Autoblog

It's a hard knock life for a Nürburgring rental car

Chris Tutor — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hatchback, Suzuki, Racing

Rental cars get no respect. They're abused, misused and flogged mercilessly as athletes in Rental Car Olympics. And that's just at your everyday airport rental counter. The torture gets extreme for rental cars thrashed around Germany's infamous Nürburgring.

Rent4Ring expects its customers to drive its cars around the 'Ring with enthusiasm and, in some cases, less skill than the pros. Rent4Ring just recently retired its Suzuki Swift Sport from its fleet and shared the car's two-year-plus lifetime highlights.

The little hatchback made more than 2,800 laps of the 'Ring over three seasons amounting to more than 310,000 miles driven by 457 different drivers. "Some were fast, some were slow. Some were nice to the car, a few were frankly awful," says a Rent4Ring rep.

One of those drivers pegged the tachometer at a record (for this Swift, at least) 8761 rpm. The car did about 600 hours of spirited driving, and endured 168,000 gear changes for 180 million engine revolutions.

All that lead-foot levity came at the cost of only two clutches, 27 front brake pads, three brake fluid flushes, a new wheel bearing, a new alternator and battery, 52 Toyo 888 tires and four Goodyear Eagle F1s. About 1,847 gallons of 98-octane go juice.

To the Suzuki's credit, Rent4Ring says the car was never mechanically broken or crashed. Not only does it still drive like new, it still dyno's at 133bhp. The car isn't being scrapped or stuck on a used car lot somewhere but instead was bought by a Rent4Ring customer and should get several more Nürburgring laps before it goes to that big garage in the sky.

It's a hard knock life for a Nürburgring rental car originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Suzuki Swift Sport sure looks like fun... for someone else

Steven J. Ewing — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:41:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

Despite the on-again, off-again rumors about its potential voyage to the United States, the Suzuki Swift still remains a tasty piece of forbidden fruit. A shame, too, especially since this new Sport version sounds like it'd be quite the enjoyable steer.

The Swift Sport was first previewed by the S-Concept that debuted back in Geneva, but now packs 134 horsepower and 118 pound-feet of torque routed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Those aren't earth-shattering numbers, but in a vehicle this tiny (and lightweight), we imagine it to be pretty engaging from behind the wheel. Think Mazda2, but more powerful.

Other enhancements to the Swift Sport include a stiffer suspension and more aggressive stance, rounded out by a handsome set of 17-inch wheels. All in, we'd gladly throw the Sport around an autocross course or some curvy canyons... if it ever comes to the U.S.

2012 Suzuki Swift Sport sure looks like fun... for someone else originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki to launch sprightlier Swift Sport in Frankfurt

Jeff Glucker — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

It's compact, sporty, has a manual transmission... and we don't expect it to arrive Stateside anytime soon. We're talking about the all-new Suzuki Swift Sport, which is set to make its official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. The compact hot hatch is a tuned version of the standard Swift, with power rated at 134 horses and torque at 118 pound-feet, fed to the wheels through a six-speed manual transmission.

Suzuki didn't just fiddle with the engine, however, as the Swift Sport gets a healthy dose of chassis and suspension upgrades over the standard Swift. The torsion beam is more rigid, spring rates have been increased and the front wheels receive larger bushings to help turn the Swift Sport into an agile handling machine.

Despite all the sporting notions, the Suzuki Swift Sport is still a light sipper at the fuel pump. Fuel economy is rated at approximately 37 miles per gallon. So to sum up, the Swift Sport sounds rather fun to drive yet it's fuel efficient as well, and you're not going to see one on a U.S. road in the foreseeable future. Feel free to read all the details after the break.

Continue reading Suzuki to launch sprightlier Swift Sport in Frankfurt

Suzuki to launch sprightlier Swift Sport in Frankfurt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki at Geneva

Alex Nunez — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:38:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

Click image for a gallery of Suzuki's offerings at Geneva

Geneva was a quiet show for Suzuki, as the most impactful vehicle on display, the SX4 sedan, is something we've all seen already. Still, we have to say that as hatchbacks-turned-notchbacks go, we like the way the 4-door looks with its new protruding booty. The SX4 sedan gets the same powerplant as its hatchback brother, but will be offered in a front-wheel-drive config as well. Generally, sedan versions of hatchbacks don't fare so well in the looks department (see Nissan Versa), but between this new Suzuki and the recently-introduced Astra four-door, there's reason to be optimistic that the days of the ugly small sedan are waning. We'll wait and see.

Among the vehicles joining the SX4-door on the stand was the WRC Concept version of the hatch, a Swift Group N rally car, and the Lambo-doored Swift Sport seen above.

Gallery: Suzuki at Geneva

Suzuki at Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How 'swift' is it? Suzuki Swift Sport

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 07:54:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Suzuki

If you've listened to our most recent podcast, it's apparent that a couple of us are eagerly awaiting the arrival of an important addition to the Suzuki lineup: the Swift Sport.

We've been eyeing-up the Swift Sport from far away, far too long, knowing that we'll adore its small footprint, perky-four and road-sucking prowess.

And what's not to love?

A small, high-revving 1.6-liter engine, with variable valve timing, that's been honed on the absurdly demanding Junior World Rally Championship circuit. A close-ratio, five speed manual gets to molest 125 hp before it reaches the tarmac and a suspension setup, mated with 17" wheels, that would bring a few Miata drivers around to the dark (front-wheel drive) side.

We can hardly wait, and thankfully, the blokes over at World Car Fans have given us all the succulent details to pour over in a hatch-induced haze.

Related Links:

How 'swift' is it? Suzuki Swift Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Sep 2006 07:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki's Project Splash, Swift Sport headed to Paris

Alex Nunez — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:08:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Japan, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

Next month in Paris, Suzuki will be unveiling the Project Splash concept (they're calling it a "clinic model") , a modern-looking-tall-bodied hatchback based on the Swift subcompact. The Splash will show off a new 1.2-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine and seat five passengers.

Suzuki is keeping the rest of the info about Project Splash to itself for the time being, though they did release a design sketch (above). With the big shield grille, wide, thin headlamps, and downward-sloping roofline, we're seeing what appears to be some Audi Q7 influences. The car offers us a peek at the direction Suzuki's taking with an upcoming model, so we're very interested in seeing the finished product.

Of more immediate concern to our European readers is the other planned Suzuki debut in Paris: the Euro-spec Swift Sport. The Swift Sport launched in Japan a little over a year ago, where it's powered by a 98kW (133hp) 1.6L VVT 4-cylinder. If the powertrain is unchanged for Europe, sales should be brisk when it hits showrooms in the Fall.

Of course, now that we know the Swift is headed to the US as well, it's time for everyone to cross their fingers and hope that the Sport is part of that plan.

(Press Release, Swift Sport photos after the jump)

[Source: Suzuki]

Continue reading Suzuki's Project Splash, Swift Sport headed to Paris

Suzuki's Project Splash, Swift Sport headed to Paris originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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