Suzuki is pleased to announce the first images and preliminary information of the new, third generation Suzuki Swift which goes on sale in the UK in the autumn of 2010. But is everyone else as happy as the car creator? No. The two cars, the old and the new Swift, can actually be placed next to each other for a ‘spot the difference’ contest. We bet it’s going to be real hard to identify the very minor changes. Where are the changes Suzuki?

Suzuki held the world premiere line off ceremony for mass production of the new car at its Magyar Suzuki Corporation production facility at Esztergom, in Hungary. The all-new Suzuki Swift has been positioned as Suzuki’s latest world strategic model and has believed to be making strong improvements in styling, impact safety, driving performance, handling, improved fuel efficiency and appreciably lower emissions. Let’s get in to the details.

As far as looks are concerned, we can see that there’s hardly any difference. But, to be noted is the greater use of higher strength steel that makes the new Swift’s body shell lighter and stiffer than earlier and there’s refinement in the under-body design as well. Suzuki says the new Swift has improved impact safety for pedestrians as well as occupants. Let’s trust them for now.

The handling is gotta be even better than the current Swift because of the increased track and larger diameter wheels with lower profile tyres. The interiors too now send across a more vibrant feel; there’s black everywhere with streaks of silver accentuating the beauty. The new Swift has grown slightly in length (+90mm) with a 50mm increase in wheelbase. Well, that’s enough of an increase. The Swift’s butt was already too big occupying the road from east to west. So, just an increase in length and wheelbase seems to be an intelligent decision. We had a post written about the Swift going bareback the other day, remember?

For the powertrain, a new 1.2-litre petrol engine incorporating Dual VVT (Variable intake and exhaust valve timing) is utilised which delivers 92.71 bhp at 6,000 rpm. This power is somewhat higher than that produced by the outgoing 1.3-litre motor. The Torque too shows an improvement; 118 Nm at 4,800 rpm. The new car offers a mileage of 24.02 kmpl, impressive ah? That mileage is for the manual transmission model. It displays an improvement of 3.32 kmpl over the earlier 1.3-litre unit.

Emissions too are significantly lower; the new 1.2-litre engine with manual transmission produces just 116 g/km; 24 g/km lesser than the 1.3 motor. A little later an optional automatic transmission may also be available for the petrol engine. And who knows, Suzuki may also revamp India’s Swift DZire and launch it in overseas markets, may be after two years or so.

Early next year, UK may also have the privilege of a 1.3-litre diesel engine new Swift which would emit 109 g/km (down from 119 g/km). This model will deliver 28.61 kmpl, an improvement on an already convincing 26.7 kmpl of the Suzuki Swift DDiS. This Euro 5 engine has more accurate engine management than before with reduced levels of mechanical friction for smoother running and flexibility.

As for this new Swift in India, we may see it some time next year. Hope Maruti Suzuki keeps the pricing competitive like it always does, to ward off competition from the VW Polo, Ford Figo and Nissan’s Micra. It would be better if the model came with slightly larger windows that are not so high for the low-lying seats. Maruti Suzuki, are you listening?