season, targeting one of the most competitive segments in the Indian car market. Upon launch, the Escudo will likely face off against popular contenders such as the Hyundai Creta, Kia Seltos, Skoda Kushaq, Volkswagen Taigun, Honda Elevate, and MG Astor. The vehicle could be retailed through Maruti Suzuki's Arena dealership network. Underpinning the Escudo will likely be Suzuki's Global C platform, which also forms the basis of the Grand Vitara. However, the upcoming SUV is expected to feature some modifications, potentially a slightly extended wheelbase, to enhance cabin space and comfort. The styling and proportions could borrow cues from international Vitara models, but with distinct India-specific tweaks. Inside, the Escudo could raise the bar for Maruti Suzuki offerings. Buyers can expect a redesigned dashboard featuring a large touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A fully digital instrument cluster, sunroof, and ventilated front seats are expected to feature in the higher variants, offering a more premium experience compared to existing Arena models. In line with Maruti Suzuki's current powertrain strategy, the Escudo is likely to be powered by the familiar 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, already seen in the likes of the Ertiga, Brezza, and Grand Vitara. This motor could be paired with the brand's mild-hybrid technology, aimed at improving fuel efficiency. Transmission duties will likely be handled by a five-speed manual and a six-speed automatic gearbox, depending on the variant. The upcoming Escudo is also expected to score well on the safety front. Maruti Suzuki is likely to offer six airbags, ABS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), and other standard safety tech across all variants. The top-spec trims could be equipped with a 360-degree camera system, elevating convenience and confidence for drivers.
NZ Autocar
7 days ago
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
New Suzuki e Vitara undercuts Elroq and EV3
The compact Suzuki e Vitara electric SUV is now available in the UK and is selling for less than EV3 and Skoda Elroq. That makes it amongst the most affordable in its class. It also comes with the option of all-wheel drive. Expect it here in 2026. An entry-level variant will be available with a 49kWh battery. Every other version gets a 61kWh battery pack, good for almost 400km of range. New electric Vitara cannot compete on range with the EV3 and Elroq, both being around the 600km mark. Despite a claimed maximum charging speed of 150kW, the e Vitara takes around 30 minutes to recharge from 15 to 70 per cent. See our Suzuki Swift RSC review here. The base model has a 106kW/189Nm motor. A medium-spec variant will come with a 128kW motor also driving the front wheels. Meantime, the top AWD variant has dual motors good for 135kW/300Nm. An Allgrip e 4wd system has a Trail mode that brakes spinning wheels and can send torque across the axle for improved traction. Normal, Eco and Sport modes are also available, while a button on the centre console ramps up the regen. Available to order from July, Suzuki hasn't yet revealed full specifications for the two trim levels. However, much is already known about this newcomer. New electric platform The e Vitara sits on a new EV-dedicated platform called 'Heartect-e'. Suzuki jointly developed it with Toyota and Daihatsu. A heat pump comes standard fit. At 4275mm long and with a wheelbase of 2700mm, the e Vitara is 100mm longer than its ICE power sib. There's an extra 200mm between the wheels for added interior space. It is wider and taller too, though is obviously heavier. The lightest version weighs in at 1702kg, while the dual-motor variant is nearly 1900kg. By contrast, the heaviest petrol Vitara is 1375kg. The design of the e Vitara echoes that of the Suzuki eVX concept revealed in January 2023. Key features include angular wheelarches, a sloping roofline, and extensive use of plastic cladding. There's a three-point matrix lighting signature at the front and rear. Both 18- and 19-inch alloy wheels will be on offer. The e Vitara has slightly more complex body surfacing than the concept while there's no faux-skid plate. Production versions use conventional door handles versus flush-mount items for the concept. The rear ones are hidden in the C-pillar. Its charging port is above the front-right wheelarch. Interior and practicality The concept's interior design isn't quite so motor-show ready but is a step forward on that of the ICE Vitara. Behind the two-spoke steering wheel is a 10.25-inch digital driver's display, part of a widescreen set-up that includes the 10.1-inch central infotainment screen. There's a small row of physical climate controls located on the dash, and a floating centre console. Also present are a rotating gear selector, a wireless charging pad, cup-holders and a large storage area underneath the centre console with charge outlets. The floor in the rear, while flat, is set high which might not suit taller adults. There's another pair of charging ports and two sets of ISOFIX child-seat mount points in the rear. Its 306-litre boot isn't huge; the smaller Jeep Avenger has 355 litres, by comparison. The Suzuki does feature a 60:40-split sliding rear bench though. It can be pulled forward by approximately 20cm. Even so, a high boot floor means maximum e Vitara luggage space is only 320 litres. Suzuki's will share electric tech with Toyota Toyota's Urban Cruiser is a rebadged e Vitara. It is the second electric model in its passenger car range after the bZ4X. And these will also be joined by the C-HR EV soon. Toyota and Suzuki have been working together on vehicles since 2016. In the UK, Toyota's Corolla Touring Sports and RAV4 PHEV have been rebadged as Suzuki Swace and Across, respectively. We asked Suzuki New Zealand about its intentions for e Vitara and it says it plans to launch the EV here next year. Timing is yet to be confirmed but CEO, Gary Collins, says it will likely here early to midway though next year.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The decade-old Suzuki that trumps EVs
Despite record revenue and operating income in fiscal 2024-25, Suzuki Motor Corporation remains a cautious company. The latest results, with the main numbers equivalent to 35.4 and 3.9 billion euro, prove the wisdom of its always-keep-costs-as-low-as-possible strategy. The decade-old yet still competitive Vitara is but one example. Long lived and all the better for it Kaizen is all through this small SUV. There have been two facelifts, multiple engine changes and evolutions, new transmissions and, mercifully, an interior left mostly alone. The Vitara retains strong appeal thanks to great economy (low weight plus mild and series hybrid powertrains), fair pricing and no nagging electronics. Sure, the ADAS stuff is all there but it keeps quiet. And who wants to be asked five minutes after setting off: 'Time for a break?'. Or harangued constantly for daring to drive in sunglasses. I know people who are avoiding buying a new car due to this stuff. Press a button on either the tailgate, either front door or the ancient looking yet somehow appealing remote and the car unlocks. There is no 'welcome' sound and/or lights show, the driver's seat and steering wheel adjust manually, the door trim shifts slightly when you lower any window and there's a manual parking brake. No key, mind; firing up and shutting off are also done via a button-press. When will we see Suzuki EVs? Everything, including the steering, is the opposite of heavy in the Vitara. Which is very Suzuki. And one of the main reasons why the company has waited so long before creating EVs. And you can set a PR machine on this issue, as Renault Group has done with its fabulous new ad, yet here again is an inconvenient truth, batteries bring much mass (sorry to state one fact: the A390 prototype weighs 2,121 kilos). Plug-in Suzukis are coming but due to India being far and away the vehicles division's number one market (almost as vital as the USA is to Subaru), electric cars have not been a priority. Increasingly they will be. Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) is under constant attack from three main challengers. Recently Mahindra turned the tables on Hyundai and Tata by grabbing and holding on to second place in passenger car sales. Still the Indian-Japanese JV holds some 40 percent of the local market, down from more than half. Yet everything is changing in this now giant market. Gone are the days of outdated Maruti models, and here in Europe we too will increasingly benefit from MSIL's new-tech cars and SUVs. Even now, the Japanese market's Fronx and Jimny Nomade (five-door) are sourced from India. The e Vitara, Suzuki's first global EV, is coming our way too, as is the Urban Cruiser, a rebadged variant for Toyota Motor Europe. Four models for the UK Leveraging the well-known Vitara name could be a masterstroke for what is a small brand in the UK and the region we are part of. Suzuki may be a medium-sized OEM overall but it's only a minor one in Britain. And yet such is the reputation for value, reliability and longevity that resales tend to be strong. After a culling of certain models a while back, there are now only four models available here: Swift, S-Cross, Vitara and Across. The last of those costs almost fifty thousand pounds, a stunning amount for a Suzuki. All others start below thirty grand, or twenty in the Swift's case. Priced from GBP27,299, the cheapest Vitara is £750 less than the entry level S-Cross, with Motion and Ultra trim levels (as well as a production plant) in common. There is no higher model grade with the Hybrid, which means just one variant and pricing a little below the top-spec Mild Hybrid. See below for specifics of each. AGS solely for the Hybrid Facelift number two was announced last year, Suzuki GB terming this its 2025 range. That's also when the Motion and Ultra names were applied to this model. Strictly speaking there is no Vitara automatic. However, the Hybrid has only two pedals, its 'AGS' gearbox being an automated manual. Swapping cogs yourself is an increasingly rare thing in new cars. The shifting in this one is - that word again - light, and a delight. As Suzuki doesn't always give you this many ratios, worthy of mention is that there are six (in every Vitara, manual or AGS). Unusually, reverse is at bottom right and you must raise a collar to select it. What a pleasure and novelty choosing any gear is compared to so many awful auto-selectors. The day after this press tester went back, an XC90 arrived: its P-R-N-D is slow, vague and generally far inferior. As it has been for more than a decade. Why is such basic stuff so hard for some car makers? The tweaks for 2025 Changes for the 2025 Vitara are fairly minor, though at the front it's easy to notice the new headlights, differently shaped foglamps and DRL, plus what looks like a nudge-bar but isn't. The last of these is a small but highly effective visual change, it being merely some dark plastic below the grille. Other updates include specific alloy wheels for Motion and Ultra variants. Each are seventeen inches in diameter and for the top trim they have a chrome-look finish. Almost a convertible Gauges are analogue and all the better for being so, the eyeball-style vents remain a delight to use and the touchscreen is nicely sized at only nine inches in diameter. Plastics are all durable and certain things such as the steering wheel buttons have a satisfying feel to them, not being haptic. Overhead, and the press tester was in Ultra specification, is a metre-long glass roof. This is in fact two panels and they slide to reveal a vast space (well, 56 cm is vast for a car that's only 4.1 m long). It's a terrible shame that the light-coloured and too-thin sunblind is ineffective - a proper black-out one is needed. MHEV has more power than HEV The 48V MHEV which I had temporary custody of has more power than the HEV. With the mild hybrid, a 95 kW (129 PS) and 235 Nm 1.4-litre engine is boosted by a 10 kW (14 PS) and 53 Nm motor. Drive can be to the front or both axles. The stated WLTP average is 53.2 mpg (FWD). The AWD press vehicle returned 52.1 from a mix of city and motorway journeys. Choose the 140V Hybrid instead and you'll get Suzuki's K15C, a naturally aspirated 1.5, also with four cylinders. Outputs are 74 kW (101 PS) plus 24 kW (33 PS) and 60 Nm from the motor. Combined power for what is officially known as the 'Full Hybrid' is 85 kW (116 PS). The 0-62 mph time is 13.5 seconds, 4.0 more than the MHEV. How is it to drive? For a car that's so old the Vitara isn't at all bad to drive. Every mandated safety system is the opposite of intrusive, and sure, it rolls around if you push hard but why would you? Off-road, this has always been a highly capable 4x4 too, though less so as a 4x2. The wheelbase may be on the short side yet the ride is good and the suspension has long travel. If only the steering had better feel. And yet nobody could dislike this vehicle due to its rather wonderful almost timeless appeal. Conclusion Would I buy one? Definitely. For what you pay, there is a terrific amount of value, and compared to almost any EV, oodles of character. I hope Suzuki keeps the updates coming every few years and that production continues for another decade."The decade-old Suzuki that trumps EVs" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Budapest Times
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Budapest Times
Magyar Suzuki reaches milestone with Vitara
In ten years, the Hungarian plant of the Japanese car manufacturer has built one million Suzuki Vitara. The anniversary model, a Vitara GLX, rolled off the production line in Esztergom on Friday. As Suzuki emphasised in a press release, the Vitara is currently the most popular passenger car model in Hungary. For Magyar Suzuki, the start of series production in 2015 was a turning point because it was the first local car whose prototype had been developed with the involvement of Hungarian engineers. The local experts were also given a free hand in production planning, for example with regard to the installation of robots in the welding shop and paint shop. Since the start of production in Esztergom at the end of 1992, Magyar Suzuki has been the Japanese group's only European car plant. Since its foundation, Suzuki has invested around 2 billion euros in the site, where 4 million vehicles have already been built by 2024. In addition to the Vitara small car, the Hungarians currently also produce the S-Cross SUV; almost nine out of ten cars have a hybrid drive. The vehicles are delivered from Esztergom to 123 countries around the world. Including partners, suppliers and the network of 78 brand dealers, Suzuki secures the livelihood of around 10,000 employees. The business figures for the past year have not yet been published; in 2023, Magyar Suzuki Zrt. increased its sales revenue from 2.1 to 2.9 billion euros and net profit from less than 25 to over 140 million euros.
