autos sport

Own a [previous generation] Suzuki Swift supermini produced between May 2007 and September 2009? If so, there's a good chance you'll need to visit your local dealer in the coming weeks as the Japanese automaker said it will recall 90,617 units of the Swift and three other models in Japan, with another 192,000 cars sold abroad also possibly subject to the recall.

Suzuki said the recall is due to problems with the cars' exterior mirrors as over time, strong vibrations could cause screws to loosen and possibly result in the mirrors falling off.

In a filing with Japan's transport ministry, Suzuki said it has received 77 complaints on the matter but no accidents have been reported.

Source: Reuters

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Suzuki's UK division has released pricing and specification details for its all-new 2011 Swift supermini, which is available for order now. Priced from £9,995 for the entry-level three door model to £12,245 for the top-spec five door with manual transmission, the 2011 Swift is offered at launch with a new 94HP 1.2-liter petrol unit that returns a combined fuel economy of 56.5 mpg UK. A revised 75HP 1.3-litre diesel engine with a combined fuel consumption of 67.3mpg UK will be added to the range next spring.

The new Swift is available in SZ2, SZ3 and SZ4 grades, all of which get seven airbags and ESP as standard. The SZ2 also comes equipped with electric front windows, remote central door locking with deadlocks, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, MP3 / WMA compatible CD tuner with USB port and steering wheel mounted audio controls.

The SZ3 adds manual air conditioning and 16-inch- alloys, while the range-topping SZ4 includes automatic air conditioning, Bluetooth integrated audio unit with music streaming capability, electric front and rear windows, push button keyless start, automatic headlamps, rear privacy glass (five-door models) and cruise control as standard.

UK: New Suzuki Swift Pricing

Those of you waiting for the new Suzuki Swift to get Stateside will have to wait a little bit longer. After the Kizashi didn't exactly make the splash that Suzuki had hoped for, and with Suzuki sales in America crumbling, it appears that the Japanese automaker and 20% stakeholder Volkswagen AG will sit down to form a new battle plan.

Part of that plan includes putting the Swift's US arrival on hold until at least 2011 so that pricing and strategy could be evaluated. Some of the reasoning behind the delay has to do with the rising Japanese yen, which has also dented the company's US marketing division.

Having already cut advertising spending significantly, Suzuki says that they are unwilling to raise prices or cut content to counteract the exchange rate issue. The small hatchback will be sold in Europe and Japan until US market details are finalized.

On a developmental note: VW is looking to have final details on platform/powertrain similarities by this fall, including what can be improved and (probably) what can be shared.

American Suzuki product and development head Steve Younan says, "We should get some indication of where they may have found some efficiencies in platform development and powertrain development."

A Swift Sport with VW's 1.4-liter TSI is a very interesting proposal indeed.

By Phil Alex

Via: Autoweek

Suzuki today announced it is brining the not-so-new looking but mostly-new underneath, 2011 Swift supermini and the sport grade of the Kizashi sedan to Paris for their European premieres.

Scheduled to go on sale throughout Europe this autumn, Suzuki's lighter, longer and roomier new Swift will be offered at launch with a new 94-horsepower 1.2-liter petrol and an upgraded 75-horsepower 1.3-liter turbo diesel.

Already launched in the States (read more here), the Kizashi Sport grade tries to justify its moniker with a lower ride height and newly styled 18-inch alloys plus some discreet aero parts such as the side skirts and interior trim upgrades.