Made in Europe

By ALASTAIR SLOANE


Suzuki says its new Swift has been developed in Europe for the global market, a strategy that breaks with the company tradition of focusing on the needs of Japanese consumers.

Based on the Concept-S car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show two years ago, the Swift will be built in Japan and Europe, and go on sale in New Zealand early next year.

It will be powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a four-speed automatic transmission with manual mode.

Suzuki New Zealand says the new five-door model will give the company a wider market spread, and reintroduce a model name that earned the brand strong sales in the 1980s and early 1990s.

The Swift - larger than a Suzuki Ignis and smaller than a Liana - also has a three-door rally version.

Suzuki says the new car is a departure for the company, embodying a fresh approach to design and development.

Hiro Taka Ono, director and senior marketing executive, said: "We wanted the design and performance to be focused particularly on the requirements of Europe.

"When a car is accepted by the sophisticated European customers, we know it will be accepted in other parts of the world as well. The new Swift is the first model to be developed with such a concept."

Designers began with a clean sheet of paper to produce a user-friendly car based on a new platform.

The company even had to devise new systems for component development.

Its engineers developed an all-new chassis and refined it through track and road tests across Europe.

Feedback from the Junior World Rally Championship was used in developing the new Swift's suspension, which Suzuki says is more space-efficient than previous models and provides improved ride and handling.

The all-new design programme is aimed at strengthening Suzuki's position as a specialist small-car company.

The first sign of its intentions came in 2002 at Paris with the Concept-S, a rally-inspired study intended to reflect influences from Suzuki's two- and four-wheel racing programme.

Next to emerge was the Concept-S2, an open-top sports car unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Its dimensions hinted at the new-generation Swift.

The new car is 3700mm long, 1690mm wide and with a wheelbase of 2390mm. The front track - width between the wheels - is 1470mm; rear is 1480mm.

Suzuki says the Swift comes with a strong bodyshell and the latest safety advances, including a four-wheel antilock braking system, an electronic brake-force distribution system, and a brake-assist function, which together aid emergency braking.

It says interior room rivals the best in class. Inside, sporty features including a three-spoke steering wheel, a spherical shift knob, and an illuminated ring around the speedometer.

The top of the instrument panel is positioned optimally low to give the driver a clear view forward. The tachometer dial in the triple-gauge instrument cluster has its 0 mark positioned at 6 o'clock, where the eye falls naturally.

Suzuki says this is a reflection of sportbike design.

The rear seat has a 60/40-split design and a tumble-folding function for more luggage space.

The tailgate can be unlocked electrically at the push of a button.

The new Swift will be available in 11 colours.