The Suzuki Vitara boasts a distinguished lineage spanning five generations since its debut in 1988. Notably, the second and third iterations were branded as the Suzuki Grand Vitara, whereas the fourth generation dropped the “Grand” prefix. Interestingly, in Japan and various other markets, all iterations have been marketed under the name Suzuki Escudo, drawing a connection to the former currency of Portugal, the “escudo.”
Suzuki’s recent trademarking of the Escudo and Torqnado names in India suggests potential future use, although it does not guarantee their adoption. Such preemptive measures are common in the automotive industry to prevent naming conflicts. Maruti Suzuki is reportedly developing a three-row version of the Grand Vitara, possibly christened the Escudo to align with the Vitara’s global nomenclature. This move aims to differentiate the seven-seater variant from its five-seater counterpart, following a strategy similar to other manufacturers like Tata, which revived the Safari moniker for the three-row iteration of the Harrier.
If the Escudo moniker is indeed chosen, the Grand Vitara-based SUV will compete against the likes of Tata Safari, Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector Plus, 7-seater Citroen C3 Aircross, and Mahindra XUV700. Additionally, the Torqnado name could hint at the torquey nature of an upcoming Suzuki vehicle, possibly the eVX concept-based electric vehicle featuring a dual-motor setup. However, it remains speculative at this stage. Maruti Suzuki’s focus for the near future includes introducing the new generation Swift and Dzire in India this year, with the anticipated arrival of the seven-seater Grand Vitara slated for early 2025. Moreover, Maruti Suzuki’s debut electric vehicle, the eVX, is expected to make a global appearance later this year, boasting two battery packs enabling a range of up to 550 km.