FOR decades Suzuki has been fighting the car sales war in the UK with one hand tied behind its back - designing cars for Japan that have then gone to Europe.
The result has been an array of quirky, often very small, cars, 4x4s and vans.
But that is about to change with the launch next month of the new Suzuki Swift. The name may be the same but the new model is dramatically different, primarily because it has been designed as the company's first global product inspired by the needs of European drivers.
Available in both three- and five-door forms, the new Swift has a surprisingly attractive visual look (staying close to the rally-inspired Concept S unveiled at Paris in 2002) - one that I and a number of my automotive colleagues feel has a hint of the New Mini about its box-and-a-half design.
Because it doesn't have the ancestry for a retro feel, the New Swift won't have the universal lure of the Mini, but the overall effect is not unappealing.
This car should appeal to the 20-to-30-year-old age group.
I say it should do because, with the optional side sills complementing the deep front spoiler and rear lip spoiler, this has instant Max Power appeal.
There is inevitably going to be the question of whether or nor the young generation will take to the brand name that, in car terms, has never quite reached the levels of popularity archived by Suzuki's two-wheel machines.
Where the Swift and Mini part company is inside - there are no illusions here to the Mini or quite frankly to anything else.
The curving cabin is something of a disappointment after appreciating the panel work - the three-spoke steering wheel (with integrated audio controls) is the best feature, which tells you a lot.
The flat, featureless slab of the dash (admittedly with better quality plastics than before) is a major disappointment.
Bland and uninteresting, the characterless centre console with the integrated audio panel looks rather vulnerable to everyday wear and tear and there is no cohesion or style about the way the very ordinary controls and instrumentation are littered about the cabin.
New Swift does better than most in terms of passenger accommodation, with plenty of room up front thanks to 240mm of travel and 300m of height adjustment in the seats - but with a tall driver the space behind becomes marginal for adults.
Luggage space is also at a premium - with the seats in use it only provides 213 litres, which means suitcase have to be slotted in vertically. This can be expanded by folding down and tumbling forward the 60/40 split rear seats. This then delivers 562 litres from the low, flat boot space.
One feature I do like is the electronic pushbutton for the rear hatch, which make opening less of a chore.
New Swift will be offered in two trim levels - GL and GLX. All versions are supplied with electric front windows, heated door mirrors, remote central locking, radio / CD with six speakers, tinted glass, rear wash-wipe, front and side airbags, immobiliser and deadlocks.
The GLX specification adds in keyless entry, air conditioning, alloy wheels and front fog lamps.
Initially, the New Swift will be available in the UK with a choice of two petrol engines in 1.3 and 1.5 litre capacities. Despite the higher price, Suzuki expects the 75bhp 1.5 VVT to be the best seller.
A 1.3 litre DDiS common rail direct injection diesel will be added in September.
Suzuki is also going to produce a GTi version (on sale from early 2006) and, if the hot varients of some of its other models are anything to go by, this should be much more entertaining.
The solid visual appearance already mentioned is matched to the handling which, while not being especially dynamic, is predictable and reliable thanks to the new chassis which sits on a wide track (1,470mm at the front and 1,480mm at the rear) plus a 2,380mm wheelbase.
Less fiddly on broken surface than some small Japanese cars, it is more compliant thanks to the work done on European rods to fine-tune the MacPherson strut and spring front and torsion beam rear suspension.
A newly developed, power-assisted steering has more direct feel than before, but isn't as sharp as might be hoped for in a sporting supermini - let's see what the GTi can do next year.
Suzuki hopes the new Swift will carry on from where the old model left off - its best year was in 1997 when it sold 7,000 of them and that's close to the figure it wants to achieve this year, rising to 10,000 in 2006.
Key to this sales rise will be attracting fresh new blood to the brand rather than transferring customers from existing Suzuki products.
And Suzuki's main target is going to be young drivers - this probably explains why it has recruited Manchester United and Portuguese international footballer Cristiano Ronaldo for the advertising campaign. It will be following this up by using the new car to contest the Junior World Rally championship later in the year.
Taking a dispassionate view, the New Swift certainly has the looks and feel of a sporty young person's car but doesn't quite translate this into driving dynamics, interior fit and finish and brand aspiration.
Suzuki is due to announce prices next week when it presents the car to the dealer network, but it is anticipated that it will start at around £7,800.
FACTFILE:
PRICE: From £7,800 est
ON SALE: April 2005
ENGINES: 1,328cc (67bhp)/ 1,490cc (75bhp)
TOP SPEEDS: 108mph/ 110mph
0-62MPH: ten seconds/11 seconds
C02 EMISSIONS: 143g/km/ 159g/km
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