After reaching bigger auto markets around the world, Suzuki has launched the facelifted version of the Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV in Malaysia.
Not only India but the entire world recognize Suzuki as a small car specialist and the car maker's attempt at wooing premium segments did not work out. Suzuki just withdrew from the U.S. market after failing to make profit and now it seems to concentrate on Asian markets.
The facelifted Grand Vitara debuted in Japan earlier this year and it's the second such facelift on the current generation model which received its previous nip and tuck way back in 2008.
The honeycomb front grill of the previous version is now replaced with horizontal slats and sports chrome underlining. The new front bumper looks better than that of the previous version.
The Vitara facelift gets a new Gaia Bronze Pearl Metallic colour option. The car also gets new 17" alloy wheels. The interiors remain largely the same except for the new seat fabrics and door inserts and borrows lots of bits from much cheaper siblings like the Swift and the SX4.
The Malaysian Grand Vitara is powered by a 2.0 litre petrol engine which churns out 138 bhp and 183 Nm. The engine is mated to a 4-speed automatic gearbox.
Maruti Suzuki is reported to be considering local assembly of the Grand Vitara in the future and the facelifted Vitara could come to our shores on a do or die mission. It's to be noted that Maruti has already stopped inporting the Kizashi sedan and offers a hefty 5 lakh discount on the stocks. Without a diesel engine, we wonder what impact the Vitara facelift can have on the booming SUV market.
[Source: Paultan.org]
