Autoshow Season - Suzuki XL-7

Since Suzuki redesigned their Sidekick...err, Grand Vitara recently, it would be expected that a new version of the stretched 7-seat version, the XL-7 would be forthcoming.

This would be right and wrong. Wrong in that we might have expected just another stretched Grand Vitara, right in that a new 7-seater from Suzuki under the XL-7 badge was announced at the New York autoshow.

This time around, instead of a body-on-frame design, Suzuki has borrowed the GM Theta (Chevy Equinox, Pontiac Torrent, Saturn VUE) chassis, stretched it in order to make the only 3-row seating version of this platform, and then asked nicely for the GM high-feature 3.6l VVT V-6 that used to be a Cadillac exclusive.

Nice looking fit and finish inside hints at what might be expected from a mid-cycle refresh to the Equinox/Torrent (Saturn just got a much improved interior for the 06 VUE).

This should help nicely in getting Suzuki to their 100k sales goal for this year.

More pictures below: