Suzuki to Bring Subcompact Swift to North America
21 January 2006
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Nikkei. Suzuki Motor announced that it will export its new Swift subcompact to North America as early as 2007 to take advantage of a growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Suzuki unveiled the new Swift in March 2005 at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The subcompact is a global car—designed for world markets, it is to be manufactured in Hungary, Japan, China and India. (Suzuki is the largest seller of consumer cars in India.) (Earlier post.)
The new Swift comes with a choice of three upgraded engines: 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline (the latter with variable valve timing), and a 1.3-liter turbocharged diesel. Suzuki is sourcing the 1.3-liter diesel from Fiat and Opel, and has licensed the technology to manufacture those engines at its Indian subsidiary Maruti Udyong from the end of 2006.
| Suzuki New Swift | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L | 1.5L | 1.3L Diesel | |
| Displacement cc | 1,328 | 1,490 | 1,248 |
| Cylinders / Valves | 4 /4 | 4 / 4 | 4 / 4 |
| Power kW (hp) | 68 (91) | 75 (101) | 51 (68) |
| Torque Nm (lb-ft) | 116 (86) | 133 (98) | 170 (125) |
| Top speed km/h (mph) | 175 (109) | 185 (115) | 165 (103) |
| Acceleration secs. (0–100 km/h) | 11.0 | 10.0 | 14.2 |
| Fuel consumption l/100km | 6.1 | 6.5 | 4.6 |
| Fuel economy mpg US | 39 | 36 | 51 |
| CO2 g/km | 143 | 159 | 122 |
Suzuki has not indicated which powertrain options it would make available in North America.
The domestic [Japanese] small car market will not grow any further. We will maintain a high level of investments, particularly overseas.
—Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki
The carmaker is aiming for a 10% increase in global production to 2.34 million units in 2006. It plans to boost overseas manufacturing by 16% to 1.2 million vehicles, exceeding domestic production. The firm will start operating its second plant in India and raise capacity by 30% to 200,000 units at its Hungarian plant. In Europe, the company projects a 17% rise in sales to 310,000 units for 2006, mainly of its Swift model.
So within 1 year we'll have:
Versa
Fit
Yaris
Swift
And all the big 3 can come up with is a new aveo?
Pathetic.
Posted by: Justin | 21 January 2006 at 12:01 PM
"Suzuki has not indicated which powertrain options it would make available in North America."
It probably will only be the 1.5 (except maybe in Mexico). Too bad. It would have been nice to have the 1.3 diesel to run on biodiesel.
Last time I mentioned Suzuki someone told me that they were doing business in Burma with a totalitarian regime or something like that. Anybody has more info on that?
Posted by: Mike GR | 21 January 2006 at 12:50 PM
I thought DaimlerChrysler was seriously thinking of Smart.
The market seems a bit up-end. Well.. once again, that's the feature of big 3. They are not either slow or unwilling to be the leaders of the industry.
On the other hand, I'm also waiting for Mitsubishi Colt and Mazda 2.
Posted by: Alfred | 21 January 2006 at 02:35 PM
So within 1 year we'll have:
Versa
Fit
Yaris
Swift
And all the big 3 can come up with is a new aveo?
Pathetic.
and we need them why? the yaris and fit are both, realisticly-speaking, pretty useless cars when compared to the corolla and civic. is this any different? if the diesel model was available, it would make some sense, but i HIGHLY doubt that's going to be the case.
and DM is seriously thinking about SMART - it's just not available in the US, despite being rather successful in canada.
Posted by: lensovet | 21 January 2006 at 05:09 PM
Read the specs more carefuly. All of these cars get better city fuel economy than the Corolla or Civic while costing thousands less. All are hatch backs. Where is the Civic and Corolla hatch? The Versa gets a combined 38mpg city/highway. Show me another $12k car that can do that. Ford, GM and DCX are all missing in this segment. They don't have anything that gets even close to the practicality and low fuel consumption of these cars. Diesel is still a couple of years away in this county.
Still waiting for an anouncement about the Mazda2
Posted by: Justin | 21 January 2006 at 05:16 PM
With fuel prices rising seemingly by the minute, US buyers are offered more and more "European" (or Japanese, for that matter) models.
Whoever thinks that the Fit or the Yaris are pretty useless cars, never sat in one of them. For up to two people they are just perfect grocery-haulers with additional seats for emergencies or small kids. In an urban environment you simply don't need more car (admitted, European city streets tend to be a bit narrower than boulevards in Miami).
And well, maybe an Audi TT is faster around the corner than a Yaris. But a Yaris still runs circles around any full-size SUV.
Posted by: Martin | 21 January 2006 at 05:26 PM
GM has the Aveo, which seems to actually be a pretty decent car, and I'm pretty sure Ford will decide to bring the Fiesta out if the others do well.
Posted by: Cody | 22 January 2006 at 07:08 AM
DM won't be bringing the Smart t the US until after the ZAP contract for them is up.
You can get a Smart in the US via ZAP though : http://www.zapworld.com/cars/smartCar.asp
The Swift wuld have to be pretty inexspensive to compete with even the Insight. even the 1.5L is only as quick as the Insight's 1.0; and gets 1/2 the fuel milage. Unless it is under $14,000 USD I don't see what the point would be.
They'd be better off bringing back the 1.3L turbo from the old Swifts and pushing 200hp+ and compete with the Civic Si imo.
Posted by: Ash | 22 January 2006 at 07:37 AM
Well, Canada has the Swift+ already - and it is the same car as the Aveo/Wave, which is also offered here.
So are we getting a newer version of the Swift, or are we just getting the same Daewoo version already being made? Which, BTW, is far pooer in fuel economy than the outgoing model that was built at CAMI in Ontario.
With my smart getting 75 mpg lifetime average, and up to 113 mpg on some trips, it would take a lot to convince me to switch to another 'sub-compact'.
Posted by: Keith | 22 January 2006 at 04:24 PM
Hi,
I am a Canadian that lives in China. My wife and I took the Swift for a demo ride today and we will BUY IT! It is fantastic! This was the 1.5 L version. Price is about 85 thousand yuan (about 6.3 to CDN dollar)
I liked it very much and after owning several Suzuki motorcycles in the past, the quality is assured.
My two cents worth of comment.
Posted by: marc wellman | 07 February 2006 at 07:53 AM
I'm from Toronto, Canada and just bought a 2006 Swift +S and am very happy with it so far. I find it alot quieter than the Yaris. I also find it alot roomier than the Yaris, I'm 6 feet tall and 240lbs and find the Swift very comfortable. It has alot of pep for a small car. The one I got looks exactly like the Aveo, anybody know if the 2007 release, in Canada, will look like the one above?
Posted by: Ray | 13 February 2006 at 04:11 AM
I hope this Swift for USA, is a Suzuki made not Daewoo's.
I am waiting for the Yaris to come to USA., but after hearing Suzuki not only would bring the Swift but the SX4 suv crossover, I would wait until I see them.
I need a quality transportation, not a problematic car like the Aveo.
Posted by: Milo | 28 February 2006 at 11:02 PM
I just boght a 2006 toyota corolla LE what a great car I git an average of 37MPG city and highway with a stick shift why buy a yaris or honda fit they get less MPG and their a lot smaller like to see a toyota with a diesel ford and gm are to dumb to beat the japs to the punch and put out the first diesel forget the vw diesel over priced junk
Posted by: robert haas | 03 March 2006 at 09:25 PM
I own the new 1.5 litre Suzuki swift (Australia) and can tell you it is really fun to drive and is one of the only mini's that is not UGLY (read Yaris) Plenty of room inside does not feel at all like a small car to drive. Fuel econimy is good unless you decide to play boy racer which is tempting in this little car. Most fun I have had since I sold my old Mini Cooper 20 years ago.
Posted by: carl | 10 April 2006 at 04:21 AM
Why cant the "Big-3" develop a 3 cyl deisel engine and put it in a small truck? Have a 6 speed manual tranny to get torque out of it. Jeez. Oh yeah, my last fill-up cost 58 bucks in my Silverado (2wd 5.3). Got 18 mpg at 75 mph between Nashville and Birmingham. My bud at work has the same truck except 4wd. We carpool the 50 mile round trip every day to work to save gas, but I have to put up with his constant farting.
Posted by: Roy | 24 April 2006 at 03:32 PM
Why cant the "Big-3" develop a 3 cyl deisel engine and put it in a small truck? Have a 6 speed manual tranny to get torque out of it. Jeez. Oh yeah, my last fill-up cost 58 bucks in my Silverado (2wd 5.3). Got 18 mpg at 75 mph between Nashville and Birmingham. My bud at work has the same truck except 4wd. We carpool the 50 mile round trip every day to work to save gas, but I have to put up with his constant farting.
Posted by: Roy | 24 April 2006 at 03:32 PM
go to http://www.suzukiauto.com/about_suzuki/concepts/concept_s/
and let them know what you think.
if they would put the suzuki hayabusa 1300cc motorcycle engine in there that would be great and would get 45 MPG prob.
for sale in the UK for 13000.00 US.
2370 LBS 68HP.
Posted by: hans gustaf | 02 May 2006 at 09:24 PM
the important thing to remember about Suzuki is the deals that are available on these cars unlike Toyota, or Honda that have large demand. suzuki does little advertising. If you can wait a little while either at the end of the year of when they're slightly used, you can really find bargains on Suzuki-something you can't do with Toyota or Honda.
Posted by: rob | 27 July 2006 at 10:08 AM
When will Suzuki be making a Swift Xfi with its 3 cylinder engine (designed and produced before 1992) that gets 59 mpg and lasts 200,000 miles. Since 1992 I have been driving a Geo Metro Xfi (engine made by Suzuki). It usually gets 59 mpg and so far has lasted 211,000 miles and 14 years without any major breakdowns. I just want to buy another one and don't understand why they aren't making it again.
If anyone has any connections with Suzuki, please let them know that I appreciate them making the Geo Metro Xfi in 1992, and ask them to please make them again. Thank you.
Posted by: Beth | 06 September 2006 at 09:08 AM
Why settle for 36 and 39 MPG when the old models get 50 MPG?? We have a 2001 Suzuki Swift Hatchback which we love for the gas mileage and convenience of loading and unloading when shopping Costco. Also appriciate that the manufacture of these cars paid a living wage for our Canadaian neighbors. I had a Geo Metro which was rear ended and I had to have nearly the exact car as a replacement. No one else could touch the gas mileage. The polar bears are depending on us, reduce emmisions for their survival.
Posted by: Patricia | 10 January 2007 at 05:44 PM
Milo,
I'm no grammar and spelling expert, but christ man, try a little harder. The Yaris will beat the Corolla in mileage, it is lighter and has a smaller engine. Think about it. The EPA estimates are off, in the real world things are different.
Posted by: Get a clue | 17 February 2007 at 11:06 PM
American automobile market?? it sucks like theres no tomorow. we get all the old crap of the european markets ( and when I say old I mean new for us since they are changing their models)
I own a Yaris first drove it back in France in '99 and fell in love with it, was on sale here under the Echo hatch logo in 2004 (Toyota was experimenting the smaller car industry) And as of fuel economy well 40l, for 800km its lots compared to my Aerostar, Not much of a star.
Secondo. Ford, Chevrolet, except chrysler. They all have great looking cars and very fuel eficient, BUT in Europe only.
Must be that we lack the class of liking well designed cars. instead we get the ugly ones here, or if we ever get them as new models here after a decade they are striped down to the basics.
Like my Yaris here is basic turn knobs with only 2 airbags, while the european Yaris, is much sleeker, all digital on the interior, and has 5 airbags.
We are so lame on the american continent, but we do have more tanks
Posted by: Yianni | 01 October 2008 at 08:55 PM
Well as I am 81 years old and have been licensed since I was 12 to drive to school from our ranch and have driven and owned over the trucks road for over 50 years I guess I qualify to comment.
I bought 3 of the shortest wheelbase Trackers (by Suzuka) for my grand children when they came out and they still have them.
I als bought 2 Ford Festivas (1 for me and 1 for the wife) when they first came out and still use one almost everyday she now has a older Suzuki Swift so you see what kind of cars we have.
When the VERY first VW bug was sold in Phoenix my father bought it and still had it when he died in 1987 then I got it and still have it so guess this small car bit goes back a ways.
I have written the so called BIG 3 regurly for at least 40 years asking why they didn't even try to compete with the smaller and better cars being inported but it that 40 years never even got one answer.
Now that they have shot themselves in the foot by not even building anything that we need and are about broke they are asking us to bail them out.
Sort of hope that they survive for the employment picture but I will not in any way help them as long as all they think about is BIGGER IS BETTER.
If they will build smaller cars (1000 to 2000 CC) I am interested but never will be the least bit interested in the big over priced almost usless JUNK that has been coming from them over the last at least 25 years.
Yes I do have a ranch truck and do need it but it is a 1 1/2 International and still have a 4 cyl DATSUN pick up but that is as big as I need an yes I would replace my older vehicles if the BIG 3 would build something that I need. Thanks [email protected]
Posted by: themtnman | 30 November 2008 at 07:20 PM