Comments by Bob Aldons - Northstar Suzuki

The Suzuki Swift has been one of the most popular and dressed cars in recent years. The look and style of the model lends itself to wide wheels, low profile tyres and body kits, let alone leather trims.

Suzuki UK has taken this one step further with the recently announced Attitude and it has plenty of that. Limited to 500 units, and on sale on April 2nd, the Attitude features fog lamps, 16 inch black wheels, black painted roof and door mirrors, rear tinted windows, and carbon fibre effect "Attitude" badging.

If this vehicles comes to Australia, we'll have the better engine with more power. You can lobby us for this limited edition Suzuki Swift at www.northstarsuzuki.com.au or check out our monthly specials at www.lovemysuzi.com.au. Want to test drive a Suzuki? You'll find our dealership at 218 Anzac Avenue Redcliffe on the beautiful Redcliffe Peninsula

Suzuki Swift Attitude 30.03.2012

Suzuki has announced the Swift Attitude special edition will be limited to only 500 units and available for order April 2. Based on the SZ3 model the sporty hatchback is aimed at younger buyers.

With a starting price of £10,750 for the three door or £11,220 for the five door, the Swift Attitude features fog lamps, rear tinted glass, carbon fiber effect "Attitude" badging, roof and door mirrors plus rear upper roof spoiler in body color and 16-inch wheels in black finish. Other standard features include seven airbags, ESP, air conditioning and a USB port.

The Swift Attitude maintains the SZ3 model's 1.2-liter Dual VVT 93 bhp (94 PS / 69 kW) engine which emits just 116g/km and achieves 56.5mpg / 5.0l per 100km (combined).

Special Version Swift for Spring 2012 in the UK

•    Special Version Attitude model based on SZ3.

•    Limited to only 500 units - split between three and five door.

•    On sale 2 April, priced at £10,750 for three door, £11,220 for five door.

•    Available on a PCP Drive plan with a deposit of just £1,500.

Following strong success with the previous model Swift, the special version Swift Attitude model is back on sale in the UK; limited to only 500 units, and available as a five door as well as three door for the first time. Aimed at younger buyers, Swift Attitude is based on the 1.2-litre SZ3 model but with more sporty and aggressive styling. The 1.2-litre Dual VVT 94PS engine is one of the most powerful in its class but offers low emissions of just 116g/km, 56.5mpg on the combined cycle and only £30 in Annual VED charges.

Swift Attitude is based on the SZ3 grade with seven airbags, ESP, air conditioning and USB port as standard but offers increased specification with front fog lamps and rear privacy glass together with an enhanced sporty appearance consisting of Carbon fibre effect roof and door mirrors, rear upper spoiler in body colour, Carbon fibre effect ‘Attitude' badging and 16-inch wheels in black paint finish.

With an insurance group rating of 9E, Attitude is ideal for younger Swift fans to own a bespoke and sporty looking car at an affordable purchase price together with low costs of ownership.

For customers looking for a PCP (Personal Contract purchase), Suzuki Financial Services are offering Swift Attitude for a deposit of just £1,500 followed by 43 monthly payments of £179 and a final payment at the end of the agreement to keep the car.

Swift Attitude is available in Superior White only and competitively priced at £10,750 for three door and £11,220 for the five door model.

by Bob Aldons - Northstar Suzuki

Mark Hinchliffe of the Courier Mail in Brisbane reports on exciting news from Suzuki about the implementation of a Satellite Navigation system for most Suzuki vehicles. One thing that the brand has not been at the forefront of is accessories and dress ups for the vehicles. Most Suzuki buyers make their next stop at the local auto accessory store to 'stock up' on the popular dress up items.

At Northstar Suzuki, they're pretty accomplished at making a customer's Suzuki look different, but that has been limited to the likes of design striping, larger wheels and the like. With the implementation of the navigation system there'll obviously be a wider range to choose from

When you consider that many companies such as Volkswagen, Jeep and similar have their customers spending thousands of dollars on dress up - there's a wide horizon to be explored.

Contact Northstar Suzuki at Redcliffe for all advice on Suzuki passenger and four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and to see how your Suzuki can be personalized. If you're making your first foray into the Suzuki world visit www.lovemysuzi.com.au for great new car prices and offers.  

The SatNav will be available in all models except the entry level SX4.

Suzuki has developed an in-house satnav system rather than relying on the usual providers.

The Japanese company will introduce their sat nav as an option this year in the Kizashi, SX4 and Grand Vitara.

It will be available in all models except the entry level SX4. Adam Le Fevre, boss of Queensland importers Suzuki Auto Company, says the system is suitable for Australia and New Zealand and will be here a couple of months after production begins in July.

"It's not been a vocal problem that we haven't had sat nav," he says. "It's been more an expectation by the industry that it is needed, not an expectation in the market."

Le Fevre says the Suzuki sat nav will not be expensive and will not be packaged with an array of other features that will make it more expensive as some other companies have done. The sat nav system will feature a 6.1-inch touch screen display, Bluetooth capability with audio streaming, voice recognition, an AM/FM radio, and downloadable updates and content.

It will also connect with iPod, iPhone, USB, SD and auxiliary players. The Kizashi and Grand Vitara models will feature a built-in reversing camera. Le Fevre says the sat nav system will be one of several updates throughout the year which kicked off this month with the launch of the new Swift Sport.

That will be followed by facelifts for the Jimny mid-year, and Grand Vitara and SX4 in the third quarter. But the biggest news for Suzuki this year is the coming two-wheel-drive version of the Grand Vitara. "I'm not sure whether we will sell more or we will lose sales from four-wheel drive," says Le Fevre.

"It will target metropolitan young families who might have a four-wheel drive now but have never been off-road yet still want a weekend getaway. "About 90 per cent of all SUV owners never get them off the road."

He says the 2WD version will not dilute the strong off-road credibility of the Grand Vitara nameplate. It will be available only in five-door petrol with similar spec levels to the current Grand Vitara line-up.

"The whole idea is that it will be a cheaper version - about $2000 to $3500 cheaper," Le Fevre says. "The car will appeal to a lot more people than it has in the past." While towing capacity is expected to be reduced, Le Fevre says it should retain a higher capacity than other 2WD models.

Local motor racing identity 'stunt driver' in the Suzuki Australia TVC shot recently in Brisbane: Suzuki Swift Sport: first drive review
by Bob Aldons - Northstar Suzuki

It's been over 12 month since the new model Suzuki Swift was launched in Australia. The re-fresh didn't include the Sport model until now. In Europe and Japan they have the option of a 3 door version, but in Australia we have to make do with the 5 door variant.

This model comes with the option of 2 transmissions - a sparkling 6 speed manual or a 7 speed CVT with flappy paddle changer on the steering wheel. The engine is Suzuki's 100kw version, which gives a great power to weight ratio for exhilarating performance.

You can check out the new Suzuki Swift Sport at Northstar Suzuki Redcliffe.

By Ewan Kennedy     27 February 2012

Body changes to the Suzuki Swift give it a sporty feel in a very hot-hatch manner.  

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the Suzuki Swift Sport at its Australian launch.

Suzuki Swift Sport is a genuine sporty model. Now, given its name, this may seem to be a blindingly obvious statement. But in these times when marketing people persuade designers to tack on a few extra bits of plastic and some fancy badges - but do nothing to actually improve the car - the name ‘sport’ has often been seriously diluted.

Not so in the Suzuki Swift Sport, this little Japanese machine has been significantly improved in important areas to appeal to those who like to put serious effort into their driving. Even better news is that you don’t need big money to go the full-on high-performance route.

VALUE

This swift from Suzuki comes into the market at an extraordinary low starting price of just $23,990. You get a lot of driving pleasure for a very modest outlay.

By way of comparison, the all-new Swift Sport costs a thousand dollars less than the outgoing model did when it hit the hot-hatch scene in 2005.

DESIGN

The Swift has always had a shape that responds well to add-ons. Seventeen-inch alloy wheels of a special lightweight design are the key to the good looks of the sporting Swift.

These are complemented by a new under bumper panel carrying fog lights in triple-fin bezels. The grille takes a Euro look in its hexagonal mesh design.

Side skirts connect the front and rear arches and give the Sport a lower appearance without the need to drag to body down to unreasonable levels. The rear features a larger roof spoiler and a diffuser look giving the Suzuki a race-car style.

Though it’s not immediately obvious, the headlight are bi-xenon items as used in quite a few upmarket European cars. While you won’t be routinely cruising at 130 km/h at night as they do in Europe, the added clarity of the lights will nevertheless be appreciated in Australia.

Inside, there are leather sports seats while the instrument console features a new design with silver rings about the gauges. There’s a sports steering wheel that not only feels good while you’re driving, but also adds plenty of class to the appearance.

TECHNOLOGY

New Suzuki Swift Sport is powered by a 100 kW version of the standard Swift 1.6-litre engine. While this doesn’t seem like a huge number, keep in mind that it weighs just 1050 kg, so the power to weight ratio is impressive for an affordable sports hatch.

Acceleration from rest to 100 km/h takes place in around eight seconds. Not bitumen burning, but quick enough to put a smile on the face of anyone who likes sitting behind the wheel of a car with zing.

DRIVING

In a true sports engine manner, the engine revs all the way to 7000 rpm and is happy to sit at the top end of the tacho, it’s almost like an Italian engine in its willingness to rev and the way it sings to the ears. We loved it. Down low, modern electronics mean it’s happy enough to pull the Swift along in a workmanlike way.

Our vehicle of choice is the Swift Sport with a slick little manual gearbox, but, for the first time in this model, an automatic transmission is also on offer. A continuously variable unit it has seven paddle-operated preset ratios within the continuous range should you wish to have more control over the engine output.

Cornering power and precision are the biggest features of the Swift Sport. We were fortunate in being able to spend time at the race track at Broadford where we could appreciate the Suzuki in controlled conditions. There we loved the levels of grip, the nippy handling offered by this lightweight machine and the pure enjoyment if offered.

Not only has the suspension been firmed up by the use of sports components, it also has the benefit of a body that has been stiffened in important areas to give the suspension a stable platform with which to work.

Brakes were more than up to the task of hauling the Suzuki Sport back to reality at the end of the long straights at Broadford. Suzuki Swift Sport is a brilliant piece of automotive engineering. For a most modest price you get a lot of driving pleasure, either at a track if you want to take that route, or simply on your favourite stretch of driving road on a quiet Sunday morning.

Suzuki has launched its new and highly anticipated Swift Sport, starting at $23,990 for the 6-speed manual.

Almost every element of the car has been redesigned, with an evolutionary and aggressive new look, an upgraded handling package, dramatic powertrain revisions and five-star safety.

Power and torque figures are up and the retuned 1.6-litre M16A engine will output 100kw@6900rpm and 160Nm@4400rpm, making the new Sport the most powerful Swift ever.

The outgoing Sport's output figures of 92kW@6800rpm and 148Nm@4800 mean that the new engine will have more top end, as well as a torque increase that peaks 400rpm lower in the range.

On top of the more flexible engine, a new six-speed manual transmission will also be available, along with a 7-speed CVT transmission, another first for the range.

Dimensions have also grown - length has grown by 120mm, wheelbase by 50mm, and front/rear track has been increased. Despite being a bigger car, the new Sport weighs 30kg less than its predecessor.

Checking a car's bodywork need only take a few minutes

Checking a car's bodywork need only take a few minutes, but it can save months or even years of future frustration.

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Tip 3 - List of Factory Options and Dealer Fitted accessories clearly shown

When you bought your car, you probably paid for a lot of factory fitted options and dealer fitted accessories  and may have added more whilst you owned it.

Make a clear list of these items and make sure that you make the dealer aware of the list.

You should check your original contract for this information - In fact it's always a good idea to have a copy of the contract to show the dealership. That way there'll be no confusion as to what model your car is and what options and accessories it had

Factory options and dealer fitted accessories probably added thousands of dollars to the purchase price and now's the time to take advantage of that. You won't recover all the money that you spend but there's no doubt that you'll get some.