Hot hatchbacks are getting bigger, more powerful and more bloated with electronic aids, creature comforts and safety gear. To compensate, manufacturers have thrown ever more horsepower at their pocket rockets, and the romance has gone. Step forward the Suzuki Swift Sport, a spiritual successor to the old world hot hatch and the answer to a whole new niche in the process.
Europe is flat-lining and North America is gasping for air. The emerging markets are the likes of India, Brazil and China. All of them are congested to hell and city dwellers need a cheap, compact car that’s easy to park, relatively frugal and low on emissions. If they can have a little fun at the end of the day then the car is a winner.
Suzuki has simply smashed it with the Swift, selling more than 6,00,000 worldwide since 2005. And I hear it’s a major hit in India as well. The original Swift Sport, launched in the summer of 2006, made up more than 80,000 of these — unfortunately, it never made it to India. The recipe was simple: a lightweight, cheap, involving, front-wheel drive hatchback that would put a smile on the face whenever it left the drive. Now I think it’s time you petitioned Maruti Suzuki to get yourselves the new Swift Sport in India.
MORE ON PAGE 2>>
|
