Suzuki appears to be preparing the next generation Suzuki Swift for an autumn launch next year. The existing model was launched back in 2005 and immediately went on to win the COTY award. The Swift models account for up to 40% of Suzuki sales in Europe and is the best selling model in UK. For India, the new Suzuki Swift is expected to come with the 1.2-l K-Series petrol engine. It is also likely that Suzuki could continue the Multi-jet engine and supplement it with more powerful engines like the 1.5 liter CRDI unit.

The latest spy pictures of the next-generation hatchback Suzuki Swift have been taken in Germany. The five-door Swift was caught testing in heavy rain and ice, heavily camouflaged, leaving the front of the car to be the only part that is completely revealed. The front grille shows Suzuki’s new family face that made its debut on the Kizashi mid-size sedan, which is’nt necessarily a bad thing. The whole car also appears to be rounder than before. The 2011 Suzuki Swift will be the sixth generation of the Japanese automaker

The Suzuki Swift is sold in a number of countries in a wide range of engine models, which includes even a 1.6-litre producing 92kW (125hp) and a torque of 148Nm. The engine in the Suzuki Swift is coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. The car comes with front-wheel drive as standard, however customers can optionally choose a four wheel drive model. The sixth generation of Suzuki Swift will most probably have the same range of transmissions and engines, with the exception of most likely adding a diesel engine to the engine range.

Rumors of a full production hybrid has been doing the rounds and were heightened after Suzuki unveiled the Swift Plug-in Hybrid Concept at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. This mini car is expected to hit the world markets during 2010 and become available for US customers during the later part of the same year. Suzuki is expected to formally launch the new Swift during the Paris Motor Show in the second half of 2010.