Suzuki Auto South Africa has some exciting news for performance-minded local motoring enthusiasts: the Suzuki Swift Sport is coming to town!
Widely lauded as one of the most entertaining, involving and exciting hot hatchbacks in the subcompact sector, the Sport is a welcome addition to Suzuki Swift line-up in SA.
Widely lauded as one of the most entertaining, involving and exciting hot hatchbacks in the subcompact sector, the Sport is a welcome addition to Suzuki Swift line-up in SA.
It retains the key Swift attributes of tactile quality, efficient packaging and compelling value, but adds greater motoring excitement and driver appeal to the Swift equation, thanks to a significant power injection and a series of chassis enhancements.
The little tar burner also debuts the three-door Swift body shape locally, greatly adding to its distinctive presence, and underscoring its performance aspirations.
The Sport builds on Suzuki’s proud motorsport heritage, which has seen the Swift dominate the Junior World Rally Championship in previous years. In 2009, Swift Sports occupied the second and third places in the series, having scored three outright wins and six podium positions,
However, the three-door shape isn’t the only reason why the Suzuki Swift Sport looks the pocket rocket part. Viewed from the front, the deeper front bumper, with its integrated airdam, is home to a large, secondary air intake, flanked by round fog lamps on either side.
Extended sills link the more aggressively flared front and rear wheel arches, while the rear bumper incorporates a meshed rear apron. Twin, large-bore exhaust tail pipes provide further visual confirmation that this is no ordinary Swift, while revised tail lights and a roof spoiler add to the car’s distinctively sporty presence.
The Swift Sport rides on specially designed, 17-inch alloy wheels, shod with grippy Goodyear Eagle F1 195/45 R17 tyres, further optimising the grip and handling of the newcomer.
The sporty character of the Sport’s exterior design is mirrored inside, where the sculpted sport seats with raised bolsters are upholstered in a striking combination of red and black fabric.
A thick-rimmed, leather trimmed sports steering wheel provides a vitally tactile interface with the Sport’s dynamic traits, while the stubby gearshift lever promises short, fast shifts. Stainless steel pedals with rubber inserts continue the performance theme.
Further exclusivity is ensured by the red accents integrated into the door panel armrests, and the red stitching employed for the seats and the steering wheel. Aluminium-look finishes and chromed door handles add further visual lustre.
At the very heart of the Swift Sport’s exciting demeanour is a 1.6-litre high-performance, four-cylinder powerplant. The free-revving M16A unit features VVT variable valve timing and has a maximum power output of 92kW at 6 800rpm, linked to a torque peak of 148Nm at 4800rpm.
As a result, the Swift Sport accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.9 sec and is credited with a maximum speed of 200km/h.
Drive is to the front wheels via a quick-shifting 5-speed manual gearbox. Standard ESP electronic stability control ensures that the power is fed to the wheels as efficiently as possible.
The all-disc braking system, utilising vented front and solid rear discs, is equipped with ABS, EBD and EBA to ensure that the Sport’s considerable urge is coupled to equally prodigious stopping power.
Despite its appetite for performance, the Swift Sport retains the model range’s reputation for fuel efficiency. Combined-cycle fuel consumption comes to 7 litres/100 km, reducing to 6 litres/100m km during extra-urban driving.
The Swift Sport has a CO2 exhaust emissions rating of 165 g/km.
The chassis has been uprated to match the Sport’s additional muscle. Spring rates and damper settings have been modified to provide greater stiffness and control, while special Monroe gas-filled shock absorbers are specific to the Sport.
The electric power assistance for the rack-and-pinion steering system has been retained, but has been recalibrated to provide improved feel and feedback.
The Sport retains all the key elements of the five-door Swift as far as ergonomics, practicality and versatility are concerned.
As one would expect of a top-notch model, the Swift Sport features a long list of standard comfort and convenience features.
The instrument binnacle is home to clearly legible, round dials for speed and rev count, highlighted by red needles and metallic bezels. The standard Swift’s clean and logical ergonomics have been retained, including the integrated sound system, trip computer and precision switchgear.
The sound system comprises a front-loading CD receiver with FM/AM tuner and MP3 capability. It drives a total of six loudspeakers, including two dedicated tweeters, and features speed-sensitive volume control.
Also included in the Swift Sport package are electric windows and mirrors, remote central locking, a trip computer, automatic climate control, and satellite controls for the audio system on the steering wheel.
The Swift Sport’s safety equipment is comprehensive in both active and passive terms, and includes dual front, side and curtain airbags, seatbelts with front load limiters and pre-tensioners, all-disc ABS brakes with EBD, and ESP stability control.
The relatively long wheelbase and wide body ensure roomy accommodation front and rear, while the 201 litre luggage compartment can be extended to a capacious 494 litres by folding forward the split rear backrest.
The new Suzuki Swift Sport reaches local showrooms in July at a recommended retail price of R199 900, including metallic paint. The price includes Suzuki’s 4-year/60 000 km service plan, and a 3-year/100 000 km warranty. Service intervals are every 15 000 km.
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