The third generation Suzuki Swift Sport made its global premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

As expected, the new Japanese hot hatch ditches the naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine of the previous model for the company’s 1.4-liter BoosterJet unit which makes 138hp and 169lb-ft (230Nm) of torque.

The new model is also lighter by 80kg compared to its predecessor, tipping the scales at just 970kg. The new platform is not only lighter however but stiffer and safer as well.

The 1.4-liter BoosterJet engine features direct injection, a short-port intake manifold and an integrated to the cylinder head exhaust manifold. Paired to it is the six-speed manual transmission used in the previous Swift Sport but now it has been tuned for improved smoothness, better feel and increased rigidity.

The front suspension utilizes Monroe dampers, along with thicker anti-roll bars while the wheel hub and wheel bearings are now combined into a single unit for better rigidity. The rear suspension’s trailing arm has been exclusively designed for the Swift Sport while the toe rigidity has been improved by 1.4 times over its predecessor, with camber rigidity being three times greater.

“It’s lighter, sharper, quicker,” said Masao Kobori, Chief Engineer of the Suzuki Swift Sport. “It’s more aggressive and emotive, but we’ve also refined the elements that make it practical to use every day—the clutch feel, the manual transmission shift throw, the seats and steering wheel. Everything that puts the driver at the heart of the experience.”

Unfortunately Suzuki hasn’t released any performance figures yet. The car is running on 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 195/45 tires. The front end features a model-specific staggered design for the honeycomb grille while carbon fiber-style embossing can be found on the front-lip spoiler, the side skirts and the rear diffuser.

The interior features red accents and an instrument panel that features contrasting colors and new boost and temperature gauges. A pair of semi-bucket seats, a D-shaped steering wheel and chrome-finished shift knob and pedals are just some of the Swift Sport’s unique interior features. A seven-inch infotainment system with 3D navigation and Bluetooth is also present.

The new Suzuki Swift Sport also comes with an impressive range of active safety systems, including the Advanced Forward Detection, Dual Sensor Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and more.

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