Following its launch in Japan late last year, Suzuki has now unveiled the all-new European Swift at the Geneva Motor Show.
The new car is said to carry forward the Swift DNA while adopting new styling and an extremely lightweight body with advanced safety technologies to deliver a nimble and agile driving experience.
The Swift is the fastest selling Suzuki ever with total sales topping 5.4 million in less than 12 years. Europe has accounted for a million of these and the UK market alone has found homes for 127,000 cars so there’s no doubting the importance of the latest model.
The new Swift is now the third European market model (following the Baleno and the Ignis) to adopt Suzuki’s new generation ‘HEARTECT’ platform which promises to deliver enhanced performance due to its lightness and rigidity. An overhaul of the underbody structure and component layout has resulted, says Suzuki, in the adoption of a highly rigid frame that enhances collision safety.
This new Swift platform is now 30kg lighter than before, contributing to a kerb weight of 890kg (SZ3 model) - 120kg lighter than the outgoing model. It is also 10mm shorter than its predecessor, but the wheelbase is 20mm longer, creating more interior room and 25 per cent more luggage capacity at 254 litres.
Available as a five-door model only, the new car is also 15mm lower and 40mm wider creating a lower and wider stance, accentuated by the fact that the European Swift has a wider front and rear track than the Japanese market model.
Engine options include a 90hp 1.2-litre four cylinder Dualjet engine which emits 98g/km of CO2 with fuel economy of 65.7mpg (manual transmission) and a 111 hp 1.0-litre three cylinder Boosterjet turbo engine emitting 104g/km of CO2 and 61.4mpg (manual transmission). The 1.0-litre is also available with Suzuki’s SHVS mild hybrid system (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki), further reducing CO2 emissions to 97g/km.
Suzuki’s ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ four-wheel drive system is available as an option on the SZ5 model fitted with the 1.2-litre engine. First introduced in the previous generation Swift in 2014 it is a simple fully automatic and permanent four-wheel drive layout which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required, via a viscous coupling.
Available in SZ3, SZ-T and SZ5 grades, standard equipment on the entry-level model will include six airbags, air conditioning, leather steering wheel, DAB radio with Bluetooth and four speakers, rear privacy glass, LED daytime running lights, 15-inch wheels, body coloured door mirrors and front electric windows.
Pricing will be announced in May 2017, before the all-new Swift goes on sale in the UK on June 1.