If you’ve been alive for long enough and you have even a basic understanding of cars, you’ll realize the importance of the Maruti Suzuki Swift. After all, it is the car that completely transformed Maruti Suzuki’s image of making highly dependable but boring looking cars. Eighteen years later, as the fourth-generation Swift is due to make its global premiere, Suzuki has teased us with a concept that looks rather production-ready, which will be showcased at the Japan Mobility Show 2023.
The Swift was proof that Maruti Suzuki can add some ‘sexiness’ in its designs, while also making sure that it ages well (with the exception of the second-gen model, of course). The fourth-gen Swift concept stays true to the silhouette of the current one. However, the front receives a new grille and bumpers, while the headlights appear to be resized and slightly-evolved versions of the ones on the current-gen. The bonnet is also new, and it blends into the crease running across the length of the car. The fourth-gen Swift concept also reverts back to traditional pull-type door handles for the rear, as opposed to the hidden flap-type ones on the current model. The rear gets a new bumper and resized tail-lamps as well. Since Suzuki calls this a concept, some things on the car may or may not change, depending on what the designers at Suzuki are up to.
Suzuki is keeping its lips tightly shut about powertrain details. The current Swift is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol, with 88.5 bhp and 11.5 kgm of torque, paired to either a five-speed manual or an AMT. Maruti Suzuki did recently bring back the 1-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol in the Fronx, and it is expected to be featured in other models as well. Whether or not it happens with the Swift, only time will tell.
The fourth-gen Swift is confirmed to receive features such as driver monitoring, adaptive high-beam system, collision-mitigation braking, and dual-sensor brake support. However, we are not sure if these will make it to the India-spec model. As for the price, we can expect it to carry a slight premium over its current starting price of Rs 5.99 lakh (ex-showroom).
It’s hard to resist the sight of a sporty hatch, isn’t it?
