SPYSHOTS: 2017 Suzuki Swift captured on the road

A couple of weeks after undisguised images of the upcoming 2017 Suzuki Swift surfaced online, our European spy photographers have caught the real deal being tested on the road. The fourth-generation (fifth, if you count the original Ignis that carried the Swift nameplate in Japan) B-segment hatch is expected to be unveiled in December, before going on sale in March next year.

Despite the mule wearing massive amounts of camouflage, it’s clear that the car in these photos pretty much match the previous images. The teardrop-shaped headlights are present and correct, while the trapezoidal grille and U-shaped front air intake can be seen through the disguise. There are also hidden rear door handles in the C-pillar and C-shaped tail lights – all of them seen in the leaked photos.

The Swift Sport is set to amp it up – the leaks showed that the warm hatch will receive a massive six-point grille, larger air intakes, deeper side skirts, a small tailgate spoiler and a rear diffuser with integrated twin exhausts.

We don’t get to see the interior here, but the previous photos depicted a modern design with round centre air vents, a flat-bottomed steering wheel and sporty twin instrument binnacles. Sport models appear to be differentiated by red decorative trim, a red rev counter and unique steering wheel trim.

Power is expected to come from a 1.0 litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine from the Baleno, matched to either a five-speed manual gearbox or six-speed automatic. Also rumoured to be included is the Smart Hybrid Vehicle (SHVS) variant, featuring the cleaner 1.2 litre twin-injector Dualjet mill and an integrated starter generator (ISG) which assists the engine during acceleration and generates electricity during braking.

Enthusiasts of the manic, naturally-aspirated current Swift Sport may be disappointed to find that the next-generation model is expected to move to turbocharged power, utilising a larger 1.4 litre Boosterjet engine. In the Vitara S, it makes 138 hp and 220 Nm – that’s around the same power as the current SSS, but with way more torque (the car currently makes 160 Nm).

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