Suzuki has unveiled its first mass-production battery electric vehicle (BEV) model, the e Vitara.
Revealed in Milan, the e Vitara will go into production at Suzuki’s Indian plant in Gujarat in spring 2025, with European sales including the UK expected in the summer.
The e Vitara is based on the eVX concept, which Suzuki revealed at the Auto Expo show in India in January 2023. Sitting on a new bespoke electric platform dubbed Heartect-e, the car is promised to offer both on and off-road capability in similar form to the existing combustion-engined Vitara.
The motor and inverter are incorporated in an ‘eAxle’ and powered by a lithium iron-phosphate battery – the car will have two eAxles giving it all-wheel-drive capability, Suzuki keen to maintain its reputation for expertise in four-wheel drive technology. The setup includes a Trail mode that enables smooth escape from rough terrain by applying brakes to spinning tires and distributing drive torque to the opposite tyre in similar form to a limited-slip differential.
There will be three versions of the e Vitara, a 2WD model with a 49kWh battery rated at 144hp and with a 61kWh battery in both two (174hp) and 4WD (284hp) form. Battery range and charging times have not yet been revealed.
Unveiling the e Vitara, Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki commented that the vehicle represents a significant milestone in achieving carbon neutrality. “Following the launch of the e Vitara, we will continue to expand our BEV line-up and propose mobility solutions tailored to the needs of specific countries and regions,” he added.
