PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Suzuki reincarnates Vitara

Suzuki's new-generation Vitara made its world debut at yesterday's Paris motor show, emerging almost identical to the iV-4 concept that previewed it at last year's Frankfort show.

Due on sale in Australia in the second quarter of next year, the born-again Vitara measures the same 4175mm long as the concept, making it 125mm shorter than the 4300mm SX4 S-Cross on which it's based.

More importantly, it's about 175mm longer than key small SUV rivals like the Ford EcoSport (3999mm), but around 100mm shorter than the Holden Trax (4278mm).

Interestingly, it also falls mid-way between the Grand Vitara three-door (4060mm) and five-door (4500mm), making the future of the smaller GV3 uncertain in Australia, where Suzuki has just launched upgraded Jimny and slimmed-down Grand Vitara ranges.

Unsurprisingly, the production Vitara is narrower than the iV-4 concept (1775 v 1850mm), but it's also lower at 1610mm (iV-4: 1665mm).

Riding on a 2500mm wheelbase (100mm shorter than the S-Cross'), the Vitara still offers decent ground clearance of 185mm, riding on 215/60 R16 or 215/55 R17 tyres.

Suzuki says cargo space of the five-door compact SUV is 375 litres.

As expected, its employs the same 88kW 1.6-litre petrol and diesel engines as the S-Cross, which will be offered with diesel power here next year, with CO2 emissions of the base petrol two-wheel drive five-speed manual listed at 123g/km (127g/km with a six-speed auto).

All-wheel drive petrol models, fitted with the same front-biased, four-mode ALLGRIP system as the S-Cross emit 134g/km (manual) and 138g/km (auto), with the 2WD diesel (six-speed) manual emitting 106g/km and the AWD diesel auto emitting 111g/km.

The M16A petrol engine makes 156Nm of torque at 4400rpm, while the D16AA produces 320Nm from 1750rpm.

Suzuki says key Vitara features will include an audio system with smartphone connectivity and, in high model grades, navigation.

Also offered will be a range of new safety features, including Radar Brake Support automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, tyre pressure monitoring and a speed limiter – along with seven airbags, stability control and anti-lock brakes.

There will be 15 body colours -- including three new hues and two-tone schemes – and the option of a sunroof with two individually sliding glass panels which, as in the S-Cross, spans a full metre in length.

The Vitara shares its monocoque-chassis not with the ladder-framed Jimny (from $20,990) but the S-Cross (from $22,990), alongside which it will be produced in Hungary from early 2015, and is also expected to be priced from under $25,000.

The new Vitara will revive a nameplate sold in Australia between 1988 and 2000, when the short-wheelbase Grand Vitara three-door effectively replaced it, two years after the five-door GV's launch in 1998.

Before it launches here around April, Suzuki Australia will replace its Alto micro-car with the all-new Celerio early next year.