I can't think of any other cars that, with each new model, grow both lighter and more powerful.
The new Swift Sport does.
And it's lower. And it's wider, has a longer wheelbase and is more stable than ever before. It boasts a carbon fibre front splitter and matching rear items for better aero and sits on 16-inch alloy hoops shod with performance rubber. Yes, international markets get a 17-inch option - its fine, littler wheels are better for the corners the Swift Sport was destined for (just now).
You also get a roof spoiler and can be had in a range of colours including the signature hue; 'Champion yellow'. Then there are two new shades - Speedy Blue and Burning Red Pearl to join Super Black Pearl, Mineral Grey Metallic, Premium Silver and Pure White Pearl. Oh, and that honeycomb grille isn’t just for looks, they make for better cooling for the new turbocharged Boosterjet 1.4-litre engine - good for 103kW at a maximum of 5500rpm, plus 237Nm of twist.
Boosterjet! How adorable, like an anime character! This endows the turbo tyke with a 0-100kph blast in 8 seconds. But that's the conservative claimed figures with local testers beating it with 7.8 seconds passes. Top speed is at 205kph, not that we'd see those kinds of speeds on the truncated version of Red Star we were playing on.
Modern conveniences
Climb aboard the cocoon-like cabin and you'll drop into grippy racing buckets, and grab hold of a gear lever mated to either a 6-speed manual or auto, the latter blessed with paddle shifters.
Kit and caboodle? Try cruise control, auto climate control, six airbags, traction control and ESP. On par with its predecessor then, but now also featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a reverse camera viewed on the new touchscreen, LED projector lamps and daytime running lamps (DRLs). Further enhancing the sporty cockpit are aluminium pedals plus a red tachometer and further red accents throughout - it goads me. So, naturally, I oblige.
Raise the handbrake, feed in some throttle and drop the clutch (or shift it into Drive if that's your style) and 'wa-hey!', you'll be chirruping to your first apex in the blink of an eye. I speak from experience having exhausted the number of laps they'd let us have, revelling in maxing out the full reserves of the little turbo engine.
There's something wonderful about wringing the neck of a somewhat low-powered hatchback with a chassis as good as the Swift Sport. Larger (ventilated upfront) brakes and more rigid suspension makes for rhythmic scything of apex after apex after apex. I could do this all day - but sadly all great things, and all that.
A tiny verdict
To recap, the 3rd gen Suzuki Swift Sport turbo has arrived with a bang.
Built in Japan, it is lighter, lower and more powerful than ever. The boot space too has risen to the point where it will swallow more than just a picnic basket. Even the fuel consumption has dropped from 6.5 to 6.1l/100km.
Shift the gears yourself and you can have one for as cheaply as R315,900 with a power to weight ratio greater than the Fiesta ST and Cooper S. It's the one I'd have. Insist on an automatic transmission and the price rises to R20,000 dearer at R335,900 which is still a bit of a bargain when you consider that the Swift Sport has no real rivals. Peerless. Yellow. And very good.
2019 Suzuki Swift Sport Specs:
| Price | R315,900.00 (manual) R335,900.00 (auto) |
| Engine | 1.4l, inline 4-cyl, turbocharged |
| Power | 103kW |
| Torque | 237Nm |
| Gearbox | 6 speed manual (opt auto) |
| Driven Wheels | Front |
| 0-100kph | 8 seconds |
| Top Speed | 205kph |
| Average Fuel Consumption | N/A |
| CO2 Emissions | N/A |
