Suzuki Archives

Suzuki returns to Malaysia with the new Swift Sport

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.

2007 Suzuki Swift Sport — *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.

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.

Click here for a Swift Sport brochure.

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.

Toyota RAV4 becomes Suzuki ACROSS PHEV for European market

Two years ago, Suzuki and Toyota agreed to work together on joint projects for technological development, vehicle Production, and market development. Apart from the mutual supply of vehicles for the Indian market, where Suzuki has a strong presence, the two companies have also worked on sharing models.

For Toyota, it would mean a higher volume for a model and help push production costs down while for Suzuki, it would mean having a new model without the high cost of developing it. A win-win situation.

The first model to be shared is Toyota’s latest RAV4 which has been supplied to Suzuki and sold as the ACROSS. While the ‘double octagonal’ RAV4 design is evident, Suzuki’s stylists have given their SUV a different frontal look from Toyota’s model. Under the front bumper is silver garnish that underlines the off-road image of the vehicle.

2020 Suzuki ACROSS — *The front end of the Suzuki has a different look from the Toyota RAV4 (below).*

For European market
Intended for sale in the European market from the third quarter of 2020, the ACROSS has also uses the same Plug-in Hybrid system as that for the RAV4. The powertrain consists of a front electric motor producing 134 kW/270 Nm and a 2.5-litre Dynamic Force petrol engine, both of which are Toyota items.

Electricity storage is in an 18.1 kWh (50.9 Ah) high-capacity lithium-ion battery pack mounted beneath the floor. The engine functions as a charger for the battery pack and provides power assistance to the electric motor during high-speed driving if required.

The hybrid powertrain helps Suzuki to meet the tougher carbon dioxide emission regulations as well as offer high fuel efficiency.

Electronic 4×4 system
The Across also has Toyota’s E-Four electronic 4×4 system for additional capability in off-road or slippery conditions. The system uses an independent 40 kW rear motor that works in conjunction with the front motor to provide front:rear torque variation ranging from 100:00 to 20:80.

Beneﬁts of this system include enhanced stability during take-off on slippery surfaces such as snow-covered roads, and more stable handling when cornering on varying road surfaces. A ‘Trail Mode’ uses an automatic limited-slip diﬀerential control to ensure the best possible grip and control on slippery surfaces.

Central to the E-Four system is the highly sophisticated AWD Integrated Management (AIM), which controls not only drive force distribution, but also engine throttle control, transmission shift scheduling, Electric Power Steering assistance and braking, according to the driving conditions.

Same interior as RAV4
The interior environment is pretty much similar to the RAV4’s and not surprisingly shares the same high-quality materials with soft padding on the dashboard and door trims.

While cabin space is designed for the comfort of occupants in both the first and second rows, cargo space has been maximised in the spacious rear compartment. It has a 490-litre volume with the rear backrests up and up to 1,604 litres with both backrests folded down.

Advanced safety/technology features
To meet the demanding safety expectation of consumers in Europe, the ACROSS comes with a package of safety systems to help the driver. These include a Pre-Collision System (PCS), Lane Tracing Assist and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor, and Rear Crossing Traffic Alert.

If the systems sound familiar, they are the same as what it found on the RAV4, which again saves Suzuki money as they do not have to incur development costs to make their own safety systems.

In Europe, new vehicles are also required to have eCall, a feature which automatically alerts emergency services with a phone message when the vehicle is involved in a traﬃc accident. The message includes the precise location of the vehicle, helping the emergency services to reach it faster.

The practice of one manufacturer making and supplying models to another is not new and has been going on for quite some time. In fact, it is quite common in Japan. With the market becoming more and more challenging and competitive, it only makes sense to share models and reduce cost. Each brand will have its own loyal base of customers who will be happy to have an extra choice, even if it is not made by the company.

Toyota and Suzuki Strengthen Ties with Capital Alliance Agreement

Toyota and Suzuki Strengthen Ties with Capital Alliance Agreement

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and Suzuki Motor Corporation are strengthening their relationships with an agreement which involves a capital alliance. The two companies began considering such a business partnership in October 2016 and since then, have continued to explore and discuss specific details.

On March 20 this year, the companies announced that they would begin specific considerations in order to engage in joint product development and collaboration in production, in addition to promoting the mutual supply of products, by bringing together Toyota’s strength in electrification technologies and Suzuki’s strength in technologies for compact vehicles.

Toyota and Suzuki — *Discussions to form a stronger relationship such as an Alliance began in October 2016.*

Now, with an Alliance, there can be a long-term partnership between TMC and Suzuki for promoting collaboration in new fields, including the field of autonomous driving. This is vital as the automobile sector is currently experiencing a turning point unprecedented in both scope and scale, not only because of enhanced environmental regulations, but also from new entries from distinct industries and diversified mobility businesses.

“The execution of the capital alliance agreement is a confirmation and expression of the outcome of sincere and careful discussions between TMC and Suzuki, and it will serve for building and promoting their future partnership in new fields.”

Joint statement by the two companies

Cooperating in new fields but still competitors
Both companies intend to achieve sustainable growth, by overcoming new challenges surrounding the automobile sector by building and deepening cooperative relationships in new fields – while continuing to be competitors – in addition to strengthening the technologies and products in which each company specializes and their existing business foundations.

In order to develop and promote a long-term partnership between the two companies, the companies plan to acquire each other’s shares based on the Alliance. Toyota plans to acquire 24,000,000 shares of common stock in Suzuki (4.94% ownership of the total number of shares issued by Suzuki as of March 31, 2019 (excluding treasury shares) with a total value of 96 billion yen) by underwriting the disposition of treasury shares by way of third-party allotment conducted by Suzuki. Likewise, Suzuki plans to acquire, through purchase in the market, shares in Toyota equivalent to JPY 48 billion yen.

Why The Little Suzuki Jimny Is THE BEST 4×4 Ever And There’s A New One Coming! [+Videos]

Let me tell you a story… There was a time when I went full-retard for the world of 4×4’s, no, really. It was quite a sight I tell you, and since it was me, and everyone knows you never go full-retard, needless to say it was pretty epic… And one of the 4×4’s I had early on was a little Suzuki Jimny SJ413, which looked almost exactly like this (minus the roof-rack, alloy rims, bull-bar, air-press, spot-light, decals, etc.)…

It was the most uncomfortable vehicle I’d ever owned in my life, and I also later learned that during previous ownership, a fire had broken out in the engine compartment. Wow. Powered by a small, naturally-aspirated 1300cc engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox, it had manual-locking front hubs if I needed to get into 4×4 mode, but more importantly, it also had a 4WD High & Low transfer case, and that’s what mattered most. Actually, forget the photo above, mine looked exactly like this one, bare-bones and basic as hell – and also that filthy – cos it looked better that way…

You see, I was crazy into off-roading back then, and often accompanied friends, who happened to be in the 4×4 line, as a back-up car when they went to recce locations for upcoming 4×4 events. The thing I recall most fondly about my SJ413 SWB (short wheelbase, there was also a LWB, but that was pretty rare even back then) is that it never got stuck, not once. The bigger 4×4’s in the convoy would always invariably get stuck at some point, and had to be winched or snatch-strapped free, but not the little Jimny. It would just scuttle along merrily past them, seeing as how it was so light, so nimble and much smaller than the rest.

And you wanna know the best part? Short of a set of M/T tyres (mud-terrain), my Jimny was bone-stock-standard. No bull bars, no snorkel, no body-lift, no raised suspension, no winch, not even a tow-hook to speak of. This always made me smile (well, snigger actually) when those who had gotten stuck earlier in the day would talk about their expensive 4×4 modifications and add-ons around the campfire later that night. Stock-standard, never stuck.

Here’s an old video showcasing the SJ413 against its (then) newer sibling, which debuted in 1998. A bit of an unfair comparison seeing as how the (then) newer one seemed to be on road tyres, and traction matters most when you’re ascending a slippery incline, but it does show just how tough and nimble the old one was…

I still occasionally scour the on-line classifieds to scope out used Suzuki Jimnys, and I’m quite pleased to see that they’ve maintained their value in the used-car market. Good ones still command five-digit figures easily, and sometimes those digits don’t start with 1.

Sadly though, the Suzuki brand is no longer represented here, which is a shame really, because the new Jimny set to debut next year looks brilliant. It looks like a mini Merc G-Wagen to be honest, and well if you’re gonna be design-inspired, it might as well be by one of the best out there right? Here’s the intro video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FALkze7E808

And now from CarBuyer UK, check out the new Suzuki Jimny due in 2019!

These are the first official pictures of the 2019 Suzuki Jimny, showing that the new version of this diminutive SUV will look tougher than ever when it arrives next year. The Jimny has a reputation for being a superb off-roader despite its small size and the outgoing model has the oldest design of any car on sale, with few major changes in the past 20 years.

Its long-awaited replacement is clearly recognisable, but has squared-off lines, a table-top bonnet, upright windows, bright colours and a black roof. Viewed from the front, its two-tone look apes cars with a ‘floating roof’ design, including rivals like the Ford EcoSport. The Jimny could also tempt buyers away from the Dacia Duster and Jeep Renegade.

Funky features like round headlights and a slotted grille pay tribute to the old model, as do rear light clusters either side of its simple bumper and the spare wheel hung on the tailgate. The overall effect is similar to a Mercedes G-Class (toldja! – Ed.) that has shrunk in the wash. Basic versions will come on practical steel wheels, while chunky alloy wheels will be offered on Jimnys further up the food chain.

The angular design theme carries on inside, where the staunchly horizontal dashboard has been treated to a large infotainment screen, sitting above Suzuki’s modern switches and dials for the heating and ventilation system. There’s also a new steering wheel and large gauges sunk into an old-school square binnacle.

Under the retro bodywork, there’s a tough ladder-frame chassis featuring rigid axles and part-time four-wheel drive, with a low-range set of gears you can switch into for serious off-roading. There’s no word on engines yet, but we’d expect Suzuki to fit petrol engines from its current portfolio, with the 1.2-litre Dualjet and advanced 1.0-litre Boosterjet from the Swift the most likely candidates.

Sitting between the smaller Suzuki Ignis and larger Suzuki Vitara SUV in the Japanese manufacturer’s line-up, the new Jimny is expected to sell for close to the £12,999 price of the current model.

WikiHistory: The history of Suzuki four-wheel-drive cars dates to 1968. Suzuki bought former Japanese automaker Hope Motor Company which had introduced fifteen small off-road vehicles called the HopeStar ON360. The first Suzuki-branded 4-wheel drive, the LJ10 (Light Jeep 10), was introduced in 1970. The LJ10 had a 359 cc air-cooled, two-stroke, in-line two-cylinder engine. The liquid-cooled LJ20 was introduced in 1972 with the cooling changed due to newly enacted emission regulations, and it gained 3 hp. In 1975, Suzuki complemented the LJ20 with the LJ50, which had a larger 539 cc, two-stroke, in-line three-cylinder engine and bigger differentials. This was originally targeted at the Australian market, but more exports soon followed (Malaysia included).

Suzuki releases more images of upcoming Swift Sport

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.