Suzuki Launches 2005 Swift at Paris Motor Show

The new Swift measures in at 3.69 meters long, 1.69 meters wide and 1.50 meters tall, while riding on a 2.39 meter wheelbase. The

The new Swift will be based on the show-stopping Concept S and Concept S2 of recent years past. (Photo: Suzuki Canada)

first measurement makes it 1.9 m, or 190 mm shorter than Canada's 3.88 meter long Swift+, which will be good news to some and cause concern for others.

Those that initially fell for the Concept S and S2 body styles will be pleased to see that very little has changed from prototype to production, except for a reduction in visual extras. On that note spoilers, body kits and ground effects have been kept to a minimum. Likewise, the show car's 18-inch wheels have been axed, replaced by smaller, much less expensive 14-inch rims and tires. While the Sprint's stance

Unlike its predecessors, the 2005 Swift looks sharp, well-built and robust. (Photo: Suzuki Canada)

is not quite as aggressive, loosing the go-fast goodies doesn't detract from the car's cheerful appearance.

Unlike the relatively nondescript Swifts of the past, the 2005 model looks sharp, well-built and robust. The cockpit is simple, highlighted by a sporty three-spoke steering wheel framing attractive silver-ringed instrumentation. The audio system's head unit is uniquely mounted flush with the angled dashboard to create an integrated hi-fi appearance, something not normally associated with the economy car class and Suzuki in particular. An information display system, located at the windshield's base, reduces dashboard clutter and supposedly simplifies operation. Such a technology is usually reserved for premium models.