(March 5, 2011) When Suzuki launched the Swift six years ago it brought a blend of eye-catching good looks, Japanese quality and European-inspired driving dynamics to the compact car segment.

Those attributes are still as strong today and Suzuki says that global sales recently passed the two million mark.

Since launch in the UK in May 2005 over 60,000 Swifts have been sold and it accounts for around 38 per cent of the UK sales mix. The all new Swift was launched in September of last year and is even safer with a Five star Euro NCAP rating; it is also lighter, more powerful and more economical than before.

Although Suzuki maintains the Swift is global in outlook and production it cannot be purchased in North America. It was first built in Japan, followed by Hungary, China, India and more recently Indonesia and Malaysia, but its development was focused firmly on the demands and tastes of the European market in terms of design and driving characteristics.

Vehicles sold in Europe are built at Suzuki’s Magyar plant in Hungary.

Swift was the first product of Suzuki’s radical innovation program to strengthen its position as both a leading compact car manufacturer as well as one of the world’s foremost motorcycle brands.

Globally, around 15 per cent of Swift sales are in Japan, 39 per cent in India and 27 per cent in Europe with the remainder from other world markets; Swift is driven in 124 countries and regions of the world and has won 67 awards in 26 Countries.

Swift is available from £10,210 ($16,540) for the SZ2 three door with a 1.2-liter engine offering 56.5 mpg. Three ‘SZ’ model grades are available with three or five doors.