The all new Swift GTI has arrived in Malaysia and its selling price has not changed from the previous Swift GTI. This new car is slightly larger and retains the previous design language with the Nautilus-style wraparound windscreen and the Giugiaro-inspired window line. Total vehicle weight has dropped by 30 kg thanks to a number of initiatives including increased use of high-tensile steels. This means the Swift GTI has 43 per cent more power and 23 per cent more torque than the current 1.4-litre Swift.
It also got a stiffer chassis, an uprated suspension with Monroe shock absorbers that contribute to roll angles that are 50 per cent less than before, and new 17-inch alloys shod with 45-series tyres. This new Swift Sport is longer, higher and taller than the previous model, and has a longer wheelbase. Compared to the standard Swift model, it is also a very good-looking hatch, featuring newly-developed high intensity discharge (HID) headlamps with a metallic grey coating, newly designed rear combination lamps, underspoilers front and side, and at the rear a spoiler, air diffuser, and twin exhausts.
The new 1.6-litre twin-cam engine produces slightly more power with better emissions and its 136bhp with 160Nm of torque is enough to propel this one-ton hot hatch up the road at a top speed of 195km/h and accelerate from 0-100km/h in 8.7sec, yet give a Combined fuel consumption of 44mpg. The Swift Sport certainly is well- appointed. It has lovely supportive front seats, chrome finishing to the gauges, stainless- steel finishing to the pedals, and standard equipment includes keyless entry and push-button start, fully automatic climate- control air conditioning, cruise control, a CD tuner with MP3 playback function and steering- wheel controls, Bluetooth, and a USB port for portable audio players.
The car also boasts an information display that details time, outside temperature, instantaneous and average fuel consumption, and driving range. Standard equipment includes automatic headlight levelling, front fog lamps, lights-off and key reminder, electric front and rear windows, and the safety 6- airbags, anti-skid brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, and brake assist. It all adds up to a hot hatch that, for the price, is rather impressive even before its sporting ability on the road is taken into consideration. Visit a Suzuki showroom now for a test drive.
