Maruti Suzuki gifts a Grand Vitara to Japanese Ambassador to India

The Japanese Ambassador to India, Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki, and his wife, Satoshi Suzuki, received a brand-new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara compact SUV from the country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India Limited. The all-new SUV was handed to the Ambassador by the company last week. The Ambassador’s brand-new Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara is finished in the Opulent Red exterior color. The Grand Vitara is currently Maruti Suzuki’s flagship SUV that features a strong hybrid powertrain and an AWD system.

Thank you, Ambassador of Japan Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki and Mrs. Suzuki, for giving us an opportunity to serve. A ‘Grand’ moment for us as you select Grand Vitara as your family car. Hope we live up to your expectations.@HiroSuzukiAmbJP @JapaninIndia pic.twitter.com/jGiX8BiWFj

— Maruti Suzuki (@Maruti_Corp) February 4, 2023

The Indo-Japanese automaker’s official Twitter handle shared a picture of Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, of Maruti Suzuki India handing over a bouquet to the Japanese Ambassador and his wife in front of the new SUV. The company shared the tweet stating, “Thank you, Ambassador of Japan Mr. Hiroshi Suzuki and Mrs. Suzuki, for giving us an opportunity to serve. A ‘Grand’ moment for us as you select Grand Vitara as your family car. Hope we live up to your expectations. @HiroSuzukiAmbJP @JapaninIndia”

This is not the first time that Maruti Suzuki has gifted a car to one of the Ambassadors of a nation. Prior to this delivery back in November of last year, the company also gifted another Grand Vitara to Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Milinda Moragoda. The Grand Vitara gifted to the Sri Lankan delegate was also finished in the same Opulent Red exterior color.

Milinda Moragoda is reportedly a fan of the Maruti Suzuki brand and even before getting the new Grand Vitara he owned the famous off-roader from the company Gypsy. The Japanese company’s introduction to his country was significantly assisted by the high commissioner. Further Moragoda also owns another Indian automotive icon the Hindustan Ambassador.

The Grand Vitara is the Maruti Suzuki’s top-of-the-line SUV currently on sale in India. The SUV shares the platform and powertrains with the Toyota’s Urban Cruiser Hyryder and is built at Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s second plant in Bidadi, near Bengaluru Karantaka.

The same set of engine options are offered for the Toyota Hyryder and the Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara. Both of these SUVs are available with either a mild hybrid or a powerful hybrid petrol engine. The SUV’s mild hybrid variant is propelled by a 1.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that produces a maximum torque of 136 Nm and 103 PS. Both a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters are offered with this engine choice.

The SUV duo also get another engine option which is a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder petrol engine coupled to a powerful hybrid drivetrain. In this setup, an electric motor functions alongside a petrol engine. This engine produces a maximum torque of 122 Nm and 93 Ps. An eCVT gearbox is available for this engine. Both the Grand Vitara and the Hyryder’s mild hybrid manual version come with an AWD option.

In terms of features both of these SUVs come available with a panoramic sunroof, leatherette upholstery in dual-tone, a multi-function steering wheel, cruise control, a HUD, a 360 degree reverse camera, 6 airbags and a tonne of other amenities. Grand Vitara and Hyryder are also the most fuel-efficient SUVs in the class thanks to a powerful hybrid technology.