Suzuki’s biggest story of 2011 was a new-generation Swift. Although sales of the Swift didn’t rise (or fall) with the launch of the all-new model, 2012 will see the Japanese brand unleash a sportier variant called the Swift Sport. The SX4, Jimny and APV are expected to remain unchanged throughout next year.

Swift Sport

Vehicle type: City car. Timing: Feburary

The Suzuki Swift Sport is expected to arrive in showrooms around Feburary-March, to finish off the new-generation Swift range. It will go head to head with the Volkswagen Polo GTI and other light hot hatches that may surface over the coming 12 months.

The old Suzuki Swift Sport started from around $25,000 but we suspect, given the vast improvements to the new model, that price may see a small but relatively insignificant rise.

Grand Vitara

Vehicle type: Compact SUV. Timing: Mid to late 2012

The popular Suzuki Grand Vitara will see a few value added editions early in the year prior to a facelift expected mid to late next year.  The Grand Vitara has seen its marketshare fall noticeably throughout 2011, but Suzuki is hopeful the new additions and improvements will see the capable SUV maintain a strong presence in the hotly competitive compact SUV segment.

ALTO (UPDATE)

Vehicle type: City car. Timing:

The Indian build Suzuki Alto has maintained a reasonable three percent marketshare in the light car segment this year but is expected to do a little better when it’s refreshed with minor improvements in 2012.

KIZASHI TURBO

Vehicle type: Medium car. Timing: TBC

Although we’ve driven a Kizashi turbo and have been told that it’s coming (eventually). There are currently no concrete plans or talk of a turbocharged version of the Kizashi for 2012. That’s not to say it’s not in the pipeline, but if it is, it’s a big secret.