Tuesday 12th September 2017

New Suzuki Swift Sport - Frankfurt 2017

The latest turbo'd Swift Sport is here!

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We've banged on enough about the old Suzuki Swift Sport that it doesn't need repeating here. No, really, it doesn't. Its successor is very eagerly anticipated, basically, but there's also a degree of apprehension because - like literally every other hot hatch now - the engine will be turbocharged.

The big news here? 6,250rpm redline. Boo

Now, that engine is a 1.4 Boosterjet, turbocharged to up the torque figures at lower revs and aid fuel economy. The engine is up 52lb ft on the old one to 170lb ft; with a tad more power (now 140hp, where it was 136) and a lower kerbweight (970kg) than its predecessor means, it now has one of the most competitive torque to weight ratios in the hot hatch market. Or so it says here. However, there is no hiding our disappointment in the fairly low redline, given the old M16 engine made its peak power at 6,900rpm, and the driving experience was largely defined by that. Let's see how it drives...

It has been launched in Champion Yellow, derived from the Suzuki Works rally car - as the launch colour has been for the previous generations. The front end has a unique design for the honeycomb grille, sticking out further than on the standard Swift. It has five doors (with hidden rear handles) and twin exhausts. There's a six-speed manual as well. Stiffness and lightness were also keywords for this new model. Based on the standard Swift's 'HEARTECT' platform allowed engineers to increase underbody stiffness by replacing the previously segmented frame for a continuous one. Coupling that with the 'TECT' body and optimisation of other parts contributed to a saving of 80kg versus the previous model.

The wheelbase is 20mm longer with 40mm wider track front and rear, whilst the body has been lowered 15mm giving it a more "grounded, athletic stance". There are new wheels, some slightly more aggressive sills and front bumper plus and plenty of technology to keep the driver safe including an advanced forward detection system, dual sensor brake support, lane departure warning, weaving alert function and many others.

This new Swift has more torque, less weight, improved efficiency and more safety equipment thatn its predecessor. Let's hope it is just as much fun to drive.

[Mike1990]

Sounds promising, although you'll get people moaning its Turbo'd even though its got more power and probably a shed more Torque, something which people moaned on the previous one didn't have!

Interior and Seats look a lot better though! Looking forward to seeing it.

[Kev_Mk3]

I love the old swifts but this so far I need to see in person to make my mind up

[Toltec]

The front makes it look like some kind of crossover not a sporty hatch.

[M1C]

I still like the Mk1 SSS. Just looked right. And drove really, really well. I had a Panda 100HP at the time and i...begrudingly found the Swift the better car to drive

I'll not dismiss this one though.

[neil1jnr]

I like the look of this at first glance, more so than the new Fiesta, the turbo engine means it will get a look in when I replace the 140 ecoboost I currently have. I am not ashamed to say it but the reason the last Swift sport wasn't even considered was because it was NA. I can't live without torque as a daily now, it's just better IMO and a more relaxed drive to make 'swift' progress.

[George Smiley]

Another audi tick box styling yawwwwwn

[nickfrog]

I can't quite see what this has to do with Audi but anyway, even if it's half as good as the Mk1 and MK2, it'll still be brilliant.

[culpz]

I'll be honest, i'm really disappointed with the exterior looks and styling, if this is actually what it will look like.

However, the interior looks great. Those seats look fantastic too! The dash, dials and infotainment system all looks very nice aswell. It generally look so much more refined, along with the new turbo motor.

It just looks more suitable for the boring, daily stuff. Thing is, will it be a hindrance when it comes to actually going for a drive?

Edited by culpz on Friday 4th August 16:34

[stupidbutkeen]

I have the mk1 sport and love it due to its na engine and the basic feel to it all.
If I wanted a small turbo car I would buy a fiesta st.
Will the new swift sport cost around the 15k like the old one or is it going to be into the fiesta cost range.

[M1C]

I think those seats will be standard. They do look good though.

[Nickp82]

[quote=culpz]I'll be honest, i'm really disappointed with the exterior looks and styling, if this is actually what it will look like.

However, the interior looks great. Those seats will, no doubt, be optional as they look too snazzy to be had from standard. But, you never know! The dash, dials and infotainment system all looks very nice too. It generally looks so much more refined, along with the new turbo motor.

It just looks more suitable for the boring, daily stuff. Thing is, will it be a hindrance when it come to actually going for a drive?[/quote

Aside from the slightly iffy wheel design it looks to largely do what the previous versions have so assuming it handles just as well it should be another bundle of fun!

[kambites]

Whilst I'm sure it'll be objectively better than the old one, it appears to be a carbon copy of every other small warm hatch now. It'll have to be very good to compete head on with the established competition rather than sit as an oddball beside them.

[Mercury00]

I like it, shame about the wheels.

[culpz]

M1C said:

I still like the Mk1 SSS. Just looked right. And drove really, really well. I had a Panda 100HP at the time and i...begrudingly found the Swift the better car to drive

I'll not dismiss this one though.

I do keep looking at the MK1 SSS as a cheap, reliable and fun car that should last me a long time so i can save up some money in between. I do like the Panda 100HP's but i think i'd prefer the extra pace of the Swift. I do like the Panda's quirkiness though.

How much more enjoyable was the Swift in comparison to the Panda?

[BarbaricAvatar]

Here's a car that's been getting steadily uglier and less distinctive with each new model.

I still fancy an old one, really not interested in the new one.

[M1C]

culpz said:

M1C said:

I still like the Mk1 SSS. Just looked right. And drove really, really well. I had a Panda 100HP at the time and i...begrudingly found the Swift the better car to drive

I'll not dismiss this one though.

I do keep looking at the MK1 SSS as a cheap, reliable and fun car that should last me a long time so i can save up some money in between. I do like the Panda 100HP's but i think i'd prefer the extra pace of the Swift. I do like the Panda's quirkiness though.

How much more enjoyable was the Swift in comparison to the Panda?

I only had the one drive, although it was a 'proper' fast drive. The main differences to me were...better seating position, bit lower in the car, etc. As good or better gearshift. Slightly more go than the Panda, although it didn't feel like 25bhp more. A slightly better ride, not as crashy. Still very firm...but with some pliancy. Had more of a 'tail happy' feel.
It wasn't massively different or better...it just felt a bit....more...livable with? I think the engine felt better, maybe higher revving? (altough i found the Panda engine great!)

Overall i'd say...there wasn't much in it...but the Swift was the more 'polished' product. (but you could argue it had less character, yes)

(oh, the steering wasn't great, too 'assisted' feeling (but i didn't think the Pandas was great either)

[Drive Blind]

so another new model that's 5dr only? no 3dr option?

we need to stop this trend.

[Yipper]

Interior = good.
Exterior = hideous.

[gweaver]

This has been dividing opinion over on SSOC.

There's a microsite on the Japanese website here: http://sp-suzukicar.jp/car/swiftsport/special/teas...
And a video here: http://www.globalsuzuki.com/iaa2017/teaser/mp4/mov...

I prefer the exterior of the previous generations (I might be a little biased), but think the new one is ok. The wheels though..

It's quite a bit lighter and less powerful (and possibly cheaper) than the competition. Time will tell if that's a good thing.

[Hub]

I really hate the current design fad for 'hidden' rear door handles. It doesn't make it look like a 3 door as the length of the front door is too short, and it doesn't improve the appearance.