Thursday 11th August 2011

New Suzuki Swift Sport Previewed

Second generation of cheeky warm hatch to get Frankfurt debut

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In with the new...

This is the first official picture of the new Suzuki Swift Sport, due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt show in a few weeks time (the car, not the picture - that would be a rubbish motor show).

Now, the new Swift Sport might only offer 134bhp and 118lb ft of torque from its 1.6-litre engine, but we have high hopes for the diminutive Suzuki, because its predecessor, the - er- Swift Sport, was one of the most genuinely fun warm hatches around.

It might only have made 123bhp from its 1.6-litre engine (which also featured the pub-talk bonuses of high-lift cams, forged pistons and strengthened valve springs), but the just-dead Suzuki Sport was a hoot, with a precise gearchange, willing engine and chuckable handling. If the new car can match all that - it's onto a winner.

...And out with the old

The new car makes a little more power, and will feature a six-speed gearbox, but it looks as though Suzuki isn't deviating much from its proven formula with the new car (it certainly isn't in the styling department).

Which can surely only be a good thing...

[Stew2000]

It needs a minus rating. It just looks wrong.

[Riggers]

Stew2000 said:

It needs a minus rating. It just looks wrong.

New one or old one? Or both?

[Tedz]

Close choice between this and a Panda 100hp. I bought the Fiat Panda 100hp - which is probably a fair rival. Personally, I much preferred the Panda (but my spine probably disagreed). If the new one is better, then great!

[Hellbound]

Originally it was a fresh alternative to the New Mini. But now, I just feel it needs more of a personality. It's not quite got the bland but focused appeal of the RS Clio, and yet it's also not quite cute or customizable as the Fiat 500 or Mini either. If it's a fun car...it needs to stand out more as being fun. Even the Citroen DS has had a stab at being a tare-away teenager with ridiculous colour combinations and whatnot. I don't think Suzuki have the design talent to pull off anything other than a subtle refresh of a dated design.

[GroundEffect]

I like it.

[Riggers]

Tedz said:

Close choice between this and a Panda 100hp. I bought the Fiat Panda 100hp - which is probably a fair rival. Personally, I much preferred the Panda (but my spine probably disagreed). If the new one is better, then great!

Ah yes. Great car. I remember driving one on a bumpy road near Goodwood a couple of years back. It was more akin to trying to stay on top of one of those 'bucking bronco' machines than driving a car, but I still finished up with an ear-to-ear grin...

[nonuts]

The old one was one hell of a car as proved by a member on here on a hoon around Scotland, the main thing we kept saying was 'has that thing really only got 120bhp'?

[ellisd82]

Do like the Suzuki swift. Had an old 92 plate 1.6 Swift saloon in white. Rust bucket but was the performance model with 4wd, was great fun and quite rare.

[Nick3point2]

Stew2000 said:

It needs a minus rating. It just looks wrong.

Why? What's wrong with it?



I think it looks fantastic.

[TonyTony]

Isn't this coming out with an Auto version as well?

[RB Will]

I prefer the old one as the new one just seems a bit more rounded ans softer. Also driving the new normal Swift compared to the OH's normal Swift, we wont be trading in the old one for a new one as the new one now feels like any other boring hatch to drive where the old one feels more old school with a nice precise meaty gearchange, good pedal feel, heavy steering, brilliant chassis. The new one was getting 2mpg more though

[LuS1fer]

I like the idea, I like the reviews but can't stand the shoebox looks which are the very antithesis of it's apparent character.

[mcrdave]

The front looks 'Audi TTish' if you squint a bit.

[thewheelman]

So, they've done the generic 'give it larger headlamps' facelift.

[Riggers]

thewheelman said:

So, they've done the generic 'give it larger headlamps' facelift.

Er, no.

They've gone to the trouble of doing a whole new platform, and disguising it with seriously evolutionary looks. Clever, eh?

[Turbobanana]

I spent 2 years selling these, as well as driving one as a daily smoke.

Great fun, revvy little 16v lump, rock-hard suspension and true go-kart handling. 23mpg when driven properly though...

Knowing Suzuki, they wouldn't dare change the looks too much because the cooking Swift models sell on looks alone (not that they drive badly) and this "halo" model needs to be identifiable as a Swift.

For what it's worth, I think it looks great.

[CTR_Timmy]

My misses has a 10 plate Swift and it is more fun than my old FN2 CTR. Looking forawrd to this coming out may have to invest

[thewheelman]

Turbobanana said:

I spent 2 years selling these, as well as driving one as a daily smoke.

Great fun, revvy little 16v lump, rock-hard suspension and true go-kart handling. 23mpg when driven properly though...

Knowing Suzuki, they wouldn't dare change the looks too much because the cooking Swift models sell on looks alone (not that they drive badly) and this "halo" model needs to be identifiable as a Swift.

For what it's worth, I think it looks great.

Not really a car i'd buy, but a very capable altenative to the Mini & less common too. I remember many years ago a friend having a Swift GTi, a quick little car.

[manand38]

The "old" Swift Sport is very popular at the Ring. Some people have managed 9 min laps...

I own one and think it's great and if driven properly can return ~ 40 mpg.

If the new one drives like the old one, then it will be great...

It is an economical drivers car.

[anonymous-user]

Not a huge fan, looks a bit 'flat' and boring. Doesn't jump out at me.
If I were in the market for something like this I'd get an Abarth 500.