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New Suzuki Swift Sport to be lighter and torquier

The Suzuki Swift Sport has been one of the most interesting hot hatches of the last decade, well at least outside the United States. Its first iteration was released in 2005, leaving behind its crummy Geo Metro guise in favor of something more in line dynamically with the segment best. Though it may have been an underdog from day one, the Swift Sport proved itself to be both fun and reliable The new car promises to up the ante with a stiffer structure and a footprint increased courtesy a 20 mm-longer wheelbase and a stance that's 40 mm wider and 15 mm lower. Power comes from a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder Suzuki cheekily calls the Boosterjet, ditching the old 1.6-liter naturally aspirated inline-4. The downsized, intercooled 138-horsepower turbo engine gives the Swift Sport only four more horsepower than the old unit, but there is a lot more torque available and at lower revs. Another major improvement is a weight loss of nearly 180 pounds -- definitely a big deal in a small car like this -- as the new model tips the scales at less than 2,140 lbs. Suzuki says the feel of the six-speed manual shifter has been improved, too. "It's lighter, sharper, quicker. It's more aggressive and emotive, but we've also refined the elements that make it practical to use every day," said Suzuki chief engineer Masao Kobori. "The clutch feel, the manual transmission shift throw, the seats and steering wheel -- everything that puts the driver at the heart of the experience." Sounds neat, though with Suzuki gone from the U.S. market, it'll remain forbidden fruit for American customers. On the other hand, you can apparently rent these in Germany. Nurburgring rental anyone? Related Video:

2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS

Motorcycle trends come and go like fashion, and the latest two-wheeled style du jour is the adventure bike. Chunky and rugged, these (sometimes) dirt-ready rides often take cues from the massive, Armageddon-ready rigs you'd find on the Dakar Rally. In their most neutered form, they can start as street bikes and adapt for adventure duty by adding taller suspension setups, removable saddlebags, bigger fuel tanks, and better wind protection.
Lying smack in the middle of that dirt/road matrix (and leaning toward the tarmac side) is the 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 ABS. A venerable fixture in the adventure scene, it developed a primarily urban following after the model bowed in 2004, though it's also proved itself worthy of tackling trails and light offroad scenarios. For automotive folks not steeped in the vagaries of the motorcycle world, the V-Strom is the two-wheeled equivalent of the late, great Mitsubishi Montero: capable, no-nonsense, and a bit of an unsung hero in the face of more glamorous offroaders like the Land Rover LR4 and the Mercedes-Benz Geländewagen.

Suzuki introduces reborn Katana motorcycle

At the Cologne INTERMOT motorcycle show, Suzuki has shown its all-new Katana bike. The model brings back the classic, sword-referencing Katana name, which the manufacturer first used in 1980 — that bike, the GSX1100S Katana, was also unveiled in Cologne all those years ago. The bike utilizes a modified version of the GSX-R1000 engine in a lightweight, twin-spar aluminum frame. The engine's 150 peak horsepower comes at 10,000 rpm; the bike weighs 474 pounds. There's a fully digital gauge cluster, complete with the classic Katana logo. The bike's styling is quite dynamic, as if it were in fact sliced into completion using a Japanese sword. It is highly reminiscent of the Katana 3.0 concept Suzuki showed last year at EICMA — consider the new Katana a road-going version of the concept bike. The stacked headlight has LED running lights, and the taillight, fitted in the angular tail, also comprises LEDs. The plate in turn is fixed on a swingarm extension, as near the rear tire as possible. There are fully adjustable 43mm USD front forks and an adjustable rear shock from KYB, Brembo brakes from the GSX-R1000 and Bosch ABS. A three-mode traction control system is included, but it can also be excluded via switching it off. The system monitors wheel speeds, throttle and crank position, adjusting timing and air delivery to reduce engine output when it notices wheelspin. The related GSX-R1000 and R1000R models are also updated; the latter gets an adjustable swingarm pivot and new stainless steel braided brake hoses. The R1000R's bi-directional quickshifter and auto-blipper are now standard on the R1000, enabling smoother gearshifts. The Katana and the updated GSX-R1000 and GSX-R1000R reach dealers in spring 2019. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2020 Suzuki Katana View 13 Photos Image Credit: Suzuki Suzuki Motorcycle Bikes intermot suzuki gsx-r1000