Suzuki Swift 2014 News

The Suzuki Swift GTI — a cult car from the 1990s — is finally poised for a comeback.

Sausages are sizzling, the hessian fences are up and those weird inflatable statues are flapping in the breeze: it's clearance sale time at new-car yards across Australia.

The small-car segment has plenty of options - the players are frugal yet safe and well-appointed. Here are the best buys under $16K.

New-car prices will hit new lows between now and the end of the month as Japanese brands push to reach their sales targets before the end of the Japanese financial year, which is March 31.March is typically the second-biggest month of the year for new-car sales behind June, the end of the Australian financial year. The good news for car buyers is that the heavy discounting from the Japanese companies also brings down prices across the industry as rivals try to compete.The profit margins on some cars are so slim that dealers claim they only make money on window tinting -- and finance if arranged through the dealership. Last year, the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Pulsar had their prices wound back by 20 years to $19,990, and others followed.The Japanese Government has for the past 12 months artificially devalued the Yen to boost exports and keep their car factories running at full capacity. Car companies and dealers refused to comment on-the-record about the "D-word" -- discount -- but a search across the industry found some sharp deals on popular cars.The cheapest models from Japanese brands are the Suzuki Alto ($11,990 drive-away) and the Mitsubishi Mirage ($12,990 drive-away), both about $3000 off their full recommended retail prices. Despite their bargain prices both five-door hatchbacks come with the latest safety features, including six airbags and stability control.Meanwhile Suzuki has the cheapest small car below $20,000 with a built-in navigation system: the special edition Swift Navigator is $16,990 drive-away, about $3500 off.Nissan's website says its Pulsar small car is $22,315 drive-away but we found several dealers prepared to sell one for $18,990 drive-away, more than $3000 off. "We'll sell you a car but there's nothing in it for us," said one Nissan dealer who did not want to be named. "That's a white car with manual transmission and standard-issue number plates." Automatic transmission typically adds $2000, metallic paint adds up to $550 on some brands and, in NSW, premium number plates cost about $60 more than standard-issue plates.The only people not celebrating the sharp new-car prices are the dealers. "It's not uncommon to not make a dollar on the car," said a Mitsubishi dealer. "We hope to make it back on accessories, finance or when the customer comes back to get the car serviced."Car dealers typically get a commission of about $1200 on the finance on a $20,000 car -- if the finance is arranged through the dealership. "That's more than the profit on the car," said another dealer. Buyers might also get lucky if the dealer is a few cars short of their monthly sales target."Sometimes you'll rip up a car (sell it below cost) in the last one or two days of the month, just to get over the line," said one multi-franchise dealer principal with more than 20 years' experience in the trade. "That sale could mean the difference between getting a big bonus from the factory, or nothing."The biggest discounts are on the dearest cars. The Nissan 370Z sports-car is now $59,990 drive-away, it was $72,000 plus on-road costs the same time last year, a saving of about $15,000. The Nissan Leaf electric car is now $39,990 drive-away, compared to $51,500 plus on-road costs when it was launched two years ago, a saving of about $14,000 off the full RRP. The Mitsubishi Pajero GLX-R 4WD wagon is now $54,990 drive-away -- it is normally $60,000 drive-away -- but dealers we spoke to said there was at least a further "$1000 to $2000 wriggle room" left in this deal.For those looking for a family sedan the locally-made Toyota Camry can be bought at a discounted price of $29,990 drive-away with Toyota's 1 per cent finance, about $3000 off the full RRP -- and more than $3000 off the repayments at market interest rates. This deal is unique because, customarily, low interest rate offers apply only to the full RRP of the car, which is how the car companies fund the deal.In most cases it is cheaper to arrange your own finance and haggle hard on the price of the car. But Toyota has bucked this trend by offering a low interest rate as well as a drive-away price on the Camry to keep the struggling Toyota factory at Altona running.Meanwhile the Mazda CX-9 Luxury SUV normally sells for $52,980 plus on-roads, but it is now $51,990 drive-away, a saving of about $5000 off the full RRP. But as with the Mitsubishi Pajero deal, Mazda dealers say there is still a further $1000 to $2000 to negotiate off the luxury version of the Mazda CX-9 if buyers sign on the dotted line by the end of the month.This reporter is on Twitter: @JoshuaDowling 

Suzuki has updated its Swift light hatch range for 2014, with drive away pricing for most models for a limited time.As previewed in European guise in June last year, all models aside from the Sport have received a subtle wave of the styling wand, with a revised front fascia and grille inserts, new wheel cover and alloy wheel designs, and LED daytime running lights added to the GLX model.The previous GA entry variant has been dropped, and the previous GL has been reduced by $1000 to match the previous $15,990 entry price. GL models come equipped with cruise control, leather steering wheel, manual air conditioning, CD/MP3/iPod/USB six-speaker audio with Bluetooth telephone and audio streaming, and 15 inch steel wheels.A new $17,490 Navigator spec level now sits between GL and GLX, and adds satnav, a 6.1 inch touchscreen, multifunction steering wheel, and front fog lights to the GL’s spec list.The $21,990 Swift GLX has been repositioned $3,000 up the price scale and is now auto only, representing a $1000 increase over the previous GLX auto, and adds LED daytime running lights, climate control and proximity keys, telescopic steering adjustment, and 16 inch alloy wheels.The GL, Navigator and GLX models’ 70kW/130Nm 1.4-litre petrol engine is unchanged, with a choice of five speed manual or four speed automatic transmissions, and 5.5L/100km combined fuel consumption in manual or 6.2L/100km in auto.As before, the Suzuki Swift comes with a 5 star safety rating, with seven airbags, ABS, EBD, brake assist, and electronic stability control.All GL, Navigator and GLX models come with 210L of cargo space that can expand to up to 900L, with a spacesaver spare.The top-spec Swift Sport is unchanged from 2013-spec, with the 100kW/160Nm 1.6-litre hottie priced at $23,990 (before on-roads) in six-speed manual, and $25,990 (before on-roads) for the CVT auto.2014 Suzuki Swift PricingSuzuki Swift GL manual - $15,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift GL auto - $17,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Navigator manual - $17,490 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Navigator auto - $19,490 (drive away)Suzuki Swift GLX auto - $21,990 (drive away)Suzuki Swift Sport  manual - $23,990 (MSRP)Suzuki Swift Sport  auto - $25,990 (MSRP)

A refreshed version of Suzuki’s Swift has appeared online, courtesy of the company’s Belgian website.Sporting a new front fascia with LED daytime running lights for the first time, a fresh wheel design, and side markers relocated to the door mirrors, the new Belgian model’s rear styling is unchanged from the model currently available in Australia.Australian Swifts switched from Japanese production to Thailand earlier this year, which brought several spec changes to the FZ model that has been available locally since early 2011.These styling revisions seen on the Belgian model will likely make their way onto local Swifts come mid-cycle refresh time, which will be due in the coming years.Don't hold your breath though, as Suzuki Australia spokesman Andrew Ellis confirmed with Carsguide that the revised model "is for European-spec only at this stage," and “we'll be staying with (the upgraded Thai-built model) for a while yet.”This reporter is on Twitter: @Mal_Flynn 

The production version will star for the brand at Frankfurt Motor Show in September. Drawing styling cues from the Suzuki Swift S Concept from which it was based, the new Swift Sport is the first full model change since its original launch in 2006. It features more aggressive styling with a low-slung body and oversized grille. Suzuki promises both power and good fuel economy from the 1.6-litre engine, which is mated to a six-speed manual transmission -- both developed exclusively for the Swift Sport.  The new Swift Sport "offers superior cornering stability and responsive handling thanks to struts with internal rebound springs and an exclusive rear-suspension design", Suzuki says. Like the standard Swift, the Sport's safety is helped by a light, stiff, impact-absorbing body plus seven airbags (including a driver’s knee airbag) and ESC. “We are very excited about the preliminary release of the new Swift Sport, but we are still some way off finalising the Australian version,” said Suzuki Australian General Manager Tony Devers. “The Swift Sport will not go on sale here until next year, so we still have some time to work through the specification level suitable for the Australian market. What we do know is the Swift Sport will offer better performance, handling, economy and style than ever before. We can’t wait to launch the ultimate pocket rocket to our customers.”

The Swift Sport, unveiled to Australian media in Japan this week, may not carry the famous GTi badge (it no longer has rights to the name) but it has the firepower to outgun its predecessor. Powered by a high revving 1.6-litre twin cam four cylinder engine, the four-door hatch is quicker from 0 to 100km/h than GTi and runs rings around it when it comes to handling. What it lacks is the raw edge that made the original GTi so much fun to drive, because like the off road Vitara it didn't have to bow to anyone. In this critical area, we would have liked to have seen a larger, more powerful engine, but hey . . . the Liana started life with a 1.6 didn't it? To create the engine, Suzuki engineers have increased the stroke and upped the compression of the donor 1.5-litre unit. It gets a new block, new inlet and exhaust camshafts, new pistons and rings, connecting rods, crankshaft, larger capacity sports muffler, oil cooler, intake and exhaust manifolds and an electronic throttle body. The result is a compact engine that delivers 92kW of power at 6800rpm and 148Nm of torque at 4800rpm. This compares with the standard car's 74kW and 133Nm - a significant increase. Swift Sport is due to go on sale at the end of September and looks set to build on the momentum of a car that has become a runaway success since launch in 2004. To go with the extra power, the car's chassis has been strengthened with extra cross members, a close ratio, short throw five-speed manual box has been added, along with firmer damping and of course bigger, beefier brakes. Cosmetic changes have also been made, with the addition of a deeper front air dam, black WRX-style side skirts and small rear wing plus a new rear bumper that incorporates twin exhaust outlets. The car sits on 16 inch alloys with 195/50 series rubber, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes and six airbags. It looks hot, especially in bright yellow and Suzuki claims the Sport is good for 8.29 seconds for the dash from 0 to 100km/h, with a top speed of about 200km/h. You pay a small penalty for this extra performance as the car takes 98 strength premium unleaded, but it still manages to sip the stuff at the same 7.5 litres/100km, with a 43-litre fuel tank. We got to put the Swift Sport through its paces at Suzuki's proving ground at Hamamatsu. Weighing in at 1100kg, and with a power to weight ratio of 12.0kg to the kilowatt, it goes hard but lacks torque down low. This is particularly evident from a standing start as well as when exiting corners, but wind it up and it's a ball to drive. Our confidence in the Sport's handling grew with each lap of the proving ground as we pushed harder and harder through corners. Pour it on and the car remains composed and manageable even at the extreme limits of adhesion. The rasp from the twin exhausts sounds the part and inside there are some nice touches too, including sports seats (we're told they're Recaros), three-spoke leather stitched sports wheel, silver look gear knob and stainless steel pedals. In terms of performance, the original GTi weighed just 750kg and, with a 74.3kW motor, boasted a power to weight of just 10.1kg/kW (0-100km/h took 8.6 seconds). It wasn't forced to labour under the additional weight of the safety equipment that is imposed on modern vehicles. Launched in 1986 the original GTi roared out of the gates, but was plagued by dreadful torque steer and could be a real handful in the wet. In comparison, the Swift Sport is much more refined and desirable car. At $23,990 it comes fully equipped with few direct competitors. Suzuki benchmarked the car against the Mini Cooper and Citroen's C2, while Ford's Fiesta Zetec could also be considered a rival. None provide the size, interior space and four-door utility of the Swift. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, power ancillaries, steering wheel audio and fully featured trip computer. But there's no spare wheel and no room for one either - just a re-inflation kit. Whether the Swift Sport is indeed the successor to the GTi that Suzuki has been looking for remains to be seen. The car has not been released in the United States, but like us, the Canadians have expressed interest in bigger engines too. The Suzuki Sport certainly looks the goods and handles exceptionally well, but the extra $6000 could stretch the budget. With no turbo, however, it remains within reach of P plate drivers.   Chris Riley is a roadtester on the CARSguide team. His work appears here and in the 96 News Limited Community Newspapers across Australia – including the Cumberland Newspaper Group, Leader Newspaper Group, Quest Newspaper Group, Messenger Newspaper Group, Gold Coast Sun, Townsville Sun.