According to the Russian media, of all places, Suzuki has confirmed plans to produce a Suzuki Swift Sport next year based on the S-Concept shown in Geneva in March.
Suzuki’s Russian subsidiary has released a statement to the press saying that a production version of the concept will go on sale next year to compete with cars like Ford Fiesta ST and Volkswagen Polo GTi. Although the press release didn’t refer to the UK market specifically, we are a huge consumer of hot hatches and Renaultsport’s largest market. After the rave reviews the last Swift Sport got from the press in this country, a UK version seems a certainty.
The Swift S-Concept is 30mm (just over an inch) lower and 60mm (two and a third inches) wider than the standard Swift. Other upgrades include a new bodywork design, rear roof spoiler, 18 inch wheels, new headlights, Recaro styled seats, carbon fibre trim, new steering wheel and new instrument cluster. The show car was finished in a new lightning pearl yellow exterior finish.
How many of these features make it to the production car we’ll have to wait and see, but the press release did refer to a “massive” rear wing, rear diffuser and “lateral ‘skirts’ with the vent openings”.
Under the bonnet will be a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that delivers 136hp, up on what’s available in the five door model today and in excess of the last Swift Sport. Suzuki has also formally confirmed the next Swift Sport will be available with either a six-speed manual transmission (replacing its predecessor’s five-speed) or – for the first time – an automatic with steering wheel gearshift paddles.
Expect a UK release early next year with a price from about £14,000.
Sounds like exceptional value to me. What do you think?
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