Suzuki has announced it will reveal the Swift Sport at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and while the award-winning Japanese manufacturer prepares for the local introduction of the new model, it has increased the value proposition of its products by offering an extended warranty on new vehicles sold until the end of the year. Update: some more images and details about the performance Swift Sport have emerged.

Apart from the obvious cosmetic/aerodynamic upgrades sported by the car in the teaser image (released July 24), we know little about the newcomer so far. What we DO know, however, is that it will probably be powered by a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrolengine that delivers 103 kW and 220 Nm of torque, most likely coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission. Without context, those figures look relatively meagre for a modern-day performance car but note that the current naturally aspirated model has 100 kW and 160 Nm, so the torque, in particular, has dramatically been upped.

More importantly, the new Swift Sport could weigh as much as 150 kg less than its predecessor thanks to its light and rigid Heartect platform, resulting in an unmatched power-to-weight ratio at its price-point. The current model accelerates to 100 kph in 8.7 seconds – we would not be surprised to see its successor achieve the same in well below 8 seconds, closer to 7 secin fact.

Update: Officially the new Suzuki Swift Sport will be shown at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show on the 12th September and we've got a first look at the interior details, such as the cabin and dashboard layout.

It's nice to see a six-speed manual gearbox and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Performance should be similar to the current model.

Meanwhile, buyers purchasing a new Suzuki vehicle in South Africa will benefit from a promotional extended mechanical warranty of 5-years or 200 000 km, which replaces the previous 3-year/100 000km warranty. The new warranty appliesto all vehicles sold from July to December 2017.

The new warranty covers all costs in the case of mechanical failure but does not cover failures resulting from abuse, lack of scheduled maintenance or a vehicle accident.

“Over the past few years, we have worked really hard to further improve our customer service and extend our dealer network to place good Suzuki service within the reach of more South Africans. We have also improved our warranty and service plans to be both easy to understand and as comprehensive as possible. The extension to 5-years or 200 000 km signals the successful completion of the project,” says André Venter, divisional head for sales and marketing at Suzuki South Africa.

Earlier this year, Suzuki was recognised as Brand of the Year in the annual Cars.co.za Consumer Awards –powered by WesBank. The result was determined using valuable consumer feedback via the Cars.co.za Ownership Satisfaction Survey and market data supplied by data specialists, Lightstone Consumer.

In addition to the extended warranty, Suzuki has also extended its partnership with the Automobile Association (AA) to offer 5-years free roadside assistance which includes services such as breakdown assistance, help with a flat tyre, battery jump-starting, car lock-out support, emergency fuel and even telephonic directions. The AA will also relay messages to family and friends in the event of an emergency.

Related content:

Suzuki Ignis (2017) First Drive

New Suzuki Swift (2017) First Drive

Hyundai Creta vs Suzuki Vitara vs Renault Captur (2017) Comparative Video Review

Extended Test: Suzuki Ciaz 1.4 GLX [Video]

Next Suzuki Swift Sport: Fast & Fun

Suzuki Swift Sport (2016) Review

2015 Suzuki Vitara Video Review

Suzuki Vitara 1.6 GL+ (2016) Review

Want to buy a Suzuki?

Search for a new or used Suzuki on Cars.co.za