Car Magazine's 2005 Car of the Year is coming!
Suzuki Motor announced that it will export its new Swift subcompact to North America as early as 2007 to take advantage of a growing demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Suzuki unveiled the new Swift in March 2005 at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The subcompact is a global cardesigned for world markets, it is to be manufactured in Hungary, Japan, China and India. (Suzuki is the largest seller of consumer cars in India.)
The new Swift comes with a choice of three upgraded engines: 1.3- and 1.5-liter gasoline (the latter with variable valve timing), and a 1.3-liter turbocharged diesel. Suzuki is sourcing the 1.3-liter diesel from Fiat and Opel, and has licensed the technology to manufacture those engines at its Indian subsidiary Maruti Udyong from the end of 2006.
Suzuki has not indicated which powertrain options it would make available in North America.
The domestic [Japanese] small car market will not grow any further. We will maintain a high level of investments, particularly overseas.
Suzuki Chairman Osamu Suzuki
The carmaker is aiming for a 10% increase in global production to 2.34 million units in 2006. It plans to boost overseas manufacturing by 16% to 1.2 million vehicles, exceeding domestic production. The firm will start operating its second plant in India and raise capacity by 30% to 200,000 units at its Hungarian plant. In Europe, the company projects a 17% rise in sales to 310,000 units for 2006, mainly of its Swift model.
