Japanese minnow Suzuki has grand ambitions
for the future: the company intends to enter the World Rally Championship with a
modified version of its new SX4 sedan. Final decisions have yet to be taken by
the factory, because of some uncertainty over the WRC regulations for 2007, but
the announcement that it would step up from the Junior WRC, which Suzuki has
dominated in recent years, was made recently at the Geneva Motor
Show.
In addition, Suzuki goes into the 2006 World
Superbike Championship as defending champions, with Aussie title holder Troy
Corser.
Meanwhile Suzuki has gone firmly upmarket
with its latest Grand Vitara compact SUV. The Grand Vitara is now powered by a
potent 2.7 liter V6, while safety features include six standard airbags and an
electronic stability program (ESP) which incorporates traction control. So good
is the little off-roader it was nominated ‘Best Kept Secret of 2006’ by US-based
Autobytel, the on-line dealer.
 Suzuki Grand Vitara Suzuki was established in Japan in 1909 as
Suzuki Loom Works, but made its first motorized bicycle as recently as 1952. In
1955 Suzuki produced its first micro-car, the innovative Suzulight 360 cc. The
Vitara and Grand Vitara arrived in 1999
The 2006 Grand Vitara is all new, offering
sleeker styling and a larger, wider body, giving greater interior space, with
extra headroom and increased leg room, front and rear. There is also an
increase in luggage space thanks to rear seat backs that fold in a 60:40
split.
There are now two four-wheel drive options:
a full-time single-mode all-wheel drive system, or a four-mode system which
offers greater flexibility. All Vitaras are equiped with ESP and electronic
brakeforce distribution, or EBD. The ESP uses a variety of electronic sensors
to measure speed, steering wheel angle and the yaw of the vehicle. Under
certain conditions, such as when unintentional oversteer or understeer is
detected, the system can apply individual brakes and reduce engine torque to
allow the driver to maintain control.
To put this in simple terms, if the driver
wishes to turn but the Vitara tries to take a wider line, that is understeer and
the system will brake the inner rear wheel; conversely if the system detects
oversteer – that is the rear trying to overtake the front, it will add braking
force to the outer wheels and reduce torque. Despite its apparently
user-friendly image, the Grand Vitara can still be considered a serious
off-roader. Its high ground clearance and four-wheel drive systems, along with
the ESP, allow it to cover rough terrain as steadily as a more established
4x4.
The 2.7 liter V6 engine produces a healthy
185 bhp (136 kW) and 250 Nm of torque, both an immediate improvement on the
previous model. A variable induction system improves throttle response and
increases overall efficiency, while the lump also sits on hydraulic engine
mounts to reduce vibration and noise. Standard is a five-speed manual
transmission, although a five-speed automatic is an option. Unusually in this
class of vehicle, the Grand Vitara still relies on rear drum brakes instead of
the now almost universally accepted all-round discs. Presumably the Suzuki
rally car will have a better braking system.
With the 2006 Grand Vitara, Suzuki is
clearly serious about establishing itself as a major automaker and, although its
name is currently synonymous with motorcycle racing, in the MotoGP as well as
World Superbikes – Suzuki were world champions in MotoGP in 2000 with Kenny
Roberts Jr. - when the SX4 world rally car gets going next year and becomes
fully competitive in 2008, it will present a united front on the competition
side. Do not rule out the Japanese manufacturer; Suzuki wants to be known and
recognised worldwide.
-JH
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