Suzuki Escudo

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Suzuki Escudo, Suzuki Sidekick
USDM Suzuki Vitara
Manufacturer Suzuki
CAMI Automotive
Also called Suzuki Sidekick
Geo/Chevrolet Tracker
Production 1989–2003
Assembly Hamamatsu, Japan
Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada
Linares, Jaén, Andalusia, Spain
Kosai, Japan
Predecessor Suzuki Samurai
Successor Suzuki Grand Vitara (Sidekick)
Chevrolet Equinox (Tracker)
Pontiac Aztek (Sunrunner)
Class Mini SUV
Body style(s) 2-door SUV
2-door convertible
4-door SUV
Layout Front engine, rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive

The Suzuki Escudo (known as Sidekick in North America and Vitara in Europe, the Philippines and Australia, as well as North America after 1999) was a small off-road vehicle produced from 1989-2004. The North American version was produced as a joint venture between Suzuki and General Motors known as CAMI. The vehicle was a follow-up to the popular SJ413 and Samurai. Also, this vehicle, while sold in North America, was designed to slot above the Samurai. A larger version is also made, known as the Suzuki Grand Escudo (known as Grand Vitara XL-7 in other markets).

Contents

[edit] General Motors rebadges

The Sidekick was sold in various badges such as the Geo Tracker (Chevrolet Tracker after 1998) in the United States, and as the GMC Tracker, Chevrolet Tracker, Asüna Sunrunner and Pontiac Sunrunner in Canada. It was also sold as the Santana 300 and 350 in Spain. In the Japanese home market, it was variously sold also with Mazda badge. The 1st Generation Escudo was sold in Mexico as the Chevrolet Vitara. The 2nd Generation is currently sold in Mexico as the Chevrolet Tracker, as the Chevrolet Grand Vitara in other Central and South American countries, while in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile is sold as the Suzuki Grand Vitara.

[edit] First generation (1989-1998)

First generation
Suzuki Sidekick Sport convertible (US)
Also called Suzuki Vitara
Suzuki Sidekick
Geo/Chevrolet Tracker
GMC Tracker
Asuna/Pontiac Sunrunner
Chevrolet Vitara/Grand Vitara
Production 1989-1998
Engine(s) 1.8L 120 hp (89 kW) I4
1.3L 64 hp (48 kW) I4
1.6L 80 hp (60 kW) I4
1.6L 95 hp (71 kW) I4
Transmission(s) 3-speed automatic
4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2-Door: 86.6 in (2200 mm)
4-Door: 97.6 in (2479 mm)
Length 2-Door: 143.7 in (3650 mm) (1996-98)
142.5 in (3620 mm) (1989-1995)
4-Door: 158.7 in (4031 mm)
4-Door Sport: 162.4 in (4125 mm)
Width 2-Door: 65.2 in (1656 mm) (1996-98)
64.2 in (1631 mm) (1989-1995)
4-Door: 64.4 in (1636 mm)
4-Door Sport: 66.7 in (1694 mm)
Height 2-Door: 64.3 in (1633 mm) (2WD, 1992-93 & 1996-98)
65.6 in (1666 mm) (1989-1991)
65.1 in (1654 mm) (4WD, 1992-93 & 1996-98)
64.4 in (1636 mm) (2WD 1994-95)
65.2 in (1656 mm) (4WD 1994-95)
4-Door: 65.7 in (1669 mm) (2WD)
66.5 in (1689 mm) (4WD)
66.3 in (1684 mm) (Sport)
Related Suzuki X-90
Suzuki LJ80
Suzuki Jimny
Suzuki Vitara

The original 1989 North American Sidekick was available as a 2-door convertible or hardtop, in 1.3 liter JA and more powerful 4-wheel-drive JX & JLX trims. An 80 hp (60 kW) 1.6 liter, 8-valve, 4-cylinder engine was available on the JX & JLX. 1990 brought the deletion of the upscale JLX version. In 1991, a 4-door Sidekick with a lengthened wheelbase was introduced and the following year a 95 hp (71 kW), 1.6 liter, 16-valve engine was introduced. 1991 also brought the introduction of rear antilock brakes. The original Sidekick was updated in 1996 with a new Sport version available with 120 hp (89 kW), 1.8 liter 16-valve 4-cylinder engine. The Sport also had dual airbags, 2-tone paint and 16" Alloy wheels.

In 1996, Suzuki introduced the Suzuki X-90 which was mechanically identical to the Sidekick but had a much rounder body, a trunk, and removable T-bar roof. The Suzuki X-90 disappeared from Suzuki's lineup after the 1998 model year. The Sport variant was replaced by the Grand Vitara in 1999.

In Spain, production went on at Suzuki's partner Santana with the Vitara nameplate. After a facelift in 2005 the name was changed to Santana 300/350.

In Australia, there were two models available. The Vitara JX and the Vitara JLX. The JLX featured mainly with powered windows. Both versions featured the 1.6 Litre engine. In May 1997, Suzuki introduced the 1995 cc 2.0 Litre 4 Valves/Cylinder Double Overhead Cam engine with both soft top and hardtop 3 door models. This engine was rated at 97 kW (130 hp) @ 6300 rpm. At the same time the 5 door models received the 1998 cc 2.0 litre V6. Engine power rated for the 5 door V6 models was at 100 kW (134 hp) @ 6500 rpm. The 1.6 litre variant for the 3 door models were named the Suzuki Vitara Rebel. All models in Australia were sold as four wheel drives.

The naming scheme, engines and trim options available in Chile, closely follow that of the Australian market. In 1998, there became available models featuring 1.9 litre turbodiesel engines from Renault, built in Spain by Santana Motors, all of them were 4WD vehicles, but there were no automatic transmissions available. Since 2001, all diesel 1st Gen Vitaras are to be imported from Argentina, built by General Motors in Argentina, featuring 1.9 litre HDI engines from PSA, all of them with 5-speed mechanic transmissions, while automatic transmissions are only available with Japanese built models with gasoline engines.

USDM 1996-1998 Suzuki Sidekick JX 4-Door

Suzuki Vitara 2-Door

Suzuki Sidekick Sport 4-door (US)


[edit] Second generation (1999-2003)

Second generation
Suzuki Vitara Convertible
Also called Suzuki Grand Vitara
Chevrolet Tracker
Chevrolet Grand Vitara
Production 1999-2004
Engine(s) 1.6L 97 hp (72 kW) I4
2.0L 127 hp (95 kW) I4
Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic
5-speed manual
Wheelbase 2-Door: 86.6 in (2200 mm)
4-Door: 97.6 in (2479 mm)
Length 2-Door: 151.6 in (2000-01 JS)
152 in
151.8 in (2000-01 JX)
4-Door: 163 in (4140.2 mm)
Width 67.3 in (1709 mm)
Height 2-Door: 65.7 in (2000-01 JS)
66.1 in (2000-01 JLS)
66.5 in (2000-01 JX & JLX)
4-Door: 68 in (2000-01 JS & JLS)
68.5 in (2000-01 JX & JLX)
2-Door & 4-Door: 65 in (2002-03 2WD)
65.8 in (2002-03 4WD)
Related Suzuki XL-7

The Escudo/Vitara was redesigned in 1999, and the Sidekick name was dropped in North America, using the Vitara name instead. It was a 4-seater which featured 1.3 L, 1.6 L and 1.8 L straight-4 gasoline engines available with carburator or electronic fuel injection. 16 valve engines 1.8 liters and in Europe a 2.0 liter V6. Diesel engines were also available in Europe. The Vitara was available with 4- and 5-speed manual transmissions, as well as automatic transmission, and in hardtop 2- or 4-door models or soft-top 2-door models.

The Vitara also came with an optional cosmetic off-road package, which included wide body kit and wider wheels. There was also a limited edition of around 500 models which included upgrades such as automatic windows, power steering, and metallic paint.

The Vitara would be dropped in 2003 for the North American market, with its twin, the Chevrolet Tracker following suit in 2004.

[edit] Competition special

Suzuki used a specially built spaceframe racing car for hillclimb races with a bodyshell to resemble the Escudo. This race car was specially tuned with 987 bhp and four wheel drive, sporting huge aerodynamic aids. It was entered by Suzuki in a number of Japanese events in the late-1990s, where it beat most of the competition. [1]

Suzuki Grand Vitara at the 2007 Race to the Clouds during the record breaking run
Suzuki Grand Vitara at the 2007 Race to the Clouds during the record breaking run

The car regularly takes part in the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, driven by Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima and is identifiable by its large rear wing and red paintjob. The car is referred to as the Pikes Peak Edition in the Gran Turismo videogames, although that name has never been used by Suzuki.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ COMPANY PROFILE - PikesPeak

[edit] External links

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