Story & photos by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
TIME has indeed swiftly passed by for Suzuki Philippines vice President and General Manager for automotive Shuzo Hoshikura. In a speech at the Marriott Hotel in Pasay City, he delightedly shared his own personal experience when he first arrived in the country in 2010.
“That time, when you ask a Filipino what a Suzuki is, they would say motorcycles or perhaps the Swift,” he told the 500 guests composed of the media, bankers, dealers and the like.
“That’s why we really wanted to come out with this new model. “Thus, eight years and 5.3 million worldwide unit sales after, they’re bringing in the new third generation together with the all-new Suzuki Dzire.
The back-to-back launch closes the curtain for the first half of the year to introduce not only the latest upgrades on two of Suzuki’s popular vehicles—but also the revolutionary Japanese technology behind these newest innovations.
Hoshikura said, “We are grateful for the strong support we continue to receive from the Filipino market, particularly during the first months of the year. As testament of our commitment of delivering only the best-quality products and services—we at Suzuki Philippines are more than happy to finally share with everyone the all-new Dzire and all-new Swift equipped with the latest of our innovative technology.”
“I am optimistic that these latest product offerings will drive SPH to new milestones, all while staying true to the goal of sharing with more Filipinos the Suzuki Way of Life,” he added.
The sporty award-winning sprinter
The all-new Swift boasts a daring transformation while retaining old features that Filipinos loved—strong shoulders, blacked-out A-pillars for wrap-around windows, dynamic side-window treatment and distinctive vertically arranged lamps. These are complemented by a black interior with a white pearl accent and a dimple pattern to create a fresher look.
To emphasize the sporty and confident look, the well-loved hatchback is now shorter, lower and wider with a muscular structure. The compact dimensions guarantee easy handling but do not compromise comfort. The vehicle’s luggage space has been expanded by 54 liters for more storage capacity than the previous model. The GL gets a 7-inch multimedia system, while the GLX gets a bump up to 8 inches.
It sports a 1.2L engine with 82 horse power and 113 N-m of torque, mated to a choice of a five-speed manual (GL) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT for GL and GLX) for a combination of good performance and fuel economy.
“Succession, evolution and innovation—these were the key words for the Swift,” stated Masao Kobori, chief engineer of the all-new Suzuki Dzire and Swift in a speech.
“We looked out for the customer’s expectations after evaluating the results of the studies on the Swift. In the end, this is what we have come up—an innovative design and exciting driving performance.”
The game-changing sedan
Designed for wise and practical millennials and young professionals, the all-new Dzire is a comfortable sedan in a compact body with advanced technology and features to enhance the driving experience. It features the Auto Gear Shift (AGS) technology, which combines the fuel efficiency of a manual transmission and convenience of an automatic transmission.
A revolutionary first in the Philippines, the AGS technology is an automated manual transmission featuring an Intelligent Shift Control Actuator that automatically operates the clutch and shifting operation. It allows for smooth automated gear changes or shifting from manual transmission without having to step on the clutch pedal and operate a shift lever, thus, ensuring precise gear shifting based on vehicle speed.
The two trim levels (GL and GL+) offer a 1.2L engine that’s good for 82 hp and 113 N-m of torque. The big difference between the two is the transmission; GL gets a 5-speed manual while the GL+ runs of Suzuki’s new five-speed AGS.
The all-new Dzire’s GL MT variant is available in Premium Arctic White, Metallic Silky Silver and Premium Midnight Black colors and tags at P638,000 SRP. While the GL+AGS variant comes in Premium Oxford Blue, Premium Sherwood Brown, Premium Arctic White, Premium Midnight Black and Metallic Magma Gray colors and has an SRP of P698,000.
The new Swift models, on the other hand, are priced as follows: the GL MT-P755, 000, GL CVT- P799,000 and the GLX CVT-P899,000. It offers six color options—Speedy Blue Metallic, Fervent Red, Pure White Pearl, Premium Silver Metallic, Mineral Gray Metallic and Super Black Pearl.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes