Suzuki Launching Swift Sport

Next week, Suzuki will be launching the sporty version of its Mini-challenger – Swift Sport. Well, in Japan, that is. For now at least, Suzuki has no plans of bringing the Swift to the U.S., but given the steep rise in gas prices recently, perhaps that will change. The Swift Sport gets a higher-compression-ratio version of the Swift's twin-cam 16-valve four-banger, producing 125 bhp. While not as powerful as the Mini Cooper S (168 bhp), it definitely has a better horsepower-to-weight ratio with the Swift Sport weighing roughly 1,000 lbs less than the Mini Cooper S. With a price tag under $15,000, the Swift Sport could definitely give the Mini a run for its money.