Suzuki has revealed the new Across plug-in
hybrid SUV for the European market, the first product to come out of the
company’s partnership with Toyota. The new Suzuki Across is basically a Toyota
RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid with a different front end and some other, barely
noticeable, smaller design changes. The new LED headlights are combined with a
large front grille and a set of 19-inch alloy wheels.
The powertrain remains the same, meaning a
combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with 173 HP with two
electric motors and a floor-mounted 18.1 kWh battery pack. The electric motor
at the front produces 180 HP while the one at the back makes 54 HP. Suzuki
didn’t release a combined output figure, with the powertrain in the RAV4 making
302 HP.
Suzuki claims that the new Across is
capable of covering 75 km on EV power alone while CO2 emissions are
rated at just 22 g/km on the WLTP cycle. The E-Four electronic all-wheel-drive
system can vary the torque distribution front-to-rear from 100:00 to 20:80,
thanks to the sophisticated AWD Integrated Management system that also controls
the engine throttle, transmission shift scheduling and steering.
The new Suzuki Across also features a
Trail mode, which ensures the best possible grip and control on slippery
surfaces, imitating a limited-slip differential by applying the brakes and
adjusting the throttle to keep the vehicle moving.
The interior layout is unchanged over the
Toyota RAV4, with the only difference being the steering wheel design, the
instrument panel and of course the badges. The infotainment system uses a
9-inch touchscreen display and comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and
MirrorLink. The list of the active safety systems includes pretty much
everything, from Pre-Collision System and Lane Tracing Assist to Dynamic Radar
Cruise Control and Rear Crossing Traffic Alert.
Suzuki will launch the new Across in the
European market in the autumn of this year with prices to be announced at a
later date.
