The Vitara, one of Suzuki's->ke87 most iconic vehicles, was launched in 1988 as a compact SUV->ke145. Dubbed Escudo in Japan and Sidekick in the United States, the small crossover->ke288 came to North America for the 1989 model year. The Vitara name, mostly used in Europe and some South American and Asian market, was introduced in the United States starting 1999. That's when the second-gen Vitara was born as a slightly larger, pricier and more powerful version of the first-gen model. A replacement was developed for 2005, but the current Grand Vitara->ke945 has very little in common with the original concept. For 2015, however, the Vitara nameplate is making a surprising return to its roots, as it's pinned as a compact SUV destined to compete against the Nissan Juke->ke3600.

Set to break cover at the 2014 Paris Motor Show->ke227 in October, the brand-new Vitara promises to have "a striking road presence," a "distinctive design," and numerous personalization options, the latter a feat Suzuki rarely offers. So is the Vitara signaling the Japanese are reinventing themselves? It's a bit too early to draw a conclusion, but the compact SUV is definitely a new approach for a company such as Suzuki.

Click past the jump to read more about the Suzuki Vitara

Exterior

Suzuki has only released one photo of the redesigned Vitara as of August 2014, but it's more than enough to notice the company's new approach for the nameplate. The crossover's design comes straight from the IV-4 concept, and, unlike many other concept-to-production transitions, the Vitara inherited several styling cues. The overall shape, the muscular character line below the waistline, the hood, most of the front fascia and the black roof. Although different by design, the headlamps, the grille and the wheels are also related to the IV-4 concept.

What's more, Suzuki promises customers will have the option of personalizing the vehicle with various color and trim choices. Sounds like the Japanese are getting ready to launch their own Mini Cooper for the crossover segment.

Interior

Exterior Dimensions

Drivetrain

Suzuki has yet to release any info on engines, but we expect to see a Vitara powered by a range of fuel-efficient, eco-friendly gasoline and diesel engines. The front-wheel-drive crossover will also benefit from the company's available Allgrip four-wheel-drive system.

Drivetrain/Specifications

Pricing and Availability

Pricing and availability info is not yet available as of August 2014, but Suzuki says the new Vitara will go on sale in the United Kingdom in spring 2015. Unfortunately, the Vitara will not make it to the United States.

Competition

Nissan Juke

The Nissan Juke is Vitara's main competitor in Europe. An already established player on the crossover market, the Juke just got its mid-cycle refresh for the 2015 model year. The updated includes revised headlamps, boomerang-style taillights, and reshaped bumpers, among other features. Interior updates are less noticeable, but the Juke is now able to fold its rear seats completely flat, allowing for more cargo space. This adds to the Juke's already enhanced cargo capacity due to its redesigned cargo area.

The turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine carries over unchanged in the U.S.-spec Juke. The mill generates the same 188 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, while emitting less CO2 compared to model it replaces. In Europe, the crossover can also be had with a 1.5-liter, four-banger diesel sourced from Renault, Nissan's longtime partner.

Honda HR-V

The HR-V is a brand-new vehicle for the U.S. market and it's set to hit dealerships in 2015. The crossover rides on the same platform underpinning the Fit subcompact and it's been on sale in Japan as the Honda Vezel since December 2013. Although it borrows some of its styling cues from the larger CR-V, the HR-V is an all-new proposition as far as design goes, boasting original body lines and a genuine rear end.

The HR-V promises to be quite spacious and practical, mostly thanks to its Magic Seat system which allows for multiple seating configurations and a second row that can be folded flat. Power should be provided by the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine motivating the Fit.

Suzuki Grand Vitara