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.
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
Business Motoring Award Winners 2024
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.