Surprising news from Suzuki at the release of the latest generation of the best sub-$30,000 hot hatch ever: they reckon at least 60% of its clientele for this machine - the new Swift Sport - will prefer an impending version with a seven-speed constantly variable transmission over the six-speed manual that is available now.
Talk about separating the true sports fans from the badge fanciers.
The CVT is being spruiked as a particularly good 'un, with fancy performance tuning, but it is going to have to do amazingly well to attune to this funbox's brilliance as artfully as the now-six-speed manual clearly does.
From the launch experience - a bit of track running, a touch of motorway then on to the roads, the manual version of the Swift Sport really relishes tight 'n twisty country rat runs - it is again a car that cries out for maximum driver interaction; the harder it is worked, the better it works.
Which is all good news as far as this Sport fan is concerned.
The abiding delight is that a 2012 upscale in zest, size, sophistication and safety have not come at any particular hit on the pocket - just a $510 price lift - or sensibilities, such as they are.
Though stronger and better-sorted for stiffness (and impacts), it actually weighs less than before too, so still retains that alluring delicacy, nimbleness and nippiness.
There are still some minor quibbles - it cries out for a rortier exhaust note, and a speedo lacking a clear 100kmh delineation is just asking for trouble.
Otherwise, this junior GT looks set to continue where the old favourite left off.
In manual form, at least.
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