New 2020 Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid launched
The Suzuki Swift Sport Hybrid adds a dinky electric motor to its turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine
Suzuki has updated the Swift Sport for 2020 with a new mild-hybrid powertrain and a handful of efficiency tweaks. Prices have yet to be officially confirmed, but Suzuki has said they are likely to rise over the old car’s £17,499 figure, due to the extra standard equipment now offered. The new model is expected to go on sale towards the end of April.
The Swift Sport mild hybrid is powered by a reworked version of the outgoing car’s turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, fitted with a 48-volt integrated starter-generator and a compact lithium-ion battery pack. Suzuki says the additions only add a meagre 15kg to the Swift Sport’s kerbweight, while offering an extra 5Nm of torque – up to a maximum of 235Nm.
The new hybrid system hasn’t forced Suzuki into using an automatic gearbox. As with the old model, power is sent to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission as standard. There’s also a new gearstick as part of the update, along with a new shift mechanism that has a 10 per cent shorter throw than the old car’s.
Performance figures are broadly similar to those of the old Swift Sport. Top speed stands at an identical 130mph, while 0–62mph is only slightly slower, at 9.1 seconds. The revised car’s power output is 127bhp – roughly 10bhp less than the outgoing model’s, presumably in a bid to reduce CO2 emissions.
Indeed, the Swift Sport’s CO2 output and fuel consumption have both been reduced with the introduction of Suzuki’s new hybrid powertrain. CO2 emissions have fallen from 135g/km to 127g/km, while fuel economy has improved from 47mpg to a claimed 50.1mpg. The electric motor also assists the petrol engine under heavy load and controls the car’s start-stop function, which Suzuki says further reduces emissions.
Like the old model, the new Swift Sport comes as standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, a leather sports steering wheel and rear privacy glass. For 2020, Suzuki has upgraded its hot hatchback’s standard specification, adding LED headlamps, front fog lamps, automatic air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist and a six-speaker stereo.
Buyers also have their choice of six paint finishes – including five metallic colours – at no extra cost, while a contrasting black roof and door mirror package can be specced as £165 optional extra.
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