Autoblog

REPORT: 2011 Suzuki Swift engineered to meet U.S. regulations

Noah Joseph — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Suzuki Swift Sport Click above for high-res image gallery

There are things that Suzuki does well, and things it doesn't do so well. Among the former are its motorcycles and small cars like the Swift. Among the latter, well, just take a look at their success in the North American market. Unfortunately, the company doesn't offer the Swift - an almost universally praised little hatchback - in North America, a decision which Suzuki admits in hindsight was a mistake. But the company has been hard at work on a successor to the hot-selling hatch, and rumors have been circulating that this version could, in the end, make it Stateside.

The latest news comes from the mouth of Suzuki's chief engineer Takashi Nakayama via Car and Driver, who says the next-gen Swift is being developed with United States crash and emissions regulations in mind. Although that doesn't mean it will necessarily make it here, it does give Suzuki the option. In the meantime, the company is toiling away, preparing the ground for the arrival of its new Kizashi sedan while getting by on a lineup consisting of the underrated SX4, ho-hum Grand Vitara, what's left of XL7 stock and the rebadged Nissan Frontier known as the Suzuki Equator.

Gallery: Suzuki Swift Sport

[Source: Car and Driver]

REPORT: 2011 Suzuki Swift engineered to meet U.S. regulations originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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American-made Formula Nippon car debuts at Fuji

Justin Gardiner — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:02:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan

Just under a year since the concept was announced, two brand new 2009 Formula Nippon chassis, designed and built by California's Swift Engineering, have gone through shakedown trials at Fuji Speedway. Autoblog spoke to Team Toyota TOM'S Andre Lotterer, one of the first two F'pon pilots to take the radically designed machine out for a spin, to see what he thought of the exceptionally wide single seater.

First off, they seem to be pretty well put together. In an unusual turn of events for a brand new car, nothing broke or fell off during the its first outing in anger. Equally unusual, the new design is almost as quick as the Lola chassis it replaces, and with a few adjustments is destined to be even quicker. That's saying something: Andre has managed to lap Fuji in 1 minute 23 seconds in the 2008 Formula Nippon car, less than 5 seconds off Lewis Hamilton's record of 1:18.7

Although the chassis currently lacks mechanical grip, pitching the car in to crowd pleasing slides in slow corners, Andre reckons that the gigantic 6' 4" wide front wing and sculpted sidepods are generating plenty of downforce, keeping the car planted through higher-speed bends. Unfortunately, those advanced aerodynamics won't be able to prevent incidents such as F1 refugee Yuji Ide's aerobatics at Suzuka earlier this year, and super rookie Kohei Hirate's wince inducing flight into the barriers at Motegi a few weeks ago, but the Swift monocoque is even stronger than the 2008 Lola tub that saved those drivers from serious injury.

American-made Formula Nippon car debuts at Fuji originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maruti Suzuki unveils ironically named Swift DZire sedan

Noah Joseph — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:39:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Suzuki, India

Click above (if you must) for more of the Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire

It's a shame that more of Suzuki's line-up isn't as well designed and executed as the nimble little Swift hatchback. But we swear, this was not what we had in mind.

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the country's largest automaker and majority owned its the Japanese parent company, has taken the wraps off of the ironically named Swift DZire today, initial spy shots of which we lamented several months ago. Rather contrary to its name, we're left wondering what's so desirable about a trunk that it's worth butchering erstwhile attractive hatchbacks. The resulting conversion ends up looking like the hatch version, only with a tumor growing out the back. Maruti calls its "The Heart Car", but we'll go for the bypass, thank you very much.

More details are available at the DZire micro site, in the press release after the jump, and images in the gallery below for those with bizarre fascinations.

Gallery: Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire

[Source: Maruti Suzuki]

Continue reading Maruti Suzuki unveils ironically named Swift DZire sedan

Maruti Suzuki unveils ironically named Swift DZire sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Mar 2008 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2009 Formula Nippon cars to be made in USA

Justin Gardiner — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Japan, Honda, Toyota

Thirty-odd years ago, Japanese car manufacturers began designing and building cars specifically for the world's largest automotive market place: America. Sadly, the big three never returned the compliment and have yet to design a car tailored to the second largest market: Japan. However, California's Swift Engineering has just won the contract to make all the chassis for Japan's top single-seater racing category, Formula Nippon, and so will be making a tiny dent in Japan's vast automotive trade deficit with America. Or they would be if the cars were road legal.

The new carbon monocoque replaces a steel-framed Lola chassis that the formula has used since becoming a single-make series in 2002, and will be bolted to 600HP+ 3.4L Honda and Toyota engines that are architecturally similar to those used in IRL. The most striking design change is that gaping 6'4" wide front wing which bucks the trend in international single-seater formulae for smaller, less efficient aerodynamic aids.

Will this help the car maintain downforce when drafting down straights and thus encourage overtaking? Let's hope so, but even if it doesn't, we think it looks cool.

[Source: Formula Nippon]

Gallery: 2009 F Nippon

2009 Formula Nippon cars to be made in USA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Forenza, Reno get the boot after '08, Swift convertible in the works

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Suzuki

In memoriam: the Suzuki Forenza and its brother, the Reno, will shuffle off this mortal coil after 2008. Oh, how we barely knew thee - but we're not surprised.

Both vehicles have seen a dip in sales this year, and with the SX4's numbers up over 35-percent for 2007, and a sedan version due out in October, Suzuki obviously had too many vehicles vying for the same buyers.

According to an un-named source quoted by Automotive News, the SX4's market share will continue to expand, with the aforementioned sedan as well as a hatchback model supposedly due in 2009. As for Suzuki's sub-compact offering, we can still expect the Swift to arrive on U.S. shores in 2010, packing a more performance-oriented punch than the SX4, with a convertible version due out sometime afterwards.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Suzuki Forenza, Reno get the boot after '08, Swift convertible in the works originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #63 [Enhanced]

Chris Shunk — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Videos

The enhanced version of the Autoblog Podcast #63 has again been rendered out for your visual consumption. In part one of #63, we talk about the next Suzuki Swift coming to the United States. In the podcast's second section we give quite a bit of time to the Alan Mulally - George Bush - hydrogen explosion debate. Finally, we discuss Bub Lutz, and his comment that new EPA regulations could mothball GM's RWD program.

Check it out. Per your suggestions, we cut the podcast into three sections for smaller downloads, and we've also embedded sections two and three of the podcast after the jump. If you have any more suggestions on how to improve the enhanced version of the Podcast, let us know in the comments. We're working on a better distribution system than shoving all three in our current RSS feed of the audio-only version, so soon you'll be able to subscribe just to the enhanced version's RSS feed.

DOWNLOAD Part One to your desktop (Suzuki Swift)
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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #63 [Enhanced]

Autoblog Podcast #63 [Enhanced] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Apr 2007 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #63

Dan Roth — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:07:00 EST

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Podcasts, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Ford, GM, Suzuki

It's nice to be back in the swing of things. We're once again cranking out weekly podcasts, and #63 is a compact one. We start off salivating over the news that the next generation Suzuki Swift will be headed for US shores. We devolve from discussing an unsubstantiated rumor into wistful praise for the current can't have it Swift, and even make mention of Swifts from nigh on twenty years ago. The dustup over Alan Mulally's work of fiction at the New York Auto Show keynote draws our ire next. This one has it all, lies, grandstanding media with agendas, attacks, grandstanding media with agendas, misinformation, grandstanding media with agendas, disinformation, and finally, grandstanding media with agendas. Speaking of grandstanding, we nearly go as far as calling Lutz's bluff on the announcement that the hotly anticipated RWD cars from GM are on hold 'till regulators get their shizzle together. Whatevs. The entire GM turnaround is on hold? Not bloody likely. The consensus we come to is: Bad Lutz. So, turn on, tune in and peel out for our latest slice of podcast goodness.

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Autoblog Podcast #63 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suzuki Swift coming to the U.S. in 2010

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:07:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Suzuki

Click the link above for a high-res gallery of the Swift Sport.

The market for budget-priced, hot hatches in the U.S. has dwindled over the last two decades, with most of the major players either inflating prices or dropping out altogether. However, according to Automotive News, Suzuki execs have confirmed that the next generation Swift will finally make its way to U.S. shores, likely sometime in 2010.

The Swift and its Sport-y sibling are currently sold in Japan and Europe, gaining a significant amount of praise from consumers abroad looking for an entertaining compact that appeals to both cheapskates and enthusiasts alike.

The current Swift Sport, in European guise, comes equipped with a 1.6-liter VVT engine, creating 125 HP and sending power to the front wheels via a close-ratio five-speed transmission. Considering that the current Sport tips the scales at around 400 pounds less than a Mini Cooper S, it will provide more bang-for-the-buck than any vehicle available -- especially if it comes in under $15-large.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Gallery: Suzuki Swift Sport

Suzuki Swift coming to the U.S. in 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 02:07:00 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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Tokyo Auto Salon: Suzuki Swift X Concept

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:36:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Japan, Hatchback, Suzuki, Misc. Auto Shows

Among the other tunerific surprises that lined the booths of the Nippon Convention Center during the Tokyo Auto Salon, Suzuki displayed their Swift X Sport Concept. Of all the vehicles in Suzuki's lineup, the Swift is the one we'd love to see Stateside post haste, especially benefiting from some of its rally heritage. Although in standard guise, it's little more than a subcompact with all the sporting pretenses that the name implies, this concept brings a little bit of WRC flavor to the party.

Continue reading Tokyo Auto Salon: Suzuki Swift X Concept

Tokyo Auto Salon: Suzuki Swift X Concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 29 Jan 2007 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Paris Motor Show: Suzuki Swift Sport

Noah Joseph — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:35:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Japan, Paris Motor Show, Hatchback, Suzuki

The Swift gets swifter: our intrepid autophile John Neff has checked in from Paris with details on the new European-market Suzuki Swift Sport.

The compact and sporty Swift has already been met with awards and applause, and the new hot-hatch version, which benefits from Suzuki's experience in the highly competitive Junior World Rally Championship, should only earn it more friends.

The Swift Sport has been on the Japanese market already for a year, but Paris marks its European debut. Motivation comes courtesy of a 16-valve four-cylinder 1.6-liter VVT engine driving 125 horses through a close-ratio five-speed en route to the front wheels and on to the pavement.

The sporty version is visually differentiated by a revised front bumper, new alloys, lip spoiler and twin exhaust pipes. Inside everything's black and red, including the more supportive sport buckets up front, and metal-finish fixtures and trim.

The supermini segment is a packed one, especially in Europe, and the hot hatch market is stiff competition. But with sharp, simple styling and a winning powerplant, the Swift Sport seems to make a good thing better.

Related posts:

(You know the drill: follow the jump for more pics and the press release.)

Continue reading Paris Motor Show: Suzuki Swift Sport

Paris Motor Show: Suzuki Swift Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Sep 2006 13:35:00 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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