17 March, 2011
An improved and more contemporary version of the outstanding Suzuki Swift which won 63 Car of the Year titles and awards around the world, is being launched in Queensland with a new engine, body styling enhancements, more room, more features, the choice of more models and covering even more kilometres on each litre of petrol.
The 2011 Swift is a sophisticated evolution of the model which made its Australian debut at the Brisbane Motor Show in February 2005, rather than being a radical revolution.
And despite a pronounced similarity with the stunning looks of its predecessor, every component of the 2011 Swift is entirely new (apart from just a handful of parts such as door handles, interior grab handles, fuel lid opener, rear window channel and the gears in the manual transmission).
The improvements on the 2011 Swift make it an even more desirable motor car, while still remaining true to the original design concept which has continued to attract international acclaim.
While the current Swift is produced in six plants around the world and sold in more than 80 countries, Queensland will continue to source its Swifts from the Sagara plant in Japan.
The 2011 Swift maintains a compact but very wide stance, has trimmed its minimum weight by 55kg, sits on a 40mm longer wheelbase; a wider track (15mm rear, 20mm front); is longer overall (95mm); and a little wider (5mm) while retaining the same height.
Three models, all sharing the same engine and transmission configurations, will be marketed – the very well equipped GA which is priced to bring it into the affordability reach of many new buyers, the more upmarket GL and the superbly equipped GLX.
The 2011 Swift has three different engines around the world - 1232 cc and 1372cc four cylinder petrol engines with variable valve timing as well as 1248 cc diesel.
Queensland gets the 1372 cc engine, designated the K14B, which replaces the M15A engine that helped drive the Swift to unparalleled market success.
While the new engine is slightly smaller, it still develops 70kW and 130 Nm – just a tad less than the current model, but which is more than offset by smoother power delivery, greater tractability and weight savings on some components.
The new engine is markedly more fuel efficient than its predecessor with the 2011 Swift manual improving its aggregated fuel economy figures to 5.5 litres per 100km compared with the previous figures of 6.3.
Not only that, but the new automatic is even more fuel efficient than the previous manual with a figure of 6.2 litres per 100km.
The improvements are partially due to a raft of new engine features which collectively contribute to a more efficient design and which include an overall lighter weight, slimmer valves to reduce valve spring loading, shimless tappets, less resistance in the timing chain, and reduced piston ring tension.
Externally, all body panels are new, but have been designed to retain the brilliantly effective package that has been one of the Swift’s strongest selling features.
It’s clear that the design continues to focus on a sporty design flavor, while this time increasing interior room for passengers.
The body and suspension mountings are lighter but stiffer - it has about 15 per cent more torsional rigidity and around 20 percent greater roll stiffness - than the previous Swift.
The 2011 Swift looks sharper on 15 inch wheels (previously 15 inch)
The cabin is new with even more convenience items including a trip computer on the GL and GLX series which displays current and average fuel consumption, driving range remaining, shift position (automatic transmission), odometer, tripmeter, outsider air temperature and the time.
There are more storage pockets, nooks and cup holders throughout the car.
Silver binnacle rings around the speedo and tachometer on the GL and GLX give a sporty flair.
The keyless push start and stop system introduced on the Kizashi, is featured on the top of the range GLX.
New front seats have 26mm more height adjustment for the driver (now 58mm), SRS side air bags, and increased rear leg room resulting from the sculpting of the backs the front seats.
The seats also feature new fabrics offering an even higher degree of comfort for long distance driving.
The steering response which has drawn praise from every motoring pundit, is now even more crisp with a new variable gear ratio – it is firmer in the straight ahead position and provides more assistance on lock.
Tilt adjustment is standard across the range with the GLX model also heaving adjustment for reach.
A new gear shift mechanism has been incorporated on manual transmission models for greater smoothness, less effort and greater accuracy.
The automatic shift is now a straight line pattern instead of through notched gates.
The front disc brake rotors are thicker on the 2011 Swift and rear discs now are included on the GLX model (rear discs were previously only available on the Sport model).
As one of the most robust compact cars on the market, the Swift continues its reputation for intelligent safety with an anti-lock braking system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD) and an electronic stability program (ESP) as standard equipment across the three model range.
Continuing the focus on safety, seven airbags are standard equipment across the range and include newly designed knee protection airbag.
The 2011 Swift already has earned a five star rating under the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP).
Euro NCAP is an independent car safety assessment program backed by seven European Governments, the European Commission and motoring and consumer organisations in every EU country.
Under the assessment regime, Euro NCAP gives each car tested an overall rating as a number of stars from one to five.
The overall rating reflects scores in four categories: adult protection, child protection, pedestrian protection, and safety assist.
Automatic transmission models also have hill hold assistance for easy starts on steep inclines.
New wing mirrors result from extensive wind-tunnel testing and now incorporate turn indicators on GL and GLX models.
The mirrors limit the extent to which air can buffet the glass thereby delivering a very clear reflected image even at high speeds.
And while the 2011 model is an even more desirable Swift to own, it will be even more difficult for people to get hold of one illegally with free wheeling cylinders in the door locks.