Swift’s interior boasts sports seating, alloy pedals and a five-gauge instrument cluster.

Set to hit dealerships in October, the Sport variant receives new front bumper design, side skirts and roof-mounted spoiler. A ‘sport-tuned’ suspension coincides with dual exhaust and exclusive 17-inch aluminum wheels.

Source: WCF

This is the all new 2012 Suzuki Swift Sport – you impressed yet? Prepare to be.

“Details are limited,” according to World Car Fans, “but the company’s Russian subsidiary has apparently issued a press release which says the model will be a three-door hatchback with styling inspired by the S-Concept.”

Power will be provided by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gas engine, producing 134 horsepower. It will be connected to a six-speed manual, but automatic will also be available in North America. The car is rumored to be unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.

The Kizashi Ecocharge is a big step forward for Suzuki – it’s marks the first (possibly of many) gas-electric hybrids offered by the Japanese automaker.

Under the hood is a 144 horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, matted to a belt-driven 15 kWh (that’s 20 horsepower) electric motor-generator, which helps boost torque to get the car off the line while using less fuel.

According to Suzuki, “Power for the 15 horsepower electric motor is stored in a 115-volt air-cooled lithium-ion battery, which when added to the 2.0-liter four-cylinder is capable of increasing highway fuel economy of the standard Kizashi by an estimated 25 percent.”

This boost is aided by aerodynamic design improvements, low-rolling resistance tires, more aggressive fuel cut-off, and regenerative braking with automatic engine shut-off while stopped.

A 15 kWh lithium-ion battery helps Kizashi Ecocharge producing about 37 to 38 miles per gallon highway.

Source: WCF & LeftLaneNews

Numbers have been dropping for the Japanese auto maker 4 years consecutively, as 2007, ’08, ’09 and ’10 vehicles sit on dealership lots. Suzuki adds that their new model will take the “Kizashi to the next level.” The 2012 Kizashi will make its debut at the New York Auto Show in April.

Kizashi Sport features a lowered suspension, unique body kit and 18-inch wheels.

Suzuki could launch a turbocharged version of the Kizashi next year. Reports say the turbo Kizash is a “phenomenal vehicle.” Other sources are saying the turbocharger would be an extra, dealer installed option – and not a factory installed variant.

Leftlanenews

Suzuki’s hydrogen-powered Burgman scooter has become the world’s first fuel-cell vehicle to pass European Whole Vehicle Type Approval tests.

According to a press release: Developed in the UK with British firm Intelligent Energy, the fuel cell Burgman has been undergoing trials for the last year, and soon the firm expects to have several of the bikes under test in public. While it’s not a production machine, so Suzuki could have used Europe’s ‘Single Vehicle’ type approval to get each test bike road registered, instead the firm has opted for ‘Whole Vehicle’ approval – effectively homologation that means the test bike and any more that Suzuki build are legal anywhere in Europe. Basically, it’s something that’s normally only done on mass-produced vehicles.

Source: Visor Down

Based on the Japanese auto maker’s recently launched third-generation Swift model, S-Concept represents “a sportier design theme.” Performance will be a key element for this concept, but that’s all the information Suzuki will release to the press at this time.

Reports circulating suggest this concept will lead to a real life production version, which will receive a 1.4-liter turbo engine, producing 178 bhp matted to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission down to the front wheels.

As World Car Fans adds, “Looking at the teaser image we can see a Kizashi inspired front grill with large air intake pockets, flared fenders, dual-beam headlamps, streamlined mirrors and a roof spoiler.” Swift S-Concept makes it’s debut on March 1st.

Source: WCF

The Bonneville Special was built by Richard Holdener and Tom Habrzyk. They equipped a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a Turbonetics turbocharger, intercooler, new intake manifold, revised headers, and forged pistons / rods. These modifications enabled the engine to achieve 500 bhp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

According to the official Press Release: With up to 16 pounds of boost from a Turbonetics turbocharger, the Kizashi’s increased horsepower required air-to-water intercooling (and snow water/methanol injection) – while its increased output demands a new ACT clutch and pressure plate. A scattershield is added, the oil pan is welded for a new drain fitting and a new 3.5-inch exhaust is fabricated aft of the turbocharger. Additional protection for the high-boost, high-rpm turbo motor is provided by full synthetic 5W-20 racing oil from Lucas Oil.

Conditions for the Kizashi’s record-setting Bonneville run were exactly as the build team, Advanced Product Engineering’s Richard Holdener, Tom Habrzyk and Scott Bailey, expected. With temperatures topping 100 degrees, the Kizashi was running at a density altitude on the flats of 6,303 feet. After passing inspection, the 2010 Kizashi provided Mitani, Road & Track’s international editor, a perfect platform for qualifying with the Southern California Timing Association (SCTA), the sanctioning club for all Bonneville records. The 203.720 mph record was achieved by calculating the average of a two-way pass at 8:40 a.m. MT on August 18, 2010.

Suzuki has recently moved the other way, introducing what many consider to be its first ‘real’ sedan, the 2010 Kizashi, but the brand has long been known for its small-car capability and the new 2011 Suzuki Swift is about to continue that trend.

The car has just made its debut in Europe at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and we were there to take these live photos. The new model measures in at 12.6 feet in length, 5.5 feet in width and just under 5.0 feet in height. Both three- and five-door models will be available.

Last sold in the U.S. in 2001, the Swift is now primed for a return as CAFE standards and market pressures prepare the American public for a new breed of small cars. Like many other Suzuki models, the Swift is expected to be available with optional all-wheel drive, and a range of compact four-cylinder engines. It’s expected to make its U.S. return towards the end of this year as a 2011 model, so stay tuned for further clues as we approach its local debut. In the meantime, click here for all the details we have so far.

The concept was born out of the designs of Suzuki tuner Road Race Motorsports working with a pre-production Kizashi GTS. Road Race Motorsports added its own 16G turbocharger, high-flow intercooler, an extreme spray injector, a blow-off valve and a velocity air intake. All that takes the Kizashi up to a competitive 290 bhp (216 kW).

The work was done on Suzuki’s 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with the baseline 185 bhp (138 kW) of the Kizashi GTS, although the press release doesn’t say. Suzuki was denied access to GM’s 3.6 liter V6 power plant, which it intended to fit to the Kizashi, when the partnership between the two automakers was dissolved.

For improved handling, a set of 19-inch wheels wrapped in Dunlop performance tires were added along with a rear spoiler from Delta Tech Engineering. Road Race Motorsports also added its own sport springs to the Kizashi’s independent suspension holding up the uni-body frame.

Source: WorldCarFans

It’s hard to tell from the camo each Suzuki is sporting, but it appears that the car will have a small front spoiler – or a similar looking element – coming out from the bumper.

The rear light clusters also look to match the triangular shape of the front lights. Swift should come with either front wheel or all wheel drive, both available on current Swift sedans and hatchbacks.

Inside, Swift’s test dashboard hasn’t changed much – keeping up with a sportier feel and curved angles.

As testing continue you can bet more of the camo will come off, revealing the sexy new 2011 Suzuki Swift before it comes to dealerships later this year.