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A streetcar named Desire
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A little less conversation and a lot more action. That's exactly what the Suzuki Swift 1.6 Sport is all about!
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AN INSTANT HIT The Maruti Swift
Every once in a while, there comes a car that manages to catch everybody's imagination and becomes an instant hit. The Maruti Swift is one such car that simply ran away with the bookings and the awards. The car was so popular at launch that for the first six months of its life it was the only Maruti model that had a three-month waiting period.
Look at it any which way, the Swift is a winner. It is super fun and entertaining to drive, comes with the tried and tested Esteem engine, looks good and owning one doesn't burn a hole in your pocket. The car you see on this page comes with a 1.6-litre motor that promises to take the Swift package a step further.
Internationally, the 1.6-litre engine is part of the Swift line-up. In India, this car was displayed at the 2006 Auto Expo. The formula is simple enough. It gets a 1.6-litre, 125bhp engine which makes the car's power output grow by almost 40bhp (and torque moves from 11.3kgm to 15.1kgm), while the chassis gets bigger tyres, stiffer suspension and slightly quicker steering. Twin tailpipes and twin-toned interiors are part of the package. The lights are different too - the headlights are blacked out and tail lights use raised, circular elements.
The motor here is a variable valve-timing unit (VVT) and promises to provide loads of bottom end torque. The same motor and the Swift Sport will form the basis of their next Junior World Rally Championship car. The torque peaks at 4800rpm and the engineers at Suzuki seemed to have tuned the engine for exhilarating top end performance and drivability. Weighing at a little over a ton, the Swift has a power-to-weight ratio that's better than even the 150 bhp Skoda Octavia RS!
The Sport revs strongly to 6800 rpm and the gear change on the auto is quite brisk without allowing the car to lose any momentum. Up to 4500 rpm, the engine retains a normal note but that's just about when the note changes and takes on a sportier raspy note that is a delight to hear.
As it is based on the rally version, the suspension is composed of 20 per cent stiffer springs and dampers. This is a good thing in terms of handling and the car is a much better at carving corners at speed than the regular Swift. However, don't be surprised if the overall ride is compromised especially on bad roads.
So when does Maruti plan to bring it to India? Well, here's the bad news — they don't. The culprit is the price, which after importing the engine and most of the components might run into big car territory and not make it a viable option for the everyday user. The only way Maruti will be able to sell the car here in India is if the engine is shared with another car. Here's a little prayer, then...
ASHISH MASIH
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