Swift had been developed since 2004. As it shows overwhelming performance in contrast to the Ignis Super 1600, Swift Super1600 made its JWRC debut in the Rally Finland in 2005 ahead of schedule. The debut went successfully. Guy Wilks won the 3rd prize there. In the year 2006, Swift Super 1600 won five out of nine events and achieved great fame as the best car among Super 1600s. In 2007, P-G Andersson won the championship with this car.
Super 1600 has a regulation of; under 9,000rpm, compression ratio of less than 13:1, and the throttle body bore to be less than 60mm. The engine is fine tuned in this limited regulation. Power is 218ps and torque less than 19.0kg-m. This engine is at the moment said to be the best engine ever, yet with good drivability. This engine helps driver to run through the tough 300km special stages in full throttle.
The potential of the rally car relies on the base part, which is the body shell. It goes under many process of analyzing, the roll cage design and fixing is determined, and even the spot welding point, welding places are determined. New Swift has very good basic design with low center gravity yet strong body shell. One car goes through about 160 hours of body work by 3 professional workers.
The biggest difference from Ignis is the suspension. Swift has now got the 4 wheel independent suspension system. It will now grip more to the ground and yet absorbs the shock efficiently on any occasion. Set up needs many testing and store up many data. Brakes are 355mm on tarmac, and 300mm on gravel events.
Things needed at the reach of the hand. Simplicity and easy to use is what is needed. Low center gravity is now completely done. There is only gear indicators in front of the driver. Shift point is given to the driver with one indicator.
| ENGINE | |
|---|---|
| Type | Water-cooled, in-line 4, DOHC, 16-valve |
| Bore x Stroke | 81.0 x 77.5mm |
| Cylinder capacity | 1598.5cc |
| Maximum output | 160kW(218ps)/8,750rpm |
| Maximum torque | 186Nm(19.0kg-m)/7,250rpm |
| POWER TRAIN | |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential |
| Differential | FRONT/Mechanical multi plate |
| Clutch | Single plate/184mm |
| SUSPENSION | |
| Type | FRONT/Strut REAR/Trailing arm |
| BRAKE | |
| Disc | FRONT/355mm(tarmac) / 300mm(gravel) diameter REAR/278mm diameter |
| Caliper | FRONT/4 pot REAR/2 pot |
| TIRE&WHEEL | |
| Tire | 200/625-17(tarmac) 195/70-15(gravel) |
| Wheel | 17x7.0J(tarmac) 15x6.0J(gravel) |
| DIMENSIONS | |
| Overall length | 3,695mm |
| Overall width | 1,805mm |
| Overall height | 1,456(tarmac) 1,556mm(gravel) |
| Wheelbase | 2,390mm |
| Tread | FRONT/1,596mm REAR/1,590mm |
| WEIGHT | |
| -- | 1000kg (with no crew or fuel) |
