2018 Suzuki Swift revealed in Japan

After weeks of speculations, Suzuki has finally taken the covers off its latest Swift in Japan. Spied pictures of the new Swift have floating around on the internet for a while now. As the photographs show, the officially-released Swift is no different from the one we saw in those leaks.

The new Swift has a sportier face than the outgoing model. If the front fascia reminds you a bit of the Jaguar F-Type, worry not, you are not alone. The trapezoidal single front grill is a handsome addition which, in the RS model, will be separated into two by a slat that runs through its middle. The RS will also have larger alloys and sportier bodywork. The Swift retains roughly the same side profile. The rear door handles are hidden away in the window housing, similar to the ones on the Chevrolet Spark. The rear gets a new set of tail lamps as well as a redesigned tailgate and bumper.

The interior has been subjected to a serious revamp as well. The all-new dashboard house an infotainment system that supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The new flat-bottomed steering wheel is a welcome addition. New circular a/c vents replace the peculiarly-shaped ones on the outgoing model.

The set of powertrains offered with the Swift in Japan includes a 1.2-litre DOHC VVT engine that can be had as a hybrid as well. The 1.2-litre engine produces 90 hp and 118 Nm of torque. For more oomph, a 1.0-litre Boosterjet petrol engine will also be offered with 100 hp and 150 Nm. The petrol-only 1.2-litre model can be had with a 5-speed manual gearbox or a CVT while the hybrid comes only with the CVT. The 1.0-litre Boosterjet can be paired only with a 6-speed automatic transmission. For the ones who choose the 1.2-litre model, there will also be a chance to choose between 2WD and 4WD drivetrain. The Boosterjet, on the other hand, comes only in 2WD. Though the highly-anticipated Swift Sport was not a part of this reveal, the Sport model is bound to follow this lineup soon. The new Swift Sport is expected to ditch the current 1.6-litre naturally-aspirated engine for a turbocharged 1.4-litre.

The standard Suzuki Swift sold in the UAE and GCC come from India, while the Swift Sport comes from Japan. It should be the same for this new model, but it remains to be seen what drivetrains will be offered in the Indian-sourced Swift.