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2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara Ranked Among Top Three Safest Cars by European Assessment Group


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New 4x4 model achieves excellent scores during safety performance test conducted by Euro NCAP

Dubai, UAE - May 14, 2007: The 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara has been ranked among the top three safest cars by the Euro New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP), an international association that provides motoring consumers a realistic and independent assessment of the safety performance of some of the most popular cars sold in Europe.

The Grand Vitara took the third highest overall rating after earning high marks in the three categories of the crashworthiness test carried out by Euro NCAP. The new 4x4 model scored four out of five stars in Adult Occupant rating, three out of four stars in Pedestrian Protection and four out of five stars in Child Protection.

"Our excellent results reflects the company's high level of concern for the safety performance of our vehicles as we design our cars to provide premium protection to all occupants, including infants who are usually the most vulnerable, and to minimize the impact on pedestrians in case of accidents. Such stringent safety measures ensure a high degree of confidence when driving the Grand Vitara 2007." said Mr. Kazuyuki Yamashita, SMC's Deputy Staff Manager, Middle East & Africa Marketing Group (Automobile).

Using dummies inside the car, the Adult Occupant Test measures the impact of a car crash on the driver and passengers. One of the Grand Vitara's safety features in this category is its sufficiently pressurized airbags, which prevent the passenger's head from bottoming out the airbag and hitting into the steering wheel. The Grand Vitara also ranked highly on child protection features, such adequate space between the front seats and the child restraints.

Assessors also noted the high performance of the wiper blades, which stayed upright and hidden behind the central pillars of the windscreen upon collision, considerably minimizing the risk of head injuries for pedestrians. The Grand Vitara 2007's bumper also scored maximum points for significantly reducing the potential for leg injuries.

"The Grand Vitara 2007 has been designed to combine luxury, superb performance, comfort and safety. Suzuki is continuously improving the quality of our vehicles, making sure we put great value in every new product we offer to our clients. Suzuki makes sure we cater to the specific requirements of our customers, which we believe will ultimately make the Suzuki experience a part of their lifestyle," said Yamashita.

Aside from its excellent safety components, the Grand Vitara also features five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission, 16-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, Smart Pass keyless entry and start system with panic button, seven-speaker AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA audio system, privacy glass and front fog lamps. The vehicle is also available in two versions; a 3-door 1.6 Liter engine and 5-door 2.0 and 2.7 Liter engine.