Suzuki has decided to extend the life of the Swift Sport hot hatchback due to the complexities associated with the tightening of emission standards around the world. Developing a new car that would meet the tightened environmental requirements would be a challenge, so the company has decided to produce the current version while it can.
Suzuki Australia CEO Michael Pachota said in an interview with Drive, "It’s subject to what kind of emissions those vehicles produce and/or how to create power in those cars to actually label it as a sports car." He also noted that the Australian market is "very tricky" because of the upcoming new standards.
Suzuki Swift Sport
Pachota also explained that many countries are introducing stringent emission control regulations, which poses problems not only for Australia but also for other markets such as Europe.
The current Suzuki Swift Sport was introduced in 2017. The car underwent a major update in 2020 when it received a 48-volt hybrid system in Europe. It stands out in the market as one of the few remaining hot-hatches in its segment.
The new generation Suzuki Swift
The characteristics of the car vary from region to region. In Europe, the Suzuki Swift Sport is powered by a 1.4-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with hybrid technology, producing 129 hp and 235 Nm of torque. The version for the Australian market is powered by a conventional turbo engine producing 140 hp and 230 Nm of torque.
Source: Drive
