Suzuki has left little to the imagination, releasing not just teasers, but full photos of the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport ahead of its reveal at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. But now, the brand has fully unveiled its latest hot hatch, along with confirmed technical details of its construction and performance.
Technical Highlights
The 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport rides on the brand’s HEARTECT platform that it shares with the Ignis and Baleno. The lightweight platform is responsible for a weight saving of 80kg compared to the outgoing ZC32S Swift Sport. The final kerb weight of the new Swift Sport is only 970kg as a result. Front-wheel drive is the default platform drivetrain.
Power, as expected, comes from the brands 1.4-liter BOOSTERJET engine. In the Vitara S it boasts outputs of 103kW and 220Nm, but in the 2018 Swift Sport, torque takes a bump to 230Nm available from 2500-3500rpm, with peak power arriving at 5500rpm. This results in an effective power to weight ratio of 106kW/tonne and a torque to weight ratio of 237Nm/tonne – a Fiesta ST, for reference has power to weight of 114kW/tonne and torque to weight of 247Nm/tonne.
Performance figures haven’t yet been released for the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport, though with those power and torque to weight figures, a low 7 second 0-100km/h figure should be quite easily within reach. A 6-speed manual gearbox is the default choice – the same one as the previous model in fact – only in the new model, it has been tweaked for improved shift smoothness and increased driver feedback.
For the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport, Suzuki decided not to mess with a winning recipe. The suspension on the old model was truly sublime, and as such, Suzuki saw fit to equip the 2018 model with the same Monroe front and rear shock absorbers. Other suspension components were made bespoke for the new Swift Sport, resulting in improvements in camber rigidity of 15% at the front, and toe rigidity of 40% at the rear compared to the old model.
According to the chief engineer for the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport, Masao Kobori, “It’s lighter, sharper, quicker. It’s more aggressive and emotive, but we’ve also refined the elements that make it practical to use every day—the clutch feel, the manual transmission shift throw, the seats and steering wheel. Everything that puts the driver at the heart of the experience.”
Exterior Highlights
Of course the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport wouldn’t be complete without a certain amount of visual upgrades to show off its sporting intent. Of course the revised front end is larger and more aggressive than standard, with larger air intakes and flared elements. Other upgrades include a new front fascia with a staggered honeycomb grille design, and carbon fibre-style embossing for the front grille, front lip spoiler, side skirts, and rear diffuser. Newly designed thin-spoke 17-inch alloys are unique for the Swift Sport, as are the signature dual tailpipes, now featuring a revised tapered shape.
The 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport will be available in 7 colours, including Burning Red Metallic, Speedy Blue Metallic, Pure White Pearl, Premium Silver Metallic, Mineral Grey Metallic, Super Black Pearl, and of course the signature Champion Yellow, derived from the Suzuki Works rally car that participated in the Junior World Rally Championship.
Interior Highlights
Inside the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport, you’ll find a smattering of red accents throughout the interior. The gauge cluster is specific to the Swift Sport and features contrasting dials and new boost and oil temperature gauges. Sport semi bucket seats are also included – if they’re anything like the previous Swift Sport’s seats, we expect them to be exceptional. There’s also a new flat-bottomed steering wheel specific to the Swift Sport, and a new chrome-finished gear shift lever and alloy pedals.
For those who care for connectivity, the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport features a 7-inch touch screen infotainment system that features navigation and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Enhanced Safety
The 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport features more safety technology than ever before. Forward collision detection utilises a windscreen mounted camera and laser sensor to detect and warn the driver of impending collisions before they happen. The system also pre-primes the brakes if need be for stronger stopping power. In addition, the system also offers lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and a weaving alert function that alerts the driver if their attention has waned. Other safety features include 6 airbags, ABS braking, tyre pressure monitoring, and a standard electronically stability program (ESP).
Production and Arrival
The 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport will only be heading to the production line starting in December 2017. Deliveries are expected to start in Europe by mid 2018. Here in South Africa, we are still awaiting confirmation that we’ll even receive the base model Swifts, though with record sales of more than 1000 units last month, Suzuki SA are positive we’ll be receiving the Swift. At this stage, it is unconfirmed when we’ll see the 2018 Suzuki Swift Sport on local shores, but it can’t arrive soon enough as far as we’re concerned.
