The 87th Geneva International Motor Show has seen the sheets lifted off the next-generation Suzuki Swift supermini. And, with UK sales said to start in June, you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on one.
Measuring 3,840mm long, 1,735mm wide and 1,495mm tall, the Swift is compact for its class, being 152mm shorter than a Skoda Fabia, yet the Swift is 3mm wider and 28mm taller, so it should have good headroom. The Swift is also exceedingly light, with Suzuki claiming a range between 840 to 980kg depending on engine and trim level. It shares its platform with the Suzuki Baleno.
Engines will be a 1.0-litre Boosterjet with 110bhp and 1.2-litre Dualjet petrol offering 89bhp. While no diesel has been announced, a mild hybrid will be offered with the smaller engine, reducing CO2 emissions to 97g/km.
The Swift is Suzuki’s flagship compact car sold more than 5.4 million units worldwide since its launch in 2004 as a world strategic model. It features distinctive and sporty styling, excellent handling and superb driving performance, manoeuvrable compact size, user-friendliness, etc. High appraisals for the Swift are also earned in Europe, making it a large driving force of automobile sales in Europe.
Development was focused on achieving innovative styling and uplifting driving performance through the adoption of extremely light and rigid new-generation platform “HEARTECT”. Nimble and agile driving performance honed on European roads, styling, sporty and functional interior, and advanced safety technologies are the main factors of the all-new Swift.
The new Swift adopts Suzuki’s ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ four-wheel drive system and is available as an option on the SZ5 model with 1.2-litre engine. First introduced in the previous generation Swift in 2014 this is a well proven and simple fully automatic and permanent four-wheel drive layout which transfers additional torque to the rear wheels when required via a viscous coupling.
Testing of the chassis, which is the centrepiece of the new Swift’s evolution, commenced in January 2016 in the United Kingdom and Germany. Covering a total of more than 6,000 miles, the teams tested as many as 90 different suspension prototypes in an effort to meet the need for optimum steering feel together with providing supple and agile suspension for British roads.
Standard equipment for all models in the range is comprehensive and the SZ3 model with 1.2-litre Dualjet engine and manual transmission 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.
The SZ-T model available with 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine and manual transmission adds rear view camera, Smartphone link display audio, 16-inch alloy wheels and front fog lamps glass. SZ5 adds auto air conditioning, 16-inch polished alloy wheels, satellite navigation, Advanced forward detection system, keyless entry and start and rear electric windows.
The SZ5 model is equipped with a 4.2 inch high-definition colour LCD display that shows a range of information including engine output and torque data, fuel consumption, average speed, acceleration and brake operation as well as driving G-force tracking. For the SHVS model an energy flow diagram is also included.
The audio system for both SZ-T and SZ5 models has a Smartphone Linkage Display Audio (SLDA) with a large seven inch touch panel display that enables intuitive operation and can also be used when wearing gloves. A three dimensional navigation map makes landmarks easy to distinguish and the system also allows the driver to use certain smartphone applications with MirrorLink, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connection.
The European specification of the all-new Swift is produced at Suzuki’s Sagara Plant in Japan. The Suzuki Swift goes on sale in the UK at the start of June.
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