New Suzuki Vitara revealed

Suzuki has released the official image of the new Vitara. The compact crossover will be internationally unveiled at this year’s Paris motor show. Suzuki is reviving the Vitara model name for its all-new five-door car, which will battle rivals such as the Nissan Juke and Ford Ecosport in the globally competitive and fast-growing compact crossover segment.

Like the Grand Vitara, a four-wheel-drive option will be offered via the AllGrip system and power is likely to come from the 1.6-litre petrol and diesel powerplants installed in the SX4 S-Cross. Suzuki says the Vitara "will have a striking road presence with distinctive design." Customers, internationally, will have the option of personalising the car with various colour and trim customisation options.

The Vitara production model is based on the iV-4 concept which was first shown at the Frankfurt motor show in 2013. The new car is based on an all-new platform, which is expected to underpin a number of future vehicles. It is likely to be built at the Suzuki's Hungarian plant and is part of a model expansion plan.

The Vitara, in the international markets, is effectively a replacement for the previous-generation SX4 S-Cross, because the new S-Cross is bigger and takes on the likes of Nissan’s Qashqai. The SX4 S-Cross has also been confirmed for Indian markets; likely to be launched in 2015.