While India is preparing to receive the new Swift with bated breath, our friends in Europe will get a 'warmer' version of the hatch, come Frankfurt Motor Show.
Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the hot hatch we here in India would kill to have, sacrifice a limb and even rob a bank for. The Swift Sport takes inspiration from the S-Concept shown a few months ago at the Geneva Motor Show. The Swift Sport is what the Golf GTI is to the Golf, except of course in a smaller and slightly less powerful package than the GTI.
Using the M16A engine, the 1.6-litre petrol motor is good for 134 bhp and an equally respectable 16.2 kgm of peak torque. The 134 horses arrives at a rather buzzy 6,900 rpm, which should tell you that this is one high-revving engine. Mated to a six-speed manual, this car should be good for a sub 10-second timing to 100 kph and a top speed close that's probably shy of 200 clicks (we are being conservative here since the actual performance figures aren't out yet).
To ensure the Swift doesn't lose its cheekiness, the car has new internal rebound springs on the front struts and a revised rear suspension design. For the Europeans, seven airbags and ABS as well as ESP come as standard. It's also available with the bodykit you see in the pic above as part of the 'warm' hatch deal.
So, can Maruti Suzuki oblige and let us have a go at 1.6-litre, 104 bhp, VVT engine equipped Swift? All we can say is, fingers firmly crossed!
SUZUKI SWIFT SPORT
(manufacturer specifications)
Overall length: 3,890mm
Overall width: 1,695mm
Overall height: 1,510mm
Wheelbase: 2,430mm
Treads Front: 1,470mm
Rear: 1,475mm
Piston displacement: 1,586cm³
Maximum output: 100kw/6,900rpm
Maximum torque: 160N-m/4,400rpm
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