Vitara tops at all-terrain

The Suzuki Grand Vitara makes up a significant part of the carmaker's sales. The company now produces more vehicles in overseas markets than in its home country.

Suzuki's all-new Grand Vitara is a development of the model that pioneered an imaginative breed of vehicles in New Zealand.

When the Suzuki Vitara arrived in 1988 it was the first in a new class of compact, all-terrain cars.

It forged, almost single-handedly, a class of affordable four-wheel-drives and soon became a best-seller.

All-terrain 4WDs now comprise the second largest class of passenger vehicles in the new car market.

With the exception of the micro and light segment, all-terrain vehicles are the fastest growing market sector this year, according to the Motor Industry Association.

For the January to August 2005 period, sales of new all-terrain models were up 32 per cent on the same period in 2004. This compared with an increase of 6.4 per cent for all new car sales.

At the same time, all-terrain 4WDs increased their penetration of the New Zealand new car market from 17.7 per cent to 21.5 per cent, beating both the medium and large car classes.

"The growth in the SUV market comes on the back of a shift in focus away from off-road 'trucks' to versatile designs that fit customers' active lifestyles," said Tom Peck, general manager of marketing for Suzuki New Zealand. "With the continuing enhancements in engine technology and efficiency, they are still desirable alternatives."

When the Grand Vitara replaced the original Vitara in 1998, it marked a significant step forward in comfort and refinement, without losing its off-road ability.

Suzuki has sold more than 1.9 million Vitara and Grand Vitara models in more than 100 markets, with many finding homes in Europe where the model has strong appeal.

An even wider market has opened up for the new model because two forms of Grand Vitara are available for the first time, with the new entry-level 1.6-litre three-door offering a full-time four-wheel-drive system and high-gear ratio mode only.

Five-door models get a new four-mode full-time four-wheel-drive system with a centre differential.

The new Grand Vitara is a significant component in Suzuki's rising automobile sales.

Suzuki now produces more vehicles in overseas markets than in its home country.