Suzuki to further evolve Swift Sport
New turbocharged Swift Sport could receive sportier electronics and maybe an LSDSuzuki’s new turbocharged Swift Sport is already the brand’s most potent and technologically advanced hot hatch yet, but it will continue to improve.
Speaking to motoring.com.au at the Australian launch of the new Swift Sport yesterday, Suzuki Australia general manager of automobiles Michael Pachota said a sportier differential and sport-mode stability control are under consideration.
“Suzuki is progressing year-on-year in terms of development of its handling and performance-style features,” Pachota said when asked about the potential for torque vectoring or a limited-slip diff.
“I believe there would be room for further development and growth in that area down the track, but at this stage there has been no commitment from Suzuki Japan as to those additions to the car in the near future.”
Pachota was more positive about the much-improved driver assistance programs in the new Swift Sport, which now include as standard adaptive cruise control and autonomous emergency braking.
Absent, however, and available in many of the Swift Sport’s competitors, is the availability of a sport mode for the stability control, which currently operates in only fully on or fully off modes.
“Such technology wasn’t available for the Australian market when we were placing orders on the vehicle,” he explained.
“Based on the advancements that we’ve seen so far, the development of our brand and what we have to offer, I can’t see things like that in the future not being available.”
Priced from $25,490, the new Swift Sport is powered by a 103kW/230Nm direct-injected and turbocharged BOOSTERJET 1.4-litre petrol four, offering gains of 3kW/70Nm over its predecessor.
Six-speed manual and automatic transmissions are available, the latter replacing the outgoing Sport’s continuously variable unit.
The larger Swift Sport rides on Suzuki’s more-rigid HEARTECH platform – which it shares with the new Baleno – and is suspended by strut front and torsion beam rear suspension.
Standard equipment includes flow-formed 17-inch alloy wheels, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay-equipped 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment, automatic LED headlights, fabric seat trim and a D-shaped leather-bound steering wheel.
Safety items extends to six airbags, anti-lock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, autonomous emergency braking, daytime running lights, high-beam assist, lane departure and weaving alert, tyre pressure monitoring, four-wheel disc brakes and traction/stability control.
The 2018 Swift Sport was yesterday awarded a maximum five-star ANCAP safety rating.
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