2017 Suzuki Swift revealed

Suzuki is poised to launch its crisply-styled new-generation Swift into Australia's busy light-car segment in late 2017 following its global debut at the Geneva motor show in March.

It will end a seven-year run for the current Swift, Suzuki's top-selling model in Australia, which has seen more than 77,000 sales since its launch in 2010.

The new-generation Swift shows a departure from the rounded shape of the current model with more angular body panels, a larger grille, sleeker LED headlights and "invisible" rear door handles within the C-pillar to present a coupe style.

At the rear, there is a moulded rear hatch lid and new-look tail lights.

The cabin design features a lower hip point to increase interior headroom while the dashboard shows some cloning with its Vitara and Baleno siblings.

It has a prominent centre touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a sports steering wheel with paddle shifters and red and white themed instrumentation.

Suzuki has increased the safety technology with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, automatic headlights, adaptive cruise control, 360-degree surround-view cameras, lane departure warning and a reverse camera.

The new model is based on the Heartect platform also used for the larger Baleno and the forthcoming Ignis SUV that is due in Australia in the first quarter of 2017.

For 2017, the Swift is 10mm shorter than the current car but has a 20mm longer wheelbase at 2450mm. It is also lower, wider and lighter than the outgoing model. =

The weight is expected to drop to about 900kg, down from the current model at 1005kg, primarily because of the new design of the Heartect platform.

It is not expected there will be the offering of all-wheel drive.

Australian drivetrain specifications will follow the conservative trend of the existing Swift model, though there will be the option of a 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine alongside a 1.2-litre normally-aspirated petrol engine.

The 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbocharged engine, which is also one of the engines fitted to the Baleno, is rated in the Swift at 75kW of power at 5500rpm and 150Nm of torque from 1700rpm to 4500rpm.

Though this is less than the Baleno's 82kW/160Nm, the new engine is still rated higher than the current Swift 1.4-litre normally-aspirated engine at 70kW/130Nm.

Suzuki has yet to give details of the transmissions but the 1.0-litre engine is likely to follow the Baleno and be fitted only with a six-speed automatic, while the 1.2-litre may continue with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic.

Local cars are unlikely to not get Japan's hybrid version and it is not expected there will be the offering of all-wheel drive.

In an interview with GoAutoNews at the launch of the Baleno in July, Suzuki Australia general manager Andrew Moore said the car-maker chose not to bring the hybrid powertrain to market due to lack of interest.

"Obviously you've seen hybrid sales in Australia have struggled due to the dollar premium," he said.

"This hybrid system doesn't have the same dollar premium as other hybrids …. But we're still not sure about Australia's appetite for hybrid at the moment."

In its pre-launch of the car Suzuki said it "features distinctive and sporty styling, and both superb driving performance and low-fuel consumption achieved through an excellent handling inherited and further enhance from its predecessor".

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