Currently reading: Paris motor show 2010: Suzuki Swift

Suzuki unveils a sport version of its Swift model at the Paris motor show

Suzuki has unveiled a sport version of its Swift hatchback at the Paris motor show.

The production Sukuki Swift Sport - inspired by this car - will arrive in the UK in the second half of 2011.

See the official pics of the new Suzuki Swift - plus pics of the Suzuki Sport from the Paris motor show

It gets a tweaked version of the 1.6 in the standard Swift and chassis improvements combining to produce a much more dynamic drive.

The show car has a rear spoiler, a new front splitter and honeycomb lower grille, a lower ride height and sits on all-black alloy wheels.

Read more about the Suzuki Kizashi Sport

Suzuki is also expected to reveal a European-spec sport version of the Kizashi Sport in Paris, after the US-spec version was unveiled at the New York motor show in April.

Suzuki is still questioning whether to bring the standard Kizashi saloon to the UK. The main sticking point is the car’s 2.4-litre petrol engine, which will confine it to the domestic retail market, blocking it from fleet and commercial use.

Read Autocar’s full road test of the Suzuki Swift

Read Autocar’s first drive review of the Suzuki Swift

The US model of the Kizashi launched at New York had similar features to the Swift model unveiled today.

It featured 18in alloy wheels, a 10mm lower ride height, a honeycomb lower grille and new front bumper, side skirts, and a small rear spoiler. On the inside, the vehicle had a perforated leather steering wheel.

The new standard Swift supermini is already on sale in the UK, costing from £9995. It is available in three specification grades – SZ2, SZ3 and SZ4 with the top-of-the-range SZ4 five-door automatic costing £13,245.

In addition to seven airbags and ESP, the SZ2 has front passenger deactivation facility, electric front windows, remote central locking, MP3/WMA CD tuner with USB port and steering wheel-mounted audio controls.

SZ3 adds manual air-conditioning and 16-inch alloy wheels, with the SZ4 coming with automatic air-con, Bluetooth integrated audio unit, electric rear windows, push-button keyless start, automatic headlamps and cruise control as standard.

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All models have a Euro NCAP five-star safety rating.

The new Swift is larger than its predecessor, with a 90mm increase in length, a 50mm increase in wheelbase and a 10mm increase in height.

Power comes from a new Euro 5-compliant 1.2-litre petrol engine incorporating dual VVT (variable intake and exhaust valve timing).

It produces 92bhp at 6000rpm, slightly more than the outgoing 1.3-litre unit. Torque is also improved to 87lb ft at 4800rpm.

Fuel consumption has improved by 7.8mpg over the previous 1.3-litre unit to 56.5mpg.

Emissions are lower, too; the new 1.2 litre produces 116g/km on the combined cycle – representing a 17 per cent improvement over the previous model.

A revised 1.3-litre diesel will be added next spring, which will emit 109g/km (down from 119g/km) and has a combined fuel consumption of 67.3mpg. 214101025314948179x39See all the latest Suzuki Swift reviews, news and video

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