My thoughts on all things motoring, press releases, reviews & techie stuff, from around the world.
Please note that the pictures of vehicles within this blog are used as examples of the specific press releases, on occasions, due to the lack of available official pictures, examples are re-produced.
ANY AND ALL PROFANITIES WILL BE REMOVED AND THE PERSON/S RESPONSIBLE WILL BE BANNED, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Purpose
I will try my best to provide detailed info on various cars and what is like to live with them, I have already produced a few for Jaguar-car-forums, I will do my best to be unbiased, but it will be hard for some cars. I will re-produce press releases and copy from other motoring news.
Volkswagen’s award-winning Tiguan is available with advance payments as low as £1,499
Stylish SUV combines advanced technology with strong performance and frugal economy
Tiguan joins the comprehensive Volkswagen offering on Motability
Volkswagen has added the desirable new Tiguan SUV to the Motability Scheme. All Tiguan models come with a high level of equipment and combine powerful performance with sharp styling.
Every Tiguan, from the S trim up, features a range of driver’s assistance systems including Lane Assist, which gently steers the car to keep it within its lane, and Front Assist, which uses radar sensing linked to the throttle and brakes at speeds of up to 19 mph, to control automatically the distance between the Tiguan and the car ahead.
Speed-sensitive power-assisted steering and features such as automatic windscreen wipers and lights add to the user-friendliness of the Tiguan.
the electronic handbrake is operated at the touch of a button to hold the car when it is paused on an incline.
Efficiency is a hallmark of the comprehensive Tiguan engine line-up. The 2.0-litre diesel powerplant offered via the Motability Scheme is equipped with Volkswagen’s BlueMotion Technology. This includes a Start/Stop function which means that when the car is at a standstill the engine briefly switches off. In addition, Tiguans fitted with a DSG automatic gearbox use a coasting function that allows the car to de-select a gear when travelling downhill not under acceleration before seamlessly re-engaging the appropriate ratio almost instantly when the accelerator is pressed.
An appealing aspect of the Tiguan’s interior is the eight-inch colour touchscreen that takes pride of place in the dashboard. This enables intuitive access to the variety of features that are packed into the Composition Media infotainment system, which all Tiguans are equipped with as a minimum.
Composition Media includes a Bluetooth® telephone connection that enables two compatible mobile devices to be paired simultaneously. A DAB digital radio receiver and CD player also feature, as does an SD card reader and music title and cover art display. The audio output comes via eight speakers located throughout the car.
The latest Tiguan benefits from a significantly enlarged boot when compared to the previous model. This five-door, five-seat SUV even includes an adjustable 40:20:40 split bench rear seat that can slide fore or aft by up to 18 cms, thereby maximising either rear legroom, or boot space. When the rear bench is upright and slid forward there are 615 litres of boot space. When the rear seats are folded this increases to 1,655 litres.
Safety is another area in which the Tiguan scores highly. In fact, the Tiguan has been awarded a full five stars from the Euro NCAP testing programme – and it topped the Small Off-Roader class in 2016. A suite of airbags, including driver’s knee and front seat side impact airbags, are factory fitted. With the Active Bonnet system, if the car is in collision with a pedestrian the bonnet is instantly raised 50 mm to potentially reduce the risk of injury. The hazard lights flash under heavy braking and all Tiguans are equipped with an XDS electronic differential lock for improved traction and handling.
The Tiguan SE is also available on the Motability Scheme. In addition to all the features above, this trim level includes electronic air conditioning and cruise control, two features that further establish the Tiguan’s driver-focused appeal. The standard equipment list continues with front and rear parking sensors, a multifunction colour display and exclusive 18-inch ‘Patagonia’ wheels.
The latest Tiguan is now available to people who receive the following Motability allowances:
The Higher Rate Motability Allowance
The Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment
The War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
The Armed Forces Independence Payment
Other Volkswagen models available via the Motability scheme include the up!, Polo, Golf, Golf Estate, Beetle, Passat, Passat Estate, Scirocco, Touran and Sharan.
The Ssangyong brand is one of those brands that you know of, mainly because of the name, after all, it is not the easiest to pronounce if you are not told how to say it, but they make some great cars, and they are definitely ones that you should consider when buying your next car, to not do so, would be a mistake, they have a range of Off-Roaders and a barge like MPV, the range starts with the Tivoli at just shy of £13k, and works it way up from there.
This first post on the brand and it's products, will be about the SUV's and there off-road performance, other posts will appear over the coming week, but for now, we review the new Tivoli 4x4 on the Millbrook Proving Ground off-road facility.
The Tivoli is the car that will push the brand further along than any other in its UK history, it is just the right size, has a very competent Euro 6 range of engines and now it comes with a four Wheel drive system to aid the driver in inclement weather or off road driving, the CEO of Ssangyong UK, Paul Williams, is quoted as saying that "Tivoli is really helping to put Ssangyong on the map" and he is not wrong.
For a car that does not have huge ground clearance, it handled the challenging track with consummate ease, even climbing up a 25% incline, both forward and on it's side, it never failed, to get us round the course, we did manage to "clunk" the undercarriage a could of times, but that's par for the course in a low slung car like this.
I would say that the new 4x4 system will be better suited to dealing with bad winter weather, or muddy roads, but you must not forget that this car can cope with far more, flip the diff lock and move the auto level over to "M" and you get the opportunity to change gear, manually, on the lever, with a small switch, you can then go on your journey and not have to worry.
"We are delighted with the reception the car has received from our customers as well as the media, who recognise the real step-change that has taken place" is another quote from Paul Williams, and they back this up with a limitless five year warranty, They also cover brake pads and clutch friction plates for a year/12,500 miles, over and above many other brands.
But it does not stop there, they also cover your audio equipment (fitted) for five years, also limitless mileage, and the battery is covered for three years not two, like many other brands, so all the positives are stacking up in favour of the brand.
The engine in our test Tivoli is the potent 115ps e-XDi160 diesel engine, the engine produces the 115ps @ 3,400-4,000rpm max power with an impressive best in class 300Nm @1,500-2,500rpm for a powerful and sporty driving experience, this engine is mated to the AISIN 6-Speed Auto transmission, this is already a well proven auto box, but this is tuned to deliver a better fuel efficiency and minimise power loss, the gears are optimised to help transfer the power smoothly through all six changes, making for a more comfortable driving experience.
And the gear change is smooth, not in the DSG league, but for a car of this size, class and price point, it is up there with the best, drive the car smoothly and you will hardly notice any change up or down, however, give it some beans and you can tell it is an auto, with that familiar "blip" as it changes, but it does nothing to deter you as a driver, quite the opposite.
Giving the car some welly, it is plain to see that it has been geared for economy rather than performance, but it is no slouch, far from it, this little car can shift, and will happily keep up with fast traffic, and overtaking is easy too, it's no Porsche Macan, so you cant expect 0-60 in the sub 5 seconds, and Ssangyong have not released any figures as yet but a 123g/km Co2 is not bad for a Diesel 4x4, it can be better, the Ingenium range of diesels can go sub 100 in a 2.0L diesel, so, some work will no doubt be carried out over time to drop this.
Whilst testing the Tivoli we managed to get a great MPG, 12 Miles to the gallon, and we were reasonably impressed with that, considering that we were off-road and in first and second gear most of the time, at higher revs, but the manufacturer claimed figures are 60.1/51.4/67.3 (combined, Urban, Extra urban) for the manual, however the auto is significantly different, which was surprising, as most modern auto's are not that far from the manual, but the automatics are 47.9/36.2/57.7 (combined, Urban, Extra urban), so combined with a 47 litre fuel tank are 621.36 Miles (M) or 495.23 (A), not bad as long as you have not got a heavy foot.
The interior of the Tivoli is a huge jump forward, it looks clear, clean and crisp, the twin dials in front of the driver look modern and are very clear to understand, the central binnacle area with the Audio, Sat Nav etc, is also clear and easy to understand, and with few buttons, it is also very similar to the Korando, making it a design trait for the brand.
The seats are firm, but not over hard, the cosset nicely and hold you in position whilst on rather steep inclines, with two six footers in the car, and our navigator, we found that, even with the seat quite a way back, there was still a lot of leg room, so getting comfortable on a longer journey is a lot easier, especially for a child, head room too is very substantial, and you have no worries about banging your head like some deeply sloping roofs on a lot of new Crossovers.
Equipment levels on our car are good too, but as it is top of the range it is not surprising, but you get
Front and Rear parking sensors.
Tyre Pressure monitoring system (TPMS).
Space Saver Spare wheel.
18" Diamond cut alloy wheels.
Front fog lights.
Rear spoiler.
Seven Airbags.
Rear View Camera.
TomTom Navigation.
Rear heater duct.
Dual-Zone air con.
Electric Moving, heating and folding door mirrors.
Auto dipping rear view mirror.
Electronic cruise control.
Electric Windows, Front and rear.
Auto Wipers.
Auto Lighting.
Smart Instrument Cluster.
Smart Keyless Start.
Privacy Glass, Rear door, quarter and tailgate.
Leather Seats
Heated seats.
Steering wheel mounted controls.
Boot Space is not the best in the world, but it is not bad at 423 Litres, it will take a lot of the everyday items that you carry, put the seats down and you get a large load space, giving room for medium sized pieces of furniture, a couple of dogs (Husky sized) or just the junk you take to the tip on a Sunday morning.
CONCLUSION
Looks - 9/10
Fuel Consumption - 6/10
Equipment - 9/10
Off-Road Capability - 9.5/10
On-Road capability - 9/10
Co2 levels - 7/10
Interior Space - 10/10
Total - 8.5/10
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Ignore this car at your peril, because if you do, you will be missing out on an awesome car, it does everything and more that you could want from a small SUV, comfort, all round vision, Equipment, lay out and looks. The name may be a mouthful and some people might be put off by it, but you should not be, Ssangyong has been in the UK for a couple of decades now, and they have been growing since that first car, the Musso, and today they have a small and medium range of SUV's that can compete with the best, and in some sections, beat them. We went with expectations, we came away impressed, would we own a car from this brand, yes, we would have the Tivoli, as that's what we would need, if we were in the market for a slightly bigger car, then yes the Korando would head that list too.
The range starts with the C 200 petrol engine, which produces 184 hp and is available with a six-speed manual (123 g/km of CO2) or 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox (125 g/km). The new C 300 engine produces 245 hp and comes only with the 7G-Tronic gearbox, with CO2from 146 g/km.
Two diesel engines are available: the 170 hp C 220 d, with a six-speed manual (106 g/km) or 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic gearbox (106 g/km), and the C 250 d, which produces 204 hp and comes with a 9G-Tronic gearbox (109 g/km).
Two model lines are available: Sport and AMG Line. Standard equipment includes LED headlights and tail-lights; Active Park Assist; PARKTRONIC parking sensors; a reversing camera; sports seats with ARTICO upholstery including heated front seats; 7-inch colour screen; Garmin navigation; electrically folding mirrors; and Collision Prevention Assist Plus automatic braking system. The C 300 model also features as standard a sports exhaust system with switchable sound.
The Sport model comes with a gloss black interior trim with aluminium inlays in the doors, 17-inch alloy wheels and a diamond grille with black-painted pins.
The AMG Line includes black ash wood trim, an AMG sports steering wheel with flat bottom, brushed steel sports pedals and a black roof lining. The exterior features an AMG bodystyling kit, 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels, a diamond grille with chrome pins and 15mm lowered sports suspension.
Two key options packages are available: Premium and Premium Plus. The £1,695 Premium Package includes a panoramic glass roof, keyless go, seat memory package and ambient lighting. To this the £2,995 Premium Plus Package also adds a Burmester surround sound system and COMAND online with 8-inch screen.
A £1,695 Driver’s Assistance Package includes DISTRONIC Plus with stop and go (adaptive cruise control); Active blind spot and lane-keeping assist, Pre-safe with pedestrian detection (anticipatory safety system).
From launch, a limited-edition C63 S Edition 1 is also available. It features unique details including diamond-stitched nappa leather upholstery with contrast yellow stitching; carbon fibre interior trim; graphite AMG decals on the bonnet, roof and sides; an AMG aerodynamic package and bespoke 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, and is available for £76,900. The Edition 1 motorsport package adds to this yellow AMG decals,designo selenite grey magno paint, AMG high-performance ceramic composite braking system and exclusive 19inch front and 20-inch rear wheels with yellow detailing for an additional £3,000.
MINI Countryman Cooper D ALL4 Business model revealed
Additional standard equipment chosen specifically for fleet customers
MINI Multi-function steering wheel including cruise control and MINI Navigation System fitted as standard
CO2 emissions of just 123g/km
Starting from £199 per month including optional Chilli Pack*
MINI is broadening its appeal with the arrival of the new MINI Countryman Cooper D ALL4 Business model, developed specifically for the fleet market.
The launch of the new business edition Countryman means corporate customers will now have the option of a model which includes the brand’s all-wheel drive system, MINI ALL4, for the very first time.
The ALL4 all-wheel drive system provides excellent traction and quickly reacts to all changes in road conditions, while still providing MINI’s famed driving experience.
MINI Navigation System is fitted as standard along with the Multifunction steering wheel which includes cruise control. Parking sensors, automatic headlights and wipers are also included to make driving long distances easier and more enjoyable.
The additional standard equipment has been specifically chosen for fleet customers and represents a saving over the cost of standalone options while driving up the model’s already strong residual values.
MINI Countryman Cooper D is also an economical choice for fleet customers, with some of the best emission figures for a diesel all-wheel drive car, recording just 123g/km.
Chris Brownridge, Director, MINI UK, said: “The new ALL4 Business model has been specifically developed to cater for the needs of businesses with high residual values and low emissions, while also offering something fun and exciting for drivers.
“MINI has grown in popularity within the UK fleet market since the launch of the 5-door hatch last year, which has opened the brand up to new customers.”
MINI Cooper D ALL4 Countryman is available for fleet customers now with an on the road price of £22,455. Monthly payments start from £199 which includes the Chilli Pack.
MINI Cooper D ALL4 Countryman standard equipment:
17” 5-Star Triangle Spoke alloy wheel
Multifunction steering wheel, including cruise control
3-spoke sport leather steering wheel
Park distance control
Radio Visual Boost
MINI Navigation System
Floor mats in velour
Storage compartment pack
Rain sensor and automatic lights on
Automatic air conditioning
On-board computer
Interior lights pack
*Based on 6 months deposit and 35 monthly payments. Terms and conditions apply.
Ever since its market launch in 1988, the Suzuki Vitara series has earned acclaim for stylish, city oriented designs, compact, easy to manage dimensions, comfortable on-road performance, and genuine off-road capability. The series has evolved through changes in body size and powertrain. Now, more than 25 years after the original model’s debut, the Vitara heritage is embodied in a fresh sport utility vehicle incarnation. The all-new Vitara has smaller dimensions to meet contemporary needs. It incorporates Suzuki’s cutting-edge ALLGRIP four wheel drive system and advanced safety and connectivity equipment, it also enables owners to express themselves through various personalising options.
The new Vitara will go into production at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary in early 2015, and will then make its market debut across Europe. It will later be exported around the world as Suzuki’s global compact SUV.
Concept
1. Instantly recognisable Suzuki-SUV looks
The new Vitara inherits the styling of its series and Jimny series and brings it up to date in a brand new exterior design.
2. The performance benefits of ALLGRIP and a superior chassis
Large diameter wheels and the high ground clearance of an SUV yield plenty of off-road capability. In addition, an ALLGRIP system with four modes that the user can choose to suit the road surface and driving conditions assures great on and off road performance.
3. Personalisation that enables owners to express themselves
Owners can combine a range of exterior and interior items to express their individual personalities.
4. Advanced navigation and safety features
An audio system with smartphone connectivity gives access to advanced navigation features (available with higher grades). Furthermore, the Radar Brake Support system (available with certain grades) offers cutting-edge safety by using milliwave radar to prevent or mitigate collisions.
5. Superior fuel economy
The new Vitara meets contemporary demand for great fuel economy. Weight-saving measures including extensive use of high-tensile steel make the body outstandingly light and rigid. Powertrain technologies including a newly developed six-speed automatic transmission also help save fuel. The new Vitara with two-wheel drive and a five-speed manual transmission has CO2 emissions of just 123g/km.
Design
An up to date expression of Suzuki’s SUV design heritage
A rugged SUV form and sophisticated colour coordination
Combinations of body colours and design details selectable for personal expression
Exterior design
The new Vitara expresses Suzuki’s SUV styling heritage in a strong looking design. A clamshell bonnet (a hallmark of the Vitara series) gives the front end a look of solidity, and a trapezoid motif front bumper indicates a powerful grip on the ground. Kicked-up body-side character lines and bonnet-side air outlets form motifs from the first generation Vitara. Shoulder lines running the entire length of the body contribute to a look of SUV toughness. Plus, Suzuki’s pursuit of great aerodynamics is reflected in optimally designed bumper openings, in a roof line that slopes smoothly downward toward the rear, in flat underbody surfaces, and in side mirrors and front bumper edges whose shapes are based on the results of airflow analysis. LED headlamps with blue projector covers attribute to energy saving while also creating a cool impression.
Interior design
A boldly shaped instrument panel garnish and a U-shape design around the shift lever communicate SUV toughness. A round clock and air outlets, which are both motifs of the Grand Vitara, give the interior a youthful, sporty look.
Personalisation
From the initial development stage, the model is designed with personalisation in mind. Diverse exterior colours and a range of design details enable owners to express their individual personalities. Each customer can choose from 15 body colour possibilities that include three new colours and several two tone combinations.
The new colours are as follows:
Atlantis Turquoise Pearl Metallic (ZQN) evokes the excitement and thrill of discovering natural beauty in highly urbanised cities.
Horizon Orange Metallic (ZQP) evokes the excitement of encountering nature when leaving the city and heading for the suburbs.
Savannah Ivory Metallic (ZQQ) evokes a boundless savannah field, which brings out an adventurous spirit.
Five other items enable owners to further express themselves by personalising the new Vitara’s interior and exterior details. Those items are as follows:
Front grille (white or black)
Fender garnishes (white or black)
Instrument panel ornament (turquoise, orange, white, or piano black)
Louvre rings (turquoise, orange, white, or piano black)
Centrally located clock (CARBON or KANJI)
Further, the owner can emphasise the new Vitara’s on or off-road credentials by choosing from two accessory packages:
The urban package adds sophistication by means of chrome parts. It consists of fog lamp bezels (chrome-plated), body-side mouldings, and a roof spoiler.
The rugged package emphasises SUV toughness. It consists of a front skidplate, a rear skidplate, fog lamp bezels, body-side mouldings, and a loading edge protection.
Performance
A driving experience that reflects all of Suzuki’s performance knowhow
Great on-road performance combined with the off-road capability, a hallmark of the Vitara series
A powertrain that delivers superior levels of performance and fuel economy
Some of the lowest CO2 emissions of any compact SUV
Engines and transmissions
Engines
The new Vitara is powered by the M16 1.6-litre petrol engine or the D16AA 1.6-litre diesel engine. With the petrol option, friction reductions combine with weight savings in the engine and related components to realize superior fuel economy together with high output and torque. For the diesel engine, a new EGR system and an electronically controlled VGT help to achieve powerful, torquey performance together with low emissions and superior fuel economy. The engines’ respective performance figures are as follows:
M16A
D16AA
Maximum output
88kW/6,000rpm
88kW/3,750rpm
Maximum torque
156Nm/4,400rpm
320Nm/1,750rpm
Transmissions
Each of the new Vitara’s transmissions reflects measures to achieve excellence in terms of fuel economy, shift feel, and suppression of noise and vibration.
Manual transmissions
A five-speed manual transmission is available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine, and a six-speed manual transmission is available for the 1.6-litre diesel engine. Each manual transmission’s gear ratios are optimised to help realise a superior combination of performance and fuel economy. Measures such as a shift lever counterweight realise a smooth, positive shift action that makes for enjoyable driving.
Automatic transmission
A six-speed automatic transmission is available for the 1.6-litre petrol engine. A wide gear ratio range permits precise control over gear ratios, so it helps to realise superior response at low vehicle speeds (for instance, when pulling away from standstill or driving slowly uphill) and enables the engine to run at low revs. An expanded lockup range promotes acceleration, fuel economy, and quietness. Plus, a manual mode enables the driver to change gear using paddles on the steering wheel.
CO2 emissions
The new Vitara’s CO2 emissions are low thanks to the use of high tensile steel and other weight saving measures in the body. An Engine Auto Stop Start system is also used which shuts down the engine when the car stops (for instance, at traffic lights). Suzuki targets CO2 emissions of 123g/km with the petrol engine, two-wheel drive, and five-speed manual transmission and 127g/km with the petrol engine, two-wheel drive, and the six-speed automatic transmission.
Four-wheel drive is typically seen as detrimental to fuel economy and emissions performance. By contrast, Suzuki’s ALLGRIP system enables CO2 emissions that are remarkably low for a four-wheel drive SUV. Suzuki’s targets for the ALLGRIP equipped Vitara are 134g/km with the five-speed manual transmission and 138g/km with the six-speed automatic transmission.
The new Vitara also has outstandingly low CO2 emissions with the diesel engine. Suzuki’s targets are 106g/km with two-wheel drive and the six-speed manual transmission and 111g/km with four-wheel drive and the six-speed manual transmission.
Note: Figures shown are not yet homologated and are target values only at the moment.
Four-mode ALLGRIP system
Suzuki evolved its renowned four wheel drive technologies into a new generation that delivers driving pleasure and peace of mind in diverse conditions while promoting economy and limiting the burden four wheel drive cars place on the environment. Suzuki calls this new generation ALLGRIP.
An ALLGRIP system with four driver-selectable modes that permit safe, enjoyable driving on diverse surfaces debuted in the Suzuki SX4 S-CROSS and has since earned a great reputation. This system is enhanced by the addition of a feed forward function.
The new Vitara’s ALLGRIP system uses a feedback function to send more torque to the rear wheels if it detects wheelspin at the front. The new feed forward function gives the system the additional ability to predict front wheelspin risks from the road surface condition, accelerator pedal position, and steering angle and then send more torque to the rear wheels before wheelspin occurs. The system’s four driver-selectable modes are as follows:
Auto
The auto mode prioritises fuel economy in typical driving conditions. The system uses two-wheel drive by default. It switches to four-wheel drive if it detects wheelspin.
Sport
The sport mode is optimal for twisty roads. The system makes maximal use of four-wheel drive in accordance with accelerator inputs. At low and mid-range engine speeds, the system alters the accelerator/torque characteristics to optimize engine response and cornering performance.
Snow
The snow mode is optimal for snowy, unpaved, and other slippery surfaces. The system uses four-wheel drive by default. It optimises four-wheel drive control in accordance with steering and accelerator inputs to promote traction and stability on low friction surfaces.
Lock
The lock mode is for extricating the car from snow, mud, or sand. A limited slip differential is fitted which helps brake any slipping wheel and transfer torque to the gripping wheels.
Suspension and brakes
Suzuki has pursued a class leading driving experience in every model. As a result the Vitara ensures stable handling and robust drivability.
Suspension
The front suspension is of MacPherson strut design. A revised shape for the lower arms, a revised layout for the suspension frame, and improved struts yield higher rigidity and accordingly better driving stability. The rear wheels have torsion beam suspension incorporating a beam design (a closed section consisting of a pipe crushed to form a “U” shape) that Suzuki first adopted in the SX4 S-CROSS. The beam design yields superior rigidity and ride comfort.
Brakes
The new Vitara has ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid disc brakes at the rear. Weight savings and drag reductions in the callipers help to enable superior braking performance and fuel economy.
Safety
Great stability plus comprehensive active and passive safety equipment
Radar Brake Support system to help the user drive safely
Light, impact absorbing body; speed limiter; ESP® * (Electronic Stability Program), and tyre pressure monitoring system
Adaptive cruise control for more relaxed driving
NOTE: ESP* is designed to help keep the vehicle under control. However, the degree of engine torque reduction, the wheels that brake and their braking force vary according to the driving conditions. ESP® is essentially a system to assist stable driving. In the case of slippage or skidding that exceeds the limits of grip between tyres and road surface, ESP® will still function but may not be effective.
*ESP is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.
Safety equipment
The new Vitara’s active safety equipment includes a Radar Brake Support (RBS) system. When driving at low speeds due to heavy traffic and such, this system detects the vehicle in front, and if it senses the possibility of a collision, it warns the driver with a buzzer sound and a notification on the multi information display.
If the probability of a collision has increased, the system activates brake assist which increases the braking force during emergency braking. If the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, it applies the brakes automatically. The system thus helps prevent collisions when the vehicle is driving at low speeds and helps reduce damage in the event of a collision.
Passive-safety equipment includes seven airbags, which protect occupants in the event of a frontal or side impact; seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters; and a mechanism that limits rearward movement of the brake pedal. Plus, the bonnet shape and new structures for the cowl top, wipers, and bumpers provide impact absorption to mitigate the extent of harm if the car comes into contact with a pedestrian.
RBS system
The RBS system monitors the road ahead by means of milliwave radar. The radar technology enables it to work even at high speeds, in darkness, and in rain and other bad weather. The system prevents or mitigates a collision by means of three functions:
(1) Warning
When travelling above approximately 5 km/h, the system detects the vehicle in front, and if there is a risk of collision, it warns the driver to use the brakes.
(2) Brake assist
If a vehicle ahead is detected and there is a high probability of a collision, the system increases the braking force during panic braking, thereby helping to avoid the collision or reduce damage.
(3) Automatic braking
If a vehicle in front is detected and the system determines that a collision is unavoidable, it applies the brake automatically in order to avoid the collision or reduce damage from it.
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) system
The new Vitara’s ACC system combines cruise-control technology with the RBS system’s milliwave radar to make driving easier and more relaxing. The system uses radar to measure the distance to the vehicle in front and automatically adjusts road speed to maintain any of three driver selected headway distances.
Light, impact-absorbing TECT body
The body embodies Suzuki’s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) concept for occupant protecting impact absorption and low weight. Extensive use of ultrahigh tensile steel helps to make the new Vitara outstandingly crashworthy and fuel-efficient.
Convenience
Optimal body dimensions for SUV capability in challenging conditions
A panoramic sunroof with one of the largest openings in the class
Newly developed display audio system with smartphone connectivity
Big approach and departure angles that make deeply rutted or snow-covered roads easy to negotiate
Body dimensions
The new Vitara’s SUV packaging combines generous minimum ground clearance of 185mm with big, 215/55R17 tyres. Plus, an 18.2° approach angle and a 28.2° departure angle enable the driver to easily negotiate deeply rutted or snow-covered roads.
The luggage area has a capacity of 375 litres (VDA) with the rear seat in its upright position. The rear seat and a luggage board can be repositioned for diverse purposes.
Panoramic sunroof
Suzuki achieved a world first* by equipping the SX4 S-Cross with a sunroof consisting of two individually sliding glass panels. Now, the new Vitara incorporates the same acclaimed feature. The sunroof extends over the front and rear seats, making the cabin more relaxing for all occupants. When the sunroof is closed, the glass panels have a combined length of 1,000mm. When the sunroof is open, the opening has a length of 560mm (one of the greatest in the class), giving occupants an invigorating open-roof experience.
*based on Suzuki research in September 2014
Display audio system with smartphone connectivity
The audio system has a seven inch touch panel display that enables intuitive operation and can also be used by people wearing gloves. A three dimensional navigation map makes landmarks easy to distinguish. The system also allows the customers use smartphone applications while on the move.
