The next-generation Suzuki Swift is nearly here, and South Africa will get its first look at the hatchback later this week.
The carmaker’s hotly anticipated new model is scheduled to make an appearance at the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami, Gauteng this weekend, giving local motorists their first glimpse of the Swift in person.
“A very special model will also be on display in the Main Pits – the all-new Suzuki Swift,” the manufacturer recently said.
“It is brand new from rubber to roof, with a sporty new design, new engine, and safety features never before offered as standard in this class of compact vehicles.”
Even better is the fact that it said the new car will launch “in the near future,” which likely means we will be getting our hands on it before the end of the year.
What to expect
Suzuki has not yet divulged the local specifications for the evergreen Swift, but we can look at the models overseas to get a preview of what will be on display this weekend.
The city car went on sale in India in May this year, where it is paired with a 1.2-litre, naturally-aspirated “Z Series” petrol engine firing on three cylinders, which produces 60kW and 112Nm and pairs with either a five-speed manual or automated manual (AMT) gearbox.
In comparison, the South African models (with the exception of the Swift Sport hot hatch) currently use a four-cylinder powerplant with a functionally identical output of 61kW and 113Nm.
The lower cylinder count of the Indian models contributes towards a better fuel economy, as the AMT units claim to achieve a figure as low as 3.9l/100km.
To put this in perspective, the already frugal South African models consume around 4.9l/100km.
The carmaker also hinted at new safety features, and a quick glance at the Indian brochures shows that we can potentially look forward to items like rear parking sensors, ABS with electronic brake-force distribution, electronic stability control, hill assist, six airbags, and a reverse camera, depending on the trim level.
Other equipment offerings include climate control, a 7 or 9-inch infotainment screen, an Arkamys stereo, keyless start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, cruise control, a wireless charger, automatic LED headlights, and daytime running lights.
Of course, the big question is how all of this will affect the Swift’s price tag, as it currently retails for between R213,900 and R272,900 (excluding the Sport).
Given that a big part of the Swift’s success is its attractive price point, it will be interesting to see how much the improvements to the formula raise the price of the fan-favourite hatch.
As for its release date, Suzuki models tend to surface in South Africa a few months after they debut in India, and the brand’s comment that it is launching “in the near future” means we will almost certainly be getting it before the end of the year, possibly sooner.
Judging from previous model introduction timelines, a new Suzuki car usually takes between four and five months from launching in India before we get our hands on it. As such, it could land on our roads as soon as October.
More information about the next-gen Suzuki Swift will undoubtedly be revealed at the Festival of Motoring this weekend.
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