Suzuki Cars Malaysia telah memperkenalkan Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, sebuah model yang direka khas untuk memenuhi keperluan pasaran Malaysia. Pelancaran ini berlaku di Johor semasa pelancaran rasmi Pusat Suzuki 3S pertama di negeri tersebut.
Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, diimport khas dari Jepun sebagai varian CBU, menampilkan reka bentuk luaran yang elegan dengan warna Premium Metallic Silver. Ia dikuasakan oleh enjin 1.4L BOOSTERJET yang dipadankan dengan transmisi automatik 6 kelajuan yang responsif. Kombinasi kuasa ini memberikan prestasi yang mengagumkan dengan 140 kuasa kuda dan tork 230Nm pada 2,500rpm. Dibina di atas platform HEARTECT yang canggih, model ini menitikberatkan keselamatan dengan ketahanan bawah badan yang dipertingkatkan, memberikan ketenangan fikiran semasa menjalani perjalanan seronok dalam Suzuki Swift.
Keselamatan tetap menjadi fokus utama dalam model ini, berkat ketahanan bawah badan yang diberikan oleh platform HEARTECT. Reka bentuk luaran mengekalkan rupa ikonik Swift, dengan grill yang besar yang mempunyai aksen merah, penutup hood hitam yang bergaya, dan dekalan sisi. Siluet berjiwa sukan ini diperkukuhkan dengan pegangan pintu belakang yang tersembunyi, tiang tersembunyi, spoiler belakang, dan penutup cermin sisi yang dilapisi dengan serat karbon. Untuk menambah daya tarik sukan, “Akrapovic” bahagian ekzos serat karbon telah dimasukkan di bahagian belakang.
Di dalam Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, anda akan menemui suasana sporty dengan sentuhan serat karbon yang menghiasi panel instrumen, suis penghawa dingin, dan hiasan pintu. Kenderaan ini dilengkapi dengan sistem hiburan Soundstream® 10″ yang menyokong Android Auto dan Apple CarPlay, meningkatkan keseluruhan pengalaman memandu.
Suzuki Swift Silver Edition menawarkan pengalaman memandu yang mengujakan dan dinamik, berkat pengurangan berat kerb sebanyak 80kg berbanding pendahulunya. Reka bentuk yang ringan ini memberikan kawalan yang pantas dan cekap, memperwujudkan esensi hatchback panas yang sejati. Dengan nisbah tork-ke-berat yang mengagumkan kira-kira 4.2 kg/Nm, Suzuki Swift kukuhkan kedudukannya sebagai pesaing yang tangguh dalam segmen hatchback panas.
Suzuki Swift Silver Edition dengan lancarnya menggabungkan estetika sukan dengan kerajinan premium, memberikan pengalaman memandu yang unik dan mengasyikkan. Dijual pada harga RM 145,900.00 (sebelum insurans), Suzuki Swift telah bersedia untuk menawan hati para peminat automotif dan penggemar di seluruh Malaysia.
When Proton formed a technical tie-up with Suzuki, which led to the creation of the Proton Ertiga, the Japanese carmaker decided to show its support for the partnership (small though it was) by withdrawing from the Malaysian market in 2016. It was the same sort of move made by Mitsubishi Motors some 30 years earlier when it was involved with the Malaysian carmaker. The difference though was that Mitsubishi Motors had a stake in the company and could look at a long-term relationship whereas Suzuki was essentially just providing a product that Proton could adapt quickly.
The move by Suzuki disappointed its customers and fans, which had built up over 10 years. Although not all the products sold well, the brand image was strong. For enthusiasts especially, the Swift Sport was a hot little hatchback that offered zesty performance. Sadly, their favourite brand had abandoned the market and those who did own the cars kept them for as long as possible.
First Swift Sport launched in 2007.
Back with a new distributor
Now Suzuki is back, and it’s doing so through a new distributor – Naza Eastern Motors Sdn Bhd. (NEM) which is part of the Naza Group. Interestingly, although Naza has handled many different brands, it has never had a Japanese brand until now.
Suzuki has a wide range of models, from minicars to hatchbacks to SUVs, all small models. It did try to get into a larger sized market with a model called the Kizashi but never succeeded. The Suzuki model which Malaysians know best is the Swift which was introduced in 2005 when Suzuki Malaysia began operations.
Times have changed and while the plain vanilla Swift was popular back then, the market is filled with many more competitors today so NEM has decided to import just the Swift Sport, at least for now. This variant is the more iconic one and will surely have many who are eagerly waiting to get one.
Priced from RM139,900 (excluding insurance), the new Swift Sport is from the latest third generation with a 1.4-litre BOOSTERJET engine. Like many small engines today, this engine has direct fuel injection and turbocharging with intercooling which pushes output up to 140 bhp/230 Nm. The dual variable valve timing is electrically operated on the intake side but has hydraulic operation on the exhaust side.
During development, Suzuki’s engineers virtually eliminated the typical delay in power delivery (turbo lag) by attaching the compact turbocharger directly to the cylinder head as well as incorporating the exhaust manifold into the cylinder head casting. This design ensures optimum gas flow with minimal heat loss through to the turbo unit.
No manual transmission
The power goes to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic transmission which will disappoint enthusiasts. One of the strong attractions of the previous generations was that they were available (in Malaysia) with manual transmissions. This was at a time when companies were beginning to discontinue manual variants of their models due to diminishing demand.
It is likely that NEM did some market studies and found that the volume potential was higher for an automatic transmission variant than for a manual transmission. They could listen to a limited group of enthusiasts who might tell them ‘everyone who buys a Swift Sport will want a manual’ but the reality today is that most people are satisfied with an automatic. At least it’s not a CVT…
With the automatic transmission, the car is claimed to be able to do 0 to 100 km/h in 8 seconds and reach a top speed of 205 km/h. If you don’t drive with the pedal floored most of the time, you could get 16.4 kms per litre and we learnt that, unlike the previous 1.5-litre engine, this new one can deliver 100% of the rated output with RON95 petrol. The previous engine was apparently tuned to give its maximum output with RON98 which we do not have, and with RON97, dyno testing showed that the output was 1 bhp less.
While the suspension layout is fairly straightforward, careful tuning has been done to give greater driving stability, optimised roll rigidity, and improved dynamic response. The rear suspension was specially designed to ensure good high speed stability and the trailing arm was developed exclusively for the Swift Sport to minimise deformation during cornering. The rigidity of the torsion beam is also tuned to provide optimal roll stiffness.
Suzuki engineers developed a new platform called ‘HEARTECT’ which is said to provide enhanced fundamental vehicle performance due to being light and highly rigid. The underbody’s structure and component layout are incorporated in a highly rigid frame that resists distortion while also dissipating impact energy. More welds are used to increase structural rigidity of the body.
Swift design DNA retained
While the technical aspects have changed significantly since the last time Malaysians had a Swift Sport to buy (officially), the design retains a familiar form that can be traced all the way back to the Concept S of 2004. That shape has evolved over the years but remains recognisable as a Swift. For the Swift Sport, the appearance is more expressive, in keeping with the sport image.
The 2004 Concept S
Black-out roof pillars give the impression of a ‘floating’ roof while dark trim running along the lower sides establishes a low centre of gravity. The handles for the rear doors are up on the roof pillar, an idea which is not unique nor new as it can be found on some other models. It gives a cleaner look to the door panel though some people will get confused not seeing a handle in the usual place.
Sporty cabin
As would be expected, the Swift Sport’s cabin has a sporty flavour with semi bucket front seats that should hug the body well to keep it in place during the spirited driving which an owner is bound to indulge in. The seats have tubular frames set within the side supports of both the seatback and seat base cushion with urethane pads for additional support.
The dashboard has a rather ‘classic’ layout, somewhat different from most of today’s cars. It’s functional with a basic tone of black to create a high contrast interior space. For added sport appeal, the tachometer features a red dial face and the speedometer is coloured silver. A digital multimedia info display between the meters shows, among other things real-time engine output (bhp and Nm), g-forces and turbo boost.
The 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel, with red stitching, multi-function switches and paddle shifters, has a D-shaped design with a flat bottom, a feature usually found in sportscars.
The ventilation controls are in the form of large rotary knobs which will be appreciated by drivers as you don’t have to look down at them to make adjustments. Above the knobs is a 7-inch colour touchscreen for the infotainment system which has Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink for connectivity.
The Swift Sport has Suzuki‘s Total Effective Control Technology (TECT) for collision safety. This makes use of collapsible structures that absorb impact energy in the event of a collision, a frame structure that effectively disperses impact energy, and rigid cabin structure. Six airbags are provided for cushioning at the front and sides.
No driver-assist systems
While we usually read of driver-assistance active safety systems in almost every new model launched today, NEM doesn’t mention this in its materials. This is not to say that the model was developed without such systems as the Swift Sport sold in other markets does have a camera and radar which detect hazards and active systems that will give autonomous emergency braking.
Nevertheless, there is ABS with Brake Assist and Electronic Stability Program which no car should be without today. There’s also cruise control which is the basic type as it cannot be adaptive without a camera or radar.
As the official distributors, NEM will of course provide all the necessary aftersales support and has one 3S service centre in operation with immediate effect. Presumably, they will have a network in due course and will also provide services to those who already own a Suzuki.
While Suzuki motorcycles were on Malaysian roads in the 1960s, the 4-wheelers appeared in the 1970s, with the early models being the SJ/LJ (above) – a miniaturized Jeep – and the SS80 which was known as the Alto elsewhere. The SJ was a simple vehicle with 4×4 and could go almost anywhere as it was light and small. However, in those days, small vehicles were not in great demand so the Suzukis had limited sales. Later on, with the Swift in the 1980s and then the Vitara, the brand started to gain followers. When Suzuki Malaysia began operations in 2005, it got off to a great start with the positive response to the new Swift which was later assembled locally as well while the Swift Sport was imported. There were other models like the APV, SX4, Kizashi (pictured below) and S-Cross which were sold but the numbers were limited. When Suzuki tied up with Proton, it withdrew its own products from the market as a show of support – perhaps thinking it would have a long-term relationship. But that was not to be after one model (the Ertiga) and the brand remained absent from the market for 5 years.
Suzuki has revealed more images of the upcoming Swift Sport and by the looks of things, its going to be far sportier than its predecessor. We have covered its exterior design in a previous article and as such, we aren’t going to elaborate much about it here.
But we are happy to announce that the new car looks aggressive enough to pass off as a performance vehicle, but not enough to be repulsive to non-enthusiasts.
The recessed matte black honeycomb grille is far prettier than what you would get on the standard Swift, which besides being aesthetically pleasing, should also be able provide higher airflow to the powerplant.
Around the back, the racing style rear bumper features a two piece design that contrasts well with the twin performance exhaust pipes. They protrude somewhat, through dedicated holes in the lower piece of the bumper assembly.
That said, the area that has received the most improvement compared to the previous generation car is the interior. It looks and feels far sportier and more technologically advanced.
The bottom of steering wheel takes on a flattened shape, mimicking that
of racing cars. Several buttons have been integrated in to the steering wheel and a number of others set directly below it.
Red accents throughout the cabin provide the car with a a racing feel. This is especially evident when glancing at the bright red tachometer. A touch screen infotainment system occupies the majority of the centre stack.
This will probably function as a tool to inform drivers of their performance as well as provide them with an intuitive way of managing the vehicle’s systems.
The combined use of analog and digital instrument clusters should make for a more rewarding drive. Suzuki has built the car so as to be an extension of the driver instead of overwhelming him/her with a barrage of complicated data that detracts from the Swift’s Sport’s purpose.
Last but not least, we have to mention the semi-bucket racing seats. The minimalist black upholstery and contrasting red stitching are a nice touch. But as a whole, the seats should provide the driver and front passenger with adequate support during cornering.
The new Suzuki Swift Sport is shaping up to be a much needed improvement over its predecessor. We hope that builds upon the lively handling of the previous car without compromising on practicality.
Suzuki Motor Corporation will officially reveal the new Swift Sport at the 67th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, which will take place on 12 to 13 September.
Suzuki will be unveiling the all new Swift Sport at the 67th IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Since the first generation car made it onto showroom floors back in 2005, the Swift Sport has embodied the spirit of a true super mini. The lightweight body and a peppy naturally aspirated engine made for an extremely agile vehicle that offered similar thrills to that of a sports car.
This new car, retains the same basic recipe of the original but forgoes the rather angular design for more softly contoured curves that result in a silhouette that has a more sports car feel to it.
The front end of the bonnet features a wedge shape design that integrates nicely with the similar styled bumper assembly. Then, there’s the noticeably larger honeycomb grille compared to the outgoing car, which is rather tastefully done and is reminiscent of the Nissan GT-R.
The side profile of the car is little more interesting because from this angle, it becomes evident that the roof features a raked design that tapers off towards the C-pillar. This does provide the car with a compact and sporty look, which should be to the liking of younger car buyers.
The blacked out hexagonal type rims may not be to everyone’s taste, however it does complement the sporty styling and provide the car with a more aggressive stance. And overall, the Swift Sport is a very good looking car that we hope that the Japanese automaker keeps the design as is for the production version.
For now, the automaker is keeping mum on the exact details of the car. But as the 12th September launch date gets closer, Suzuki should divulge more information to build the excitement for the world premier of its third-generation Swift Sport.
