Spy photos of the next-generation Suzuki Swift, the impish B-segment hatchback that Suzuki just might bring back to the United States, surfaced late last year. This week, the Swift has been spotted again testing on the Nurburgring. German spy photographers noted the Swifts were lapping the Nordschleife at a spirited pace.
If you compare these photos to our earlier shots, you'll notice the 'Ring Swift prototypes have a lower ride height, suggesting that Suzuki is trying out different suspension setups. Suzuki already offers a couple different calibrations on the current, European-market Swift, including a Swift Sport model that's said to be firmly tuned. (The little car has served as a basis for rally cars, too, in both the JWRC and the Swift Cup series in British rallying.)
The grille and headlights are more visible in this latest batch of shots, and front-end styling looks to be a mix of the current Swift and the recently introduced Suzuki Kizashi.
Photographers also managed to get a shot of the redesigned Swift's interior, which is after the jump. It offers no great revelations in econobox interior design, but it looks production-ready with its straightforward controls and unassuming gray plastic. The laterally bolstered driver seat with black cloth upholstery suggests that this may indeed be a sport model of some sort.
We've been quite impressed by the Kizashi, which rides and handles well, and offers a quality interior to boot. The Swift looks to be a nice addition to the U.S. Suzuki line if indeed the automaker can figure out how to make money on it here.
moparbad says:
11:14 AM, 04/13/10
Let is know when it's in route to U.S. Suzuki dealerships.
subytrojan says:
11:52 AM, 04/13/10
Nice! Hopefully it will make it to the U.S. and compete with the Fit, Fiesta, MAZDA2 and others.
ajramse says:
12:24 PM, 04/13/10
Straining as hard as I can I only see 6 circles on the shift know, ie 5spd. Nothing necessarily wrong with that, just an observation. I think a sporty version would be great. Overall I think the car has potential and the now unfair Suzuki "image" would be much less of an issue on a car priced in the mid teens.
rkr says:
04:48 PM, 04/13/10
Did they really need to take the Suzuki "Swift!" on the Nurburgring?
ajramse says:
05:46 AM, 04/14/10
rkr says:
Did they really need to take the Suzuki "Swift!" on the Nurburgring?
-Only if they wanted it to be a good car. Can you imagine them taking a Forenza around the 'Ring' and saying, "yeah, that's great!"
gordancin says:
07:43 AM, 04/14/10
I saw the current "euro" Swift at the Toronto International Auto Show about 7 years ago. They really should have been selling that car in North America instead of the GM/Daewoo thing. I hope they can survive this `cause finally their entire menu is looking good.
I don't know why (up here in Canada) they don't just do the sensible thing and put their Auto/Motorcyle/ATV dealerships into combined Suzuki superstores. Split the costs amongst the franchisees and really capitalize on having something for everyone.
It would make sense... in Ontario anyways.