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Grand Vitara
The Grand Vitara is
Suzuki's larger version of the Suzuki Vitara.
As of 2004, the smaller Suzuki Vitara was
discontinued for the US market. Sales are
slow, with just 4,860 sold in 2004 for the
United States, but in Canada, it has strong
sales. All North American Vitara vehicles
were built at CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll,
Ontario, Canada, while the North American
Grand Vitaras were built in Japan aka Suzuki
Escudo.
However,
in India (where it is sold as a Maruti,
it is a popular SUV, competing with such
vehicles as the Tata Safari and Mahindra
Scorpio.
The Grand Vitara was
replaced in the fall of 2005 by a new vehicle
using some components of General Motors' Theta
platform, and is built in Japan. The 2006
Grand Vitara was developed independently by
many of the same Suzuki engineers who developed
the Theta. Although it uses some Theta componentry,
especially in the suspension, it is quite
different and should not be considered a Theta
vehicle. Notably, it uses a longitudinally-mounted
engine and is rear wheel drive with a 103.9
in (2639 mm) wheelbase, while all other Theta
vehicles are transverse engined with front
wheel drive as the default. All can also be
ordered with all wheel drive as well, however.
The forthcoming Suzuki XL7 will be a true
Theta vehicle, and will be built alongside
the Equinox and Torrent at CAMI Automotive
in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada.
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