Suzuki Swift

Suzuki Swift

Manufacturer	Suzuki
Production	2004–present
Class	Supermini car
Layout	FF layout
Related	Suzuki Splash Vauxhall/Opel Agila

The Suzuki Swift is nameplate marketed by Suzuki carried by vehicles of three distinct derivations:

• First, second and third generations: a supermini that began as an export nameplate of the Japanese domestic market Suzuki Cultus. See: Suzuki Cultus.

• Fourth generation: the previous version sold outside of Japan as the Suzuki Ignis. This car also formed the basis of the Chevrolet Cruze crossover SUV from 2001 to 2008, which was itself sold as an updated Ignis in Europe (this article).

• Fifth generation: the current JDM, Europe, Asia and Oceania generation, a significant departure from the previous models, marketed solely under the nameplate "Swift" (this article).

• Canadian Swift+: the current Canada-only generation marketed under the Swift+ nameplate — a sibling of the Daewoo Kalos family. See: Daewoo Kalos.

First, second and third generations (Cultus-based)

Suzuki Swift c.1996, US, Generation II

Suzuki Swift c.1999, Europe, Generation III

The Swift began as a marketing and manufacturing rebadge of the Suzuki Cultus, a supermini (or subcompact) manufactured and marketed worldwide across three generations and four body configurations — 3-door hatchback, 4-door sedan, 5-door hatchback and 2-door convertible — and using the Suzuki G engine family.

The Swift was marketed in the JDM (Japanese domestic market) as the Cultus and elsewhere as the Suzuki Forsa, Suzuki Jazz, Chevrolet Swift, Chevrolet Sprint and Sprint Metro, Geo and Chevrolet Metro, Pontiac Firefly, Maruti 1000, Holden Barina and Subaru Justy. Versions of the Generation II Cultus were also produced until 2007 in India and the car remains in production today in Pakistan.

Fourth generation (2000–2004)

Fourth generation

Also called	Suzuki Ignis
Production	2000–2008
Body style(s)	3 and 5-door hatchback
Length	3,620 mm (142.5 in)
Related	Suzuki Kei

The Generation IV Swift was introduced in 2000 as a replacement for the Suzuki Cultus. Outside of Japan, the Suzuki Ignis name was widely used. The Ignis was originally manufactured as a five-door hatchback, powered by a new generation of Suzuki straight-4 gasoline engines, the M family. Displacement ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 L, and the standard transmission was the usual five-speed manual, with an optional four-speed automatic gearbox. The vehicle is available with either front or four-wheel drive, although the 4WD/auto combination was limited to the Japanese market.

A shorter three-door version, with redesigned bumpers, was introduced in 2003, named Swift Sport in Japan and Ignis Sport in Europe. The Ignis Sport used the same 1.5 L as the regular Ignis, but with power increased. The Swift/Ignis Sport went out of production in 2005.

European update

2003–2006 Suzuki Ignis (Chevrolet Cruze-based).

In 2001, General Motors introduced the Chevrolet Cruze—a crossover SUV based on the Swift, retaining the original car's basic dimensions and powerplants. The Cruze was restyled, adopting a crossover look between a tall hatchback and a sport utility vehicle, and the three-door body was dropped. The "Chevrolet Cruze" commercial designation was used in most of south Asia, while in Australia the car was sold by as the Holden Cruze from 2002 to 2006.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Suzuki Ignis

Suzuki in Europe introduced the Cruze as an update of the Ignis in 2003, although extended by roughly 150 millimetres (5.9 in) in length, to improve interior room and luggage space. This version was manufactured by Suzuki's Hungarian Magyar Suzuki plant specifically for the European market. Also in Europe, due to an agreement with Subaru, the car was also sold as the Subaru Justy (4WD only) from 2003, as happened previously with the previous generation Cultus-based Swift.

The Cruze-based update was never sold in Japan as a Suzuki, only as a Chevrolet. Europe was the only market to receive the updated car as a Suzuki.

Fifth generation (2004-present)

Fifth generation

Production	2004–present
Assembly	Hamamatsu, Japan Esztergom, Hungary Chongqing, China Manesar, India[1] Pekan, Malaysia[2]
Body style(s)	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan
Engine(s)	1.2L CVT 1.3L I4 1.5L I4 1.6L I4
Transmission(s)	4-speed automatic 5-speed manual
Wheelbase	2,390 mm (94.1 in)
Length	3,755 mm (147.8 in)
Width	1,690 mm (66.5 in)
Height	1,510 mm (59.4 in)

The Generation V Swift debuted at the Paris Auto Salon in September 2004. This generation of the Swift marked a significant departure with the previous Cultus-based models, with Suzuki re-designing the vehicle as less of a "low price alternative" subcompact and more of a "sporty" subcompact.^[3] The Swift's design and driving characteristics focused on the European market with its chassis refined through a road-testing program across Europe.^[4]

2009 Indian Suzuki Swift

Indian Engineers were called to Japan to help Suzuki design this generation of Swift.^[5]

Available with 1.3 (92 PS (68 kW; 91 hp)) and 1.5 (102 PS (75 kW; 101 hp)) L petrol engines, the new Swift is Suzuki's new "global car", produced in Hungary, India, Japan and by Chang'an in China.

In Japan, only the 5-door body is available and four-wheel drive is an option for the 1.3 L or 1.5 L petrol engine. 1.2 L CVT transmission version also available in only front wheel drive version. The design of the new Swift was previewed on the Concept S and Concept S2 concept cars at auto shows, in the years leading up to its launch.

In Europe, the Swift was launched in 3- or 5-door hatchback form, with 1.3 and 1.5 L petrol engines, and a 1.3 L DDiS engine supplied by Fiat. The 1.3 L petrol is also available with an automated manual gearbox or with four-wheel drive.

The British Autocar magazine gave the new Swift a favourable 4/5 stars in road test, judging it a "thoroughly impressive all-rounder". The Generation IV Swift has received a four stars out of five rating in the EuroNCAP crash tests.^[6]

2005–2009 Suzuki Swift (RS415) hatchback (Australia).

2006–2009 Suzuki Swift (RS416) Sport hatchback with twin exhaust (Australia).

Since its global launch in 2005, which was kicked off with a marketing campaign fronted by the footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in many European countries, the Swift has recorded above forecast sales in most markets^{[citation needed]}. In Japan, sales figures have been twice the forecast and in many European markets the model has been a runaway success^{[citation needed]}. In Denmark, the GenIV Swift has been consistently in Top 3 for more than 2 years and was the car with the highest sales figures in 2006^{[citation needed]}. In India, rapid sales of the new Swift model contributed to the 64% rise in Q1 profits for Maruti Suzuki. The Swift will be reintroduced to the U.S. market in 2010 to replace the Suzuki Reno.^[7]

Swift Dzire

Suzuki introduced a sedan based version of the Swift called the Maruti Swift Dzire in the Indian market. The sedan has the exact same wheelbase as the hatchback version and has an increased overall length due to the addition of the boot.

Swift Sport

In October 2005, Suzuki launched the Sport version of the new Swift in Japan and in September 2006 the model was introduced in most European markets. Named "Swift Sport", it is powered by a high-revving 1.6 litre, naturally-aspirated DOHC VVT 4-cylinder engine with a 11.1:1 compression ratio, 4-1 exhaust manifold, High lift cams, Forged pistons, and strengthened valve springs.

The 1.6 L engine produces 125 PS (92 kW; 123 hp) at 6600 rpm and 148 N·m (109 lb·ft) torque at 4800 rpm.

The Swift Sport features sportier bumpers and spoilers, a stiffer suspension, twin exhaust pipes, red sport seats (with Recaro seats optional) and 4-wheel disc brakes on 16 in (40 cm) rims. The European Swift Sport features a manual only, 3-door version with 17 in (43 cm) rims and ESP.

The Swift is homologated under the Super 1600 formula to compete in the Junior World Rally Championship.

Suzuki Swift+ (2004-present)

Canadian Suzuki Swift+, based on the Daewoo Kalos.

For the Canadian market the Swift+ was created with a joint between GM Daewoo and Suzuki, After Suzuki stopped selling the Swift (Generation III) in 2001, to be superseded by a version of the Daewoo Kalos in fall 2003 (progenitor of the Chevrolet Aveo et al.), named the Suzuki Swift+ (note the 'plus' symbol) and marketed solely as a 5-door hatchback.

For the 2009 model year, the Suzuki Swift+ was updated in styling and a new Opel ECOTEC 106 hp 1.6 engine receiving 7.9 L/100 km for city and 5.7 for highway from the previous 8.9/5.9, shared with the Pontiac G3 Wave and Chevrolet Aveo.

Plug-in vehicles

The Suzuki Swift Plug-in Hybrid has an electric-only cruising range of about 12 miles, drawing on a lithium-ion battery pack.^[8]

See also

• Geo Metro truck
• Maruti Swift Dzire

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Suzuki Swift

• Suzuki Swift official specs on official global Suzuki site
• Maruti Swift official site
• Suzuki Swift Owners Club
• Geo Metro Forum