Suzuki’s new Swift model is set to offer lower emissions despite being slightly bigger than its predecessor.
The new supermini model is set to go on sale in the Autumn, available as a three or five door model. Its carmaker released the first pictures of the new stretch model this week, as it held the world premiere line off ceremony for mass production of the new car at its Magyar Suzuki Corporation production facility at Esztergom, in Hungary.
Its Japanese maker hopes that the reduced emissions and increased size will broaden the car’s appeal as it also promises developments in styling, impact safety, driving performance, handling and improved fuel consumption.
The third generation model features extensive use of a higher strength steel to make the new bodyshell lighter and stiffer than before as well as offering refinement in underbody design. This latest body design has also helped improve impact safety for pedestrians as well as occupants.
Increased track and larger diameter wheels with lower profile tyres allow for better handling while the interior design now features black as its keynote colour with accents of silver throughout the car.
New Swift has grown slightly in length (+90mm) with a 50mm increase in wheelbase, while it also gains an extra 5mm in width and 10mm in height.
Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is now 56.5mpg for the petrol manual transmission model, an improvement of 7.8mpg over the previous 1.3-litre petrol unit.
Emissions are much lower as well; the new petrol 1.2-litre engine with manual transmission produces just 116g/km on the combined cycle; representing a 24g/km or 17 per cent improvement over the 1.3.
A 1.3-litre diesel engine will also become available and planned for UK introduction in early 2011; this engine will emit 109g/km (down from 119g/km) and has combined fuel consumption of 67.3mpg, an improvement on an already highly credible 62.8mpg from the outgoing Swift DDiS.
An optional automatic transmission will be available for the petrol engine from launch.For the powertrain; a new 1.2-litre petrol engine incorporating Dual VVT (Variable intake and exhaust valve timing) is utilised which produces 94PS at 6,000rpm, slightly more than the outgoing 1.3-litre unit. Torque is also improved to 118Nm at 4,800rpm.
Full UK specification and pricing is expected to be announced later in the summer.
