Indian Autos blog

Maruti Suzuki’s 2011 is going to be filled with action and adventure. The Kizashi sedan will be unleashed on February 2. The SX4 diesel with Fiat Multi-jet VGT is here during the end of February. The new Swift could be their third launch followed possibly by the R3 MPV, Alto 2-cylinder and the YE3 small car. Caught testing by IAB follower Rahul Kohli, the new Swift in disguise can be  [ Read More ]

By Ragav Ramesh

Suzuki announced that their 2011 model Suzuki Kizashi and Swift would debut at the Paris Motor show next month for Europe. Both the models are expected to go on sale for its European customers by this Autumn.

The 2011 Swift is a lot lighter, longer and roomier than its present model. It would be launched in both petrol and diesel variants; 1.2 litre petrol motor would be developing around 94 HP and the 1.3 litre turbo diesel engine, which would develop 75 HP. These are the K-Series and Multi-jet engine respectively.

On the other hand, the Kizashi sport is going to undergo some cosmetic changes like newly styled 18-inch alloys, low ride height and distinct aero pack like side skirts and interior trim upgrades.

As far as the Indian arena is concerned, we expect both these models to be launched in early 2011, since Suzuki wouldn’t want to leave its current pride for Swift in India to fade out by the launch of Figo, Polo, Micra, etc. They would definitely want their hot cake to get much hotter by giving an upgrade. Though nothing is official yet, we will have to wait and watch how Suzuki is going to plan its launches for its Indian fans.

The next generation 2011 Suzuki Swift could get a start-stop system to increase fuel economy and reduce fuel emissions. The start-stop system is likely to be offered on the 1.2 liter petrol manual version of the 2011 Suzuki Swift which we expect to see in India.

Start-stop system is a system which automatically shuts off the engine if it idles for too long and automatically restarts the engine when there is slight dab on the accelerator pedal. This system reduces the engine’s running time at traffic signals an hence results in improved fuel economy and lesser emissions. This system is a boon during intra-city commutes where fuel economy drops mainly because of extended idling periods at traffic signals.

Car manufacturers in Europe are increasingly employing the start-stop system in their cars to reduce fuel consumption and emissions and thereby reducing taxes on the car.

The new Suzuki Swift could be brought to India by the first quarter of 2011 and would be offered with the 1.2 liter K-Series petrol engine and the 1.3 liter DDiS diesel engine. Suzuki offers a 1.2 liter VVT engine that produces 93 hp for the European markets and could also come to India in the distant future.

If only Maruti Suzuki India could offer the start-stop system on the Indian Swift, it would be a boon to Indian car buyers as so many of them buy small premium cars for intra-city commutes.

The next generation Suzuki Swift would soon be launched in India following its international launch scheduled for the Paris Motor Show in October 2010. As of now the car has been unveiled only in Hungary.

Suzuki has revealed the engine options for the 2011 Swift, a new 1.2l VVT engine petrol producing 93 bhp and the existing Fiat sourced Mutijet 1.3 DDiS diesel would be powering the Swift. CVT automatic transmissions would also be offered.

For India, the 1.2l K-series engine producing 84 bhp and the 1.3l DDiS diesel would stay. Maruti Suzuki India could also bring the VVT 1.2l engine. Maruti would be skeptical about offering an automatic tranny on the new Swift but we expect it could follow months after the car’s launch.

When Indian Autos Blog inquired about the new Swift selling alongside the current model, Maruti Suzuki didn’t reveal anything but hinted that the newer generations would be replace the old.

Going by BS Motoring’s report, we expect Maruti to launch the 2011 Swift in India by the first half of 2011. But considering strong threats from the Ford Figo and the upcoming Chevrolet Beat diesel, we expect Maruti Suzuki to bring in the new Swift by March 2011.

Albeit looking similar to the outgoing model, the third-generation Suzuki Swift is significantly better than its predecessor.

With increase in length (+90mm) and wheelbase (+50mm), taller people shouldn’t grumble at the back seat anymore. The bodyshell has been stiffened using high strength steel, yet it weighs lesser.

The safety ratings are expected to get better on the new Swift which comes with a 1.2-liter petrol engine producing 93bhp and emitting 17% lesser carbon dioxide than the heavier and less powerful 1.3-liter engine its predecessor is fitted with.

I can go on and on about the new Swift, but the press release after the jump will explain better than me. Click through to read it.

Thanks to Total Car Hungary, we can now show you head-on and cabin shots of the 2011 Suzuki Swift. While the technical specifications are unknown, we believe that the 2011 Swift has grown by around 15 inches in length. The interiors have also been thoroughly revamped and the nose is adopted from the Suzuki Kizashi, which is the Japanese car maker’s new design language.

click through to see images

An eagle eyed car aficionado in Hungary has caught the 2011 Suzuki Swift with no camouflage while it was being transported in a hauler. The vehicles, stacked tightly, can be easily mistaken for the current generation Swift, if not for the flab-y bumper and placement of badges.

Hardly a few hours ago, we posted a video of two 2011 Swifts testing somewhere in Europe.

Suzuki’s Hungarian plant in the town of Esztergom, about 60 km north of Budapest will manufacture the new Swift for European customers. We expect the new Swift to debut in India next year.

The undisguised new generation Suzuki Swift is a design evolution of the current model. On first glance, the new Swift seems to have put on body mass. Its rear tail lamp is much like the existing car, except for the transparent patch over the indicator bulb.

Another noticeable change is the shape of the rear window. The four door model snapped here has the same rear window design as the existing 3-door model (above). The stop light on the bumper has slipped further down. The rear wiper and windshield appears to have been carried over. The “Swift” font style and size is different, if you look closely.

No head-on shots are available at the moment. but we have a photoshopped image with the Kizashi-nose stuck to the new Swift’s front-end that’ll give you a rough idea.

The new Suzuki Swift could be unveiled officially on Thursday (June 10). Stay tuned for more.

Here’s a video captured recently of two 2011 Suzuki Swift test mules being put through their paces. After the VW-Suzuki deal, the Swift could gain access to TSI engines and DSG gearboxes. In India, we expect the new Swift to come with a 1.5-liter petrol engine and 1.3-liter diesel engine in the beginning.