Suzuki makes Swift change
Suzuki launched the second generation of the popular Swift at the Geneva Motor Show this week and we can expect it to arrive here in Ireland in June. To be honest, there was little wrong with the original. It was good enough to take the Irish Car of the Year title in 2006, and now, 10 years on, we are getting a whole new one.
It will share a new foundation that Suzuki developed a couple of years ago for their small cars with the Baleno and the IGNIS. The Swift is the third car to be built on it. It means that the new model is 10% lighter and tauter, lowering CO2 emissions, and improving fuel consumption.
Available as a Five-door model only in SZ3, SZ-T and SZ5 grades; pricing to be announced in May. The engine line up includes a 90hp 1.2-litre four cylinder Dualjet engine offers CO2 emissions of 98g/km and 4.3L/100km for manual transmission model. There will also be a 111PS 1.0-litre three cylinder Boosterjet turbo engine offers CO2 emissions of 104g/km and 4.6L/2100km for manual transmission model.
The Boosterjet engine will also be available with Suzuki’s SHVS mild hybrid system (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) offering CO2 emissions of 97g/km, while it will also be sold with Suzuki’s ALLGRIP ‘AUTO’ 4WD system.
In addition to its stylish exterior design in a compact size of just 3,840mm long, the new Swift promises excellent visibility, a spacious cabin and ample luggage space. The development goal was to create an all new hatchback styling that is undoubtedly Suzuki.
Swift is a very popular and important car in the range and has reached 5.4 million sales globally in less than 12 years, faster than any other Suzuki model.
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.
For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.