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Suzuki Swift

Suzuki Cars Malaysia has unveiled the Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, a special model designed to cater to the needs of the Malaysian market. The launch of this model took place during the grand opening of the first Suzuki 3S Centre in Johor.

The Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, imported exclusively from Japan as a CBU (Completely Built-Up) variant, features an elegant exterior design with a Premium Metallic Silver colour. It is equipped with a 1.4L BOOSTERJET engine paired with a responsive 6-speed automatic transmission, delivering an impressive performance of 140hp and 230Nm of torque at 2,500rpm. Built on the advanced HEARTECT platform, this model places a strong emphasis on safety with enhanced underbody rigidity, ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving experience.

The exterior design retains the iconic Swift look, with a large grille featuring red accents, a stylish black hood cover, and side decals. The sporty silhouette is further enhanced with hidden rear door handles, concealed pillars, a rear spoiler, and side mirror covers coated with carbon fibre. To enhance its sporty appeal, an “Akrapovic” carbon fibre exhaust system has been incorporated at the rear.

Inside the Suzuki Swift Silver Edition, you’ll find a sporty ambience with carbon fibre touches adorning the instrument panel, air conditioning switches, and door trim. The car comes equipped with a 10″ Soundstream entertainment system that supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The Suzuki Swift Silver Edition offers an enjoyable and dynamic driving experience, thanks to an 80kg reduction in curb weight compared to its predecessor. This lightweight design provides quick and efficient handling, embodying the essence of a true hot hatchback. With an impressive torque-to-weight ratio of approximately 4.2 kg/Nm, the Suzuki Swift solidifies its position as a formidable contender in the hot hatchback segment.

The Suzuki Swift Silver Edition seamlessly combines sporty aesthetics with premium craftsmanship, delivering a unique and enjoyable driving experience. Priced at RM 145,900.00 (before insurance), the Suzuki Swift is ready to captivate automotive enthusiasts and fans across Malaysia. This new edition demonstrates Suzuki’s commitment to delivering models tailored to the Malaysian market’s preferences and requirements.

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.

The next-generation Suzuki Swift has been revealed as a concept, offering a glimpse of what the production model may look like when it officially launches in 2024. While it’s officially labelled a concept, it appears virtually production-ready, with an evolutionary design compared to the current model.

The concept features a similar overall shape to the current Swift but incorporates some subtle design changes. Notably, there’s a prominent crease running along the side of the vehicle, just above the door handles. The door handles are situated below the beltline at the rear of the car, rather than in the C-pillar like the current model. This side crease flows into the headlights and aligns with the hood line.

The grille appears slightly smaller and rounder than the current model, and the concept car sports a black contrast roof. While Suzuki has been known for adventurous designs in recent years, such as the retro-styled Ignis and Jimny, the new Swift seems to take a more evolutionary approach in terms of design.

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There have been women in motorsport for a long time and the FIA (the world body governing motorsport) even has a Women & Motor Sport Commission which aims to create a sports culture that facilitates and values the full participation of women in all aspects of the sport.

In Malaysia too, we have a number of women who participate in motorsport and one who has stood above the rest this year is 35-year old Leona Chin. After an impressive season-opener which saw Leona grabbing 2 wins in the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS), she was back at the Sepang International Circuit to tackle the remaining 2 rounds of the championship.

While Round 3 ran in a similar format as the first 2 rounds, the final round came with a different challenge where it was a 300-km endurance race, with double points to the finishers. It was on this final showdown that Leona and her team pulled together to not only win the race, but also collected enough points to be crowned as the Overall Champions in the Malaysia Touring Car (MTC) category. However, the journey to the top was not an easy one as the journey was littered with challenges that could easily alter the course of the race.

A satisfying finish
The start of Round 3 was not what the team was hoping for as troubles had appeared on the car which had hampered the driver’s pace during practice session. Unfortunately, due to a tight schedule, there was not enough time to rectify the issue before qualifying, and the pouring rain just made things a bit more challenging. Despite these setbacks, the 2:43.236 clocked during qualifying was good enough to earn them a P3 in class to start the race in.

But the streak of bad luck did not end on the first day as in Race 1, Leona encountered some misfiring issues which had forced them to spend extra time in the pits for repairs. While the team did their best to fix the problem, the same issue lingered after they rejoined the race. The extra time spent in the pits meant they were two laps behind the race leader, forcing them to settle with a P7.

However, their luck was about to turn the other way around as the few hours before Race 2 were put into good use by the crew to return the car into optimal condition. This time, Akina Teo started the race and he played it safe during the start as the mixed conditions of the track resulted in some nasty crashes in the early stages.

Once the cars were scattered, Akina got to work and started to make up positions along the way. Backed up with vital information provided by the team manager, he was soon pursuing the MTC front runner for the race lead. Making the move at the final few laps, Akina performed a clean overtake on his opponent and brought home another win for the team.

Crowning of the champion
With 2 races down, the focus was shifted to the final 300-km race as the double points finish could play a big role in the championship decider. Akina drove the first stint and he put in a good pace before passing the wheel to Leona. While the team did encounter a few issues along the way, the problems were ironed out quickly and Leona was able to resume the strong pace that the team carried.

This race however came with a bittersweet moment as with 10 laps to go, MTC race leader car #15, which was also under the same outfit as Leona, was involved in a crash at Turn 4. This was no doubt a disappointing news to the team, but it had also reignited the possibility for Leona to win the championship title. Before the crash, they had done an early points calculation which had put Leona as the 1st runner-up for MTC.

At this stage, all they had to do was to bring the car home as the nearest rival was one lap behind. Finally, after 52 laps and over 2 hours of racing, the #7 Suzuki Swift crossed the line not only as the 300KM MTC race winner, but also as the Overall Champions for the category. It was a big moment of joy and relief for Leona who had been chasing the title for years.

“We were all very happy when the results came out. We have been in the industry for many years and were always looked down upon. Today is redemption!” she said.

It has been a fruitful year for Leona as she not only clinched the 2021 MCS MTC Overall Champion title but also won the prestigious 2021 Sepang 1000KM Endurance Race which was held earlier in November. “The achievement for today and this season is not just about the driver, but also about teamwork. Everyone in the team really helped a lot in the strategy, and also in preparing a really good car,” she added.

Final battles of 2021 Malaysian Championship Series to be held on December 15 & 16

The return of the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) gave a chance for Leona Chin to get back to 4-wheel racing after her last outing in 2019. Although these first 2 rounds did come with a roller-coaster of emotions, the whole team was able to put together a great performance which rewarded them with two class victories.

Leona is competing in the Malaysia Touring Car category in a Suzuki Swift prepped by Tedco Racing. The practice session on Wednesday gave the team the chance to fine-tune the car before heading into the qualifying session.

Starting on a high note
Going against other rivals in cars like the Honda Fit and Toyota Vios, her best time of 2:39.944 around the Sepang International Circuit positioned her in the front of the MTC class to start Race 1.

Although Leona was overtaken at the start of the race, she kept a cool head in the opening stages as every MCS race runs for 1 hour. It did not take long for her patience to be rewarded: by Lap 4, she reclaimed her position and led the MTC category. After a smooth pit stop and clean second stint, she brought the car across the finish line to claim the season’s first victory almost a minute ahead of the nearest competitor.

Being a double-header, Race 2 was only 4 hours later and already fired up with the victory, they looked forward to another possible podium finish for Round 1. The win in Race 1 had placed Leona to start from pole in class once again and she managed to clear the early stages of the race without any hitch.

Unfortunately, Race 2 did not go very well for the team as Leona was nudged at one point of the race which had sent her into the gravel. Although the impact did not seem to be very serious, there was actually damage to the oil cooler and splitter – which was enough to put her out of contention for the race.

With two more races lined up for the next day, the team had to burn the midnight oil to make sure that the car was raceworthy for the next round. Tedco Racing’s experience was put to good use and the car was prepared and ready to do battle by Friday.

Returning to the top
For Race 3, Leona started the race from P1 in class. Keen to redeem herself from the DNF earlier, she made a clean getaway as the lights turned green. Unfortunately for her, she was forced to retire from the race once again through no fault of her own. A reckless manoeuvre from one of the SP2 contenders struck her Suzuki near the right rear tyre, ending her race even before clearing Turn 1 on the opening lap. A very sad moment indeed.

This presented a whole new challenge for the team as they only had about 4 hours to fix the car before the start of Race 4. But they managed to do it all in time, and the Leona was able to participate in the final race.

The DNF in Race 3 meant that Leona had to start from the back in her class, which was not so good. However, fuelled with the determination to make up for lost ground from the previous misfortunes, she did not stay long in P5. By Turn 4 of the opening lap, she was already in second place and on Lap 3, she had moved ahead to lead the MTC field. From then on, she remained dominant and raced to the finish to take her second MTC win of the season. With 4 races done, the team is now preparing for another 2 rounds which will be held in mid-December.

What’s a Homologation Special?

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.

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