Suzuki Swift Sport: In Detail

Press Release

Easy entry

Like Swift GLX models, the Swift Sport features keyless entry for simple door unlocking, engine start-up and locking. With this system, there’s no fumbling in bags or pockets for keys to gain access to the car, and there’s no need to press a remote button. Instead, as long as the key is being carried, or it’s in a pocket or bag, the system detects its presence and unlocks the car. The doors are then opened simply by pressing a button on either front door handle; in turn, the engine is started by twisting the ignition key housing.  Further convenience, particularly when you have your hands full, is provided by an electromagnetic tailgate catch that needs just a light touch to release it.

Comprehensive safety measures

The Swift range features an outstandingly crashworthy structure – awarded 4 Stars for occupant protection by Euro NCAP – including extensive use of high tensile steel and tailored blanks to achieve strength without the penalty of added weight.

There are standard driver and passenger front and side airbags, as well as full length curtain airbags, and these are complemented by leg-injury mitigating brake and clutch pedals, front seatbelt pre-tensioners and force limiters, energy absorbing trim, three point ELR seatbelts for all seats and child seat ISOFIX attachments on the rear seat. Each seat also has a head restraint, those in the rear designed to minimise obstruction of the driver’s rear view.

Pedestrian protection measures too – which received a 3 Star Euro NCAP rating, particularly impressive for a compact car – have been given careful consideration, and bonnet, wings, wipers and front bumper are all designed to be crushable and to absorb impact energy more progressively. And helping to avoid an accident in the first place are anti-lock braking, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), a brake assist function and ESP^® (Electronic Stability Control), all complementing the responsive, agile chassis.

Swift programme follows ‘global outlook, European focus’ approach

The Swift Sport joins a line-up that is priced from £7,699 and comprises 1.3 GL 3-door and 5-door manual models, 1.5 GLX 5-door manual and automatic, and a 1.3 DDiS diesel 5-door manual model.

Since its launch in 2005, the Swift has been widely acclaimed and admired throughout the world for its style, mechanical excellence and on road performance.

Seen by many as the outstanding supermini of 2005, it was soon winner of numerous awards in the various markets. In Japan, importantly, it won the 2006 RJC Car of the Year and the ‘Most Fun’ category in the Japanese Car of the Year awards. In the UK, Car magazine named the supermini its ‘Car of the Year’, describing it as “stylish, roomy, good value, pretty quick and a lot of fun to drive”.

The Swift was the first product of Suzuki’s radical programme of innovation aimed at strengthening its position as both a leading compact car manufacturer and one of the world’s leading motorcycle brands. It provided the first glimpse of the ideas and design approaches that will shape many new Suzuki models in years to come.

Global in its outlook and global in its production – it is built in Japan, Hungary, China and India – the Swift’s development nonetheless focused firmly on the demands and tastes of the European market in terms of design and driving characteristics.

Indeed, the design team’s first step was to establish a base in Europe, where it was able to gain a valuable insight into the European mindset and draw inspiration from the European environment. And much of the programme of chassis development and refinement resulted from extensive road and track testing across the continent, especially in the UK, Germany, and Austria.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS