Suzuki has pretty much ensured its popularity in the Thai eco-car market with the new Swift.

While the second-generation Swift was produced under the eco-car regulations, the new model takes on the Eco Car Phase II requirements, which are even tougher in terms of fuel economy and emissions levels.

Suzuki has been quick in following up the official launch of the Swift with a media test-drive event held in Chiang Mai. Apart from rounding off the highlights of the new model, test drivers were also informed of the driving route, which consisted of twisting corners as well as long highways.

Retail pricing of the new Swift ranges from Bt499,000 to Bt629,000 – all four variants come with automatic transmission. With only 10-15 per cent of Thai customers purchasing the manual version in the previous model, the new Swift manual is expected to be offered at a later date.

Based on Suzuki’s new “Heartec” platform, the new Swift is slight shorter and lower than the outgoing model, but is as much as 40mm wider, and the wheelbase has been increased by as much as 90mm to 2,540mm resulting in a more spacious interior. While the luggage area was no strong point of the old model, the capacity has now been increased by 54 litres to 265 litres.

The exterior design of the Swift has been polished and loses a bit of funkiness, which is replaced with something more mature and European-looking. It’s still trendy though, featuring a “floating roof” design and rear door openers located at the C-pillar area.

The interior reflects a good effort in upgrading the atmosphere from an eco car to something more premium (like the Mazda2). While the flat-bottomed multi-function steering, 7-inch touchscreen and jet air vents look and feel great, the quality of the door panels and its “hollowness” still doesn’t impress. The tradition of offering one-touch electric window function just for opening still continues in the new model as well, even in the top GLX-Navi trim.

Nevertheless the Swift is well-equipped in other areas – there are 6 airbags, Hill Hold Control, traction control, idling stop, automatic climate control, and Suzuki Smart Connect with Apple CarPlay.

The Thai-spec Swift features a 1.2-litre, 4-cylinder direct ignition engine that passes the Eco Car Phase II regulations, with an average fuel economy of 23.3km/litre and 98g/km of CO2. Maximum output is claimed at a heart-breaking 83 horsepower (down from 91 horsepower in the previous model) while torque is down to 108Nm (from 118Nm).

Despite the drop in power and torque, the new Swift gets an improved CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) and weighs much less (910kg compared to 975kg for the top model). As a result, acceleration is just marginally slower in the new model (about half a second for 0-100km/h) and the top speed is about 10km/h lower, according to in-house figures.

It’s too bad that Thailand doesn’t get the 3-cylinder 1.0-litre Boosterjet engine offered elsewhere that offers 110 horsepower and add tons of life to the new Swift, but that version doesn’t make the emission cut for the Eco Car Phase II’s 100g/km limit.

But do not be disappointed, as the new Swift, with just 83 horses, is still a much better drive than its predecessor. In fact, it’s gone up another level in driving satisfaction.

The lighter weight and revised suspension/steering system gives the new Swift improved nimbleness while offering loads of comfort. Cracks and bumps on country roads are ironed out nicely and the wider track gives the car better stability while cruising on the highway. You’d feel a much improved damping system in the new model that reminds you of European hatchbacks rather than Japanese.

The seats have been improved both in terms of design and comfort, while the steering is adjustable for both reach and rake, allowing the driver to find the perfect driving position.

Driving through the winding roads from Flora Park resort in Chiang Mai the Swift showed little or no understeer even with the traction system switched off, which was surprising for a car in this class.

The steering, which now carries its own control chip, is a great replacement for the problematic power steering in the outgoing model.

I really loved the chassis set-up of the new Swift. Compared to the one my son drives (a manual GL with all sorts of mods including Tein springs) the suspension is far superior, providing both better grip and comfort.

The top variant like the GLX-Navi also gets rear disc brakes that are much more desirable that the regular drums (still offered in the lower variants). Meanwhile, the Swift wheels never looked good and the new model doesn’t show much improvement.

I bet a huge number of owners will be going after custom wheels after the purchase.

Distributor Suzuki Motor (Thailand) hopes to sell 15,700 Swifts this year, but with more orders being accepted during the first three days of the launch (approximately 2,000 orders), the number could be easily upped as its assembly plant has enough capacity.

Meanwhile, existing Swift owners (like me) who want to purchase the new model also enjoy special privileges, such as free accessories worth Bt20,000, while regular customers get a Bt10,000 discount.

Like its predecessor that enjoys cult status, the new Swift is expected to take over the market once again, establishing a new benchmark in the Thai eco car market.

Suzuki Swift GLX-Navi CVT Specs

Engine: 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve

Displacement: 1,197cc

Bore and stroke: 73.0×71.5mm

Compression ratio: 11.5:1

Max power: 83ps/6,000rpm

Max torque: 108Nm/4,400rpm

Transmission: CVT

Ratios: 4.006-0.550

Final drive ratio: 3.757

0-100kmh: 13.87 secs

Top speed: approx. 170km/h

Average fuel economy: 23.3km/litre

Average CO2: 98g/km

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut, coil spring/torsion beam, coil spring

Steering: powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 9.6 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 3,840

Width: 1,735

Height: 1,495

Wheelbase: 2,540

Track (f/r): 1,520/1,525

Weight: approx. 910kgs

Wheels: 16-inch alloy

Tires: 185/55R16

Fuel tank capacity: 37 litres

Price: Bt629,000

Distributor: Suzuki Motor Thailand Co Ltd

The Honda HR-V achieved an 80 per cent market share in the compact SUV segment, and captured a 29 per cent market share in the total SUV segment in 2017, said the release. It has also received 10 awards from six leading organizations over the past three years, from 2015 to 2017.

Pitak Pruittisarikorn, chief operating officer at Honda Automobile (Thailand) Co Ltd said: “Since the Honda CR-V was first introduced in Thailand in 1996, it has set a new benchmark in the upper SUV segment and accelerated the surge in demand for SUVs covering all groups of customers.

“The Honda HR-V was introduced in Thailand in 2014 with an aim to meet the growing demands of the compact SUV segment. It quickly became a popular vehicle among Thai customers, with current cumulative sales of 62,000 units.

“We then introduced the Honda BR-V in 2016 to support the growing demands of the sub-compact SUV segment. As a result, Honda’s SUV lineup met market demand by being perfectly aligned with our customers’ various needs. This has allowed Honda to retain the leadership position in the SUV segment, with a 63 per cent market share of the total SUV segment in 2017.”

The company said in a press release on Friday that this state-of-the-art office is specially designed to enhance employee productivity, but at the same time create a comfortable environment for daily life. A dedicated area for dealers’ usage is also available to enable mobility and convenience.

“This passionate commitment to excellence is the rock-solid foundation DCVT builds for both its employees and customers in Thailand,” the release stated.

Piyathep Siwakas, general manager of Design Motorwork Co Ltd, said Maserati Thailand has joined with MGC-Marine, the official retailer of Azimut yachts in Thailand, to organize “The Passionate Italian Driving & Yachting Experience” customer event.

Customers were invited to test drive the luxury SUV Maserati Levante Diesel as well as enjoying an exclusive experience on board Azimut Atlantis 43 at the Royal Phuket Marina.

“After being appointed as the official importer and distributor under the name of Maserati Thailand in early 2017, we have received tremendous response from Italian luxury sports car lovers, especially for the Levante SUV,” he said.

“In order to continue on the success and expand the customer base to major cities around the country, we plan to stage marketing activities starting with Phuket as the first province. Phuket is strategically located in terms of trade and tourism, and has a high rate of continuous economic growth. Last year, we launched the MGC-Asia Autoplex Phuket which consists of showrooms and fully-equipped service centers for BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and Aston Martin. There is also a special hospitality zone for Azimut Yachts that invites customers to experience the Italian brand.”

Chanyo Manakulsawasd, operations director of MGC Marine (Asia) Co. Ltd., said: “It is a pleasure that the trend for boating and yachting is growing every year. Thailand is a popular destination in Asia for yachting and the Thai government has a policy of allowing super yachts to stay on Thai coastlines for a longer period in order to stimulate tourism and become a future center for the marina industry in the Asean region. By staging this activity with Maserati, we are going in the same direction with the government policy that aims to strengthen the yacht business in Thailand.”

It is the first NREDI concept showroom in Thailand and is managed by Ch. Erawan Motors Kanchanaburi Co Ltd.

“Nissan is working to bring this new concept to dealerships across Thailand. It represents the company’s commitment to providing customers with globally consistent high quality dealership experiences – from sales to service – so as to not just meet, but to exceed, their expectations,” said Antoine Barthes, president, Nissan Motor (Thailand) Co Ltd, at the opening event.

He said the design goal is to ensure that the layout of the showroom connects customers to the entire service operation, whether they have come to buy a new vehicle or to get their existing vehicle serviced. It provides customers with a comfortable environment that enables Nissan dealer partners to provide whatever services valued customers need as efficiently as possible.

Ch.Erawan’s new concept showroom includes 8,800 square metres of sales and service space in a prime area of downtown Kanchanaburi on Changsuto Road. It will have a specially laid out car display space with a capacity of nine units.

“The board decided to propose to renew the mandate of Mr Carlos Ghosn which will be put before the general assembly of shareholders on June 15,” the company said in a statement.

However Ghosn agreed a 30 percent pay cut in line with government demands, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told AFP.

“Now we have the best conditions to prepare for the upcoming general assembly” in June, he added.

Renault praised the “exceptional results” at the alliance of Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi under the Brazilian-born Frenchman of Lebanese origin.

The carmaker is due to report earnings on Friday with analysts expecting net profit to soar to 4.3 billion euros ($5.4 billion) from the 3.5 billion euros it earned in 2016.

The board “renewed its full confidence” in chairman and chief executive Ghosn, who took over at Renault in 2005, setting out three priorities for the next four years.

Ghosn was tasked with piloting the “Drive the Future” plan aimed at reaching turnover of 70 billion euros in 2022 compared with more than 50 billion in 2016.

He was also urged “to strengthen the succession plan at the top of Renault Group”.

The French government did not hide its wish for a Frenchman to be groomed to take over from Ghosn, who will be 64 in March, and supported Thierry Bollore for the job.

Bollore, who joined Renault in 2012, would become deputy chief executive on Friday, Renault said.

The 54-year-old has worked extensively in Asia as well as for tyre manufacturer Michelin.

Among a handful of foreign-born CEOs at Japanese firms, Ghosn earned the nickname Le Cost Killer for his aggressive restructuring at Renault and later the nearly-bankrupt Nissan in the late nineties.

Renault holds 43.4 percent of Nissan, while Nissan holds 15 percent of Renault and 34 percent of Mitsubishi, where it is the top shareholder.

The French state owns 15.01 percent of Renault.

Ghosn handed over the chief executive reins at Nissan last year but stayed on as chairman, in large part to focus more on turning around Mitsubishi, where he is also chairman.

The entire Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance took the mantle of top-selling carmaker last year with 10.6 million vehicles worldwide.

In an interview with AFP, Ghosn said it was “too early to say” how the alliance must evolve to be long-lasting.

“We all agree that the alliance is a good thing that benefits each of the companies that compose it, so we must ensure its sustainability.”

He added: “We need to continue the convergence between the three companies while leaving each one of them quite independent in their markets, and each one in its country and in its culture.”

The showroom is located on the 2nd floor of the North Wing and has a total showroom area of 167sqm.

This is the second showroom in the kingdom built under the “Jaguar-Land Rover Experience” concept and is said to offer a memorable customer experience along with enhanced brand awareness through various customer services.

George Ashford, Inchcape’s chief executive officer for Asia, said: “Thailand is an attractive country for investments, ranking in the world top 20 for automotive industry growth. Inchcape has been business partners with Jaguar-Land Rover for over 48 years, and we are the number 11 importer and distributor for Jaguar-Land Rover in the world.

“We are determined to expand our investment and create continued business growth in Thailand, and the opening of this new showroom shows our confidence in the Thai automobile market.”

Charnchai Mahantakhun, managing director of Inchcape (Thailand), added: “The new Jaguar-Land Rover showroom is part of our aggressive business plan for 2018, and offers increased opportunities for customers to experience our brand through various services, apart from vehicle purchase.”

In the first phase, pods will be installed at Vittorio, Rhythm Rangnam, Rhythm Ekkamai, Life Pinklao, Life Asoke and Life Sukhumvit 48.

AP homeowners will also benefit from a nationwide ChargeNow network of more than 50 charging stations. The locations are listed on the phone application Greenlots and at http://chargenow-th.greenlots.com.

“This year AP has decided to build on its collaboration with visionary leading companies who share the same business direction – the focus on elevating life quality in Thailand up to international standards,” said Vittakarn Chandavimol of AP.

“BMW Group Thailand, GLT Green Thailand and Central Group formed a partnership that kicked off a revolution with an EV charging network through the ChargeNow initiative, the largest comprehensive network in Thailand.

“By joining ChargeNow, AP shows its willingness to take responsibility for society and the environment, in line with good corporate governance, while paying attention to living and social quality as evidenced in its efforts to improve living standards of Thai people.”

“ChargeNow connects all charging stations of the alliance on the same platform to give service users extra convenience,” Sethipong Anutarasoti of BMW Thailand pointed out.

“This programme is very successful overseas and equally successful in Thailand. We are extremely focused to work with our partners in expanding public charging stations to cover the whole country. Big thanks to AP for realising the importance of the programme and for supporting charging locations all along.”

“We are honoured to be a part of a good initiative like this,” added Narratchai Leeraphante of Polytechnology and GLT Green Thailand.

“We also see further opportunity to make public charging stations more easily accessible, thanks to AP for the convenient stations downtown and in central business districts, and also thanks to the other partners for sharing their expertise in different areas to make this good social cause possible.”

ChargeNow currently has more than 65,000 public charging outlets for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 27 countries around the world.

ChargeNow will be open for pre-registration to any PHEV or EV owner of any make and model with AC Type 1 (SAE J1772) or Type 2 (IEC 62196) charging socket.

The good thing about having an SUV (or a crossover) is the ability to handle difficult situations that arise in daily life.

So I was glad to have the Subaru XV a few weeks back when it rained heavily. Although the area in front of my house wasn’t flooded, the first few hundred metres in the main road had turned into a canal with the deepest part covering half a wheel.

While drivers of a normal passenger car would think hard before trying to go through floods this deep, the XV had not the slightest problem. With its 220-millimetre ground clearance, it cruised comfortably through the water and I continued on to where I was going.

There are many strong players in the SUV market from Honda and Mazda. But the XV, which is made in Malaysia and exported to Thailand tax-free, seems to have what it takes to win a good number of customers.

It has that sharp and futuristic styling that attracts attention, especially if it is painted in Sunrise Orange. This is an all-new model, but not much has changed in terms of the design statement. The front- and rear-ends appear sharper than the first model though, and the vehicle looks more contemporary.

The interior is modern and stylish but isn’t as luxurious as the leading brands. Nevertheless I like the X-MODE display on top of the console that makes the XV seem more professional than the competition when it comes to off-roading. It is the crossover that you want to have when driving in the country on dirt roads that have lots of undulations, while others prefer to stay on the highways where occupants are guaranteed a comfortable ride.

Bear in mind that the XV’s fabric seat upholstery might be difficult to clean compared to leather when there’s a lot of mud. But the seating position is fine, and the large side bolsters keep you nicely in place.

The 4-cylinder boxer engine, with a displacement of 2.0 litres, develops 156 horsepower and 196Nm which isn’t too eye-opening, but the low-loss CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with paddle shifters helps improve performance. According to official figures, the XV accelerates from 0-100km/h in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed of 194kph.

What drivers will like in the XV is that the handling is sharper than with others. Developed from the new Subaru Global Platform (SGP) the second-gen XV feels light and corners with better precision, thanks to a more rigid body structure and power-assist software improvement. Meanwhile, the rear stabiliser bar is connected directly to the body and significantly lowers roll.

On the highway, wind noise is kept out of the cabin, and the front strut and rear double wishbone suspension feel firm, providing a smooth ride.

According to Distributor TC Subaru (Thailand) Co Ltd, the XV 2.0i-P is priced at Bt990,000, while the “option pack” costs another Bt289,221, so the total retail price is Bt1,279,221 (which they could have quoted in the first place).

What’s in the option pack? Goodies you don’t want to miss such as self-levelling and self-turning LED headlights with jet washers, automatic windshield wipers, leather-covered steering wheel and gearshift knob with orange stitching, dual-zone climate control, high-quality touchscreen, aluminium pedals, vanity mirrors and removable luggage compartment cover.

The standard features list includes two 12-volt outlets, powered driver’s seat, roof rails, 8-inch touchscreen, infotainment system with six speakers (USB, AUX and HDMI), cruise control, Hill Descent Control, dual front airbags, etc.

The Subaru XV isn’t about size, power or luxury, factors that buyers would be happier with in other brands. But for those who look for driving satisfaction, an excellent ride and unique styling, it ranks high in the compact SUV segment.

Subaru XV 2.0i-P specs

Engine: 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve

Displacement: 1,995cc

Bore and stroke: 84.0×90.0mm

Compression ratio: 12.5:1

Max power: 156hp/6,000rpm

Max torque: 196Nm/4,000rpm

0-100kmh: 10.4 secs

Top speed: 194km/h

Average fuel economy: 14.2km/litre

City: 10.8km/litre

Highway: 17.5km/litre

Average CO2: 162g/km

Suspension (f/r): McPherson strut, stabiliser/double wishbone, stabiliser

Steering: electrically powered rack-and-pinion

Turning circle: 10.8 metres

Brakes (f/r): vented disc/vented disc

Dimensions (mm)

Length: 4,465

Width: 1,800

Height: 1,615

Wheelbase: 2,665

Track (f/r): 1,550/1,555

Ground clearance: 220mm

Weight: 1,439kgs

Wheels: 17-in alloy

Tires: 225/60R17

Fuel tank capacity: 63 litres

Price: Bt1,279,221 (Bt990,000 + Bt289,221)

Distributor: TC Subaru (Thailand) Co Ltd

Sales of the Mazda2 subcompact reached 2,436 units, making it the most popular model in Thailand’s small car market, while the CX-5 jumped to first place in SUV marketing with sales of 847 units.

“This year we plan to continue introducing vehicles that are fun to drive and come with the best technology and design into the Thai market. We will also concentrate on after-sales with the Mazda Active Service programme, which involves looking after the customer right from brand interest to becoming a customer,” said Mazda Sales (Thailand)’s president, Chanchai Trakarnudomsuk.

“We believe that by beating the expectations of customers, we will be able to establish a strong and lasting relationship with our customers. That’s why Mazda is quickly developing its dealer network and servicing procedures in order to make it easy for customers to reach the Mazda brand like a family member,” he added.