Suzuki Cultus
Suzuki Cultus 1.0 3-door (Japan)
Overview
Manufacturer	Suzuki
Production	1983–2016
Body and chassis
Class	Supermini
Platform	GM M platform
Chronology
Successor	Suzuki Cultus Crescent (Japan) Suzuki Aerio Hatchback (United States and Canada) Suzuki Ignis (Europe) Suzuki Swift (RS) (Europe) Suzuki Celerio (FE) (Pakistan) Maruti Suzuki Dzire (India)

The Suzuki Cultus is a supermini car produced by the Japanese manufacturer Suzuki from 1983 to 2016. The nameplate is currently used as a rebadged second-generation Suzuki Celerio in Pakistan since 2017. It was first presented at the 25th Tokyo Motor Show, formally introduced to Japan in 1983 and ultimately sold in seven countries across three generations and marketed worldwide as the Suzuki Swift for the first two generations. An alliance formed in 1981 between General Motors, Suzuki and Isuzu allowed GM to market the Cultus as a captive import internationally under more than a dozen nameplates including the Geo Metro, Chevrolet Sprint, Pontiac Firefly and Holden Barina.^[1] It was also known as the M-car within GM.

Offered across its lifespan in four body-style variations with engines from the Suzuki G engine family, the second generation Cultus still remained in production in Pakistan until late 2016. The Cultus family of vehicles has been marketed in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America.

The name "cultus" is Latin meaning "care" or "adoration".

First generation (1983)

First generation (SA)
Suzuki Swift GL three-door (pre-facelift, Australia)
Overview
Also called	Suzuki SA310/SA413 Suzuki Swift Suzuki Khyber (Pakistan) Suzuki Forsa (Indonesia, United States, Canada, Ecuador and Chile) Suzuki Extra (Finland) Holden Barina Chevrolet Sprint/Sprint Metro Pontiac Firefly (Canada) Isuzu Geminett (Japan)
Production	1983–1988 (Japan) 1985–1990 (Indonesia) 1985–1988 (Australia and New Zealand) 1985–1991 (Canada) 1989–2000 (Pakistan) 1986–2004 (Colombia)
Assembly	Japan: Kosai Colombia: Bogotá (GM Colmotores Ecuador: Quito (Aymesa) Kenya: Nairobi Indonesia: Pulo Gadung, East Jakarta (PT. Indomobil Utama) Malaysia: Pekan (DRB-HICOM) New Zealand: Trentham (GMNZ)[2] Pakistan: Karachi (Pak Suzuki Motors)
Body and chassis
Body style	3/5-door hatchback
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	970 cc F10A I4 993 cc G10 I3 993 cc G10T turbo I3 1,298 cc G13B 16V DOHC I4 1,324 cc G13A I4
Transmission	4/5-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	3-door: 2,245 mm (88.4 in) 5-door: 2,345 mm (92.3 in)
Length	3-door: *3,585 mm (141.1 in) (pre-facelift) *3,670 mm (144.5 in) (facelift) 5-door: *3,685 mm (145.1 in) (pre-facelift) *3,770 mm (148.4 in) (facelift)
Width	1,530–1,545 mm (60.2–60.8 in)
Height	1,350 mm (53.1 in)
Curb weight	620–750 kg (1,367–1,653 lb)

The first generation was a project begun by General Motors as the M-car. When they realized that the project was not going to be profitable enough, the entire unfinished design was sold to Suzuki in return for a five per cent stake in the company.^[3] Suzuki completed the design and development work and put the car on sale from October 1983 in the Japanese market, as the Cultus. This is also why the car's design was such a natural fit in the General Motors lineup, with a clear GM corporate look.^[3] The model was also exported worldwide by Suzuki and assembled by a number of General Motors franchises, often undergoing badge engineering. The first-generation Swifts all share the SA model code prefix and was Suzuki's first earnest entry into a class of car with larger dimensions and engines than of the kei class Suzuki Fronte. Three- and four-cylinder versions of the G engine family were available, although some secondary markets installed Suzuki's one-liter four-cylinder F10A engine in a model which carries the SA410 chassis code.

Original model (1983)

Early export models were sold simply by the model code, SA310. Not long after introduction, the car was given a variety of different names depending on the market, most commonly Swift. In Japan the car was always known as the Cultus. The SA310 initially featured leaf spring rear suspension and was originally marketed with a 1.0-liter (993 cc), three-cylinder engine (G10). The SA310 had its European premier in southern Spain in late 1983.^[4] The original model was available as the base GA, the GL, and the more expensive GLX models.^[5] Only three-door versions were available for the first few years. Early models were sold in Finland as the Suzuki Extra.^[6]

The 1.0-liter turbo (G10T) and a three-speed automatic transmission were introduced in Japan on the last day of May 1984.^[7] The turbo raised the power to 80 PS (79 hp; 59 kW) (JIS) and it received 165/70 HR12 tyres.^[8] In August 1984, the 10 cm (3.9 in) longer five-door body was introduced, as was the 1.3-liter (1,324 cc) four-cylinder version (SA413).^[9] There was also a sporting European three-door version called Swift GS, fitted with a 1.3-liter engine (G13A), which received two-tone bodywork and 6 PS (6 hp; 4 kW) more powerful engine than the standard 1.3-liter models (67 PS (66 hp; 49 kW) vs 73 PS (72 hp; 54 kW) (DIN)).^[10] The GS also featured flush headlights, yellow filtered front foglamps with black removable covers and white wheel trims. The interior was finished in a grey fabric with two broad red strips over the front and rear seats, also new sporty three-spoke steering wheel.^[10] The introduction of the 1985 model year versions also marked the introduction of the "Swift" name in the European market, as earlier models had been sold simply as the SA310.^[11]

Two headlight variations existed within the earlier models depending on market and level. The lower equipped were fitted with a recessed sealed beam rectangular light while others came with a panel-flush forwards swept glass unit. The drag coefficient value of an early model is Cd=0.38.^[12] Before it entered the Australian market as the Barina in 1985, the local Suzuki importer sold it as a two-seat van with the "Swift" moniker, as they did not have the necessary quota allocation to bring it in as a passenger car.^[3] While originally sold as the three-cylinder, three-door "Swift" in Indonesia, a five-door model of the pre-facelift SA310 was briefly offered beginning in late 1985. It was replaced by another five-door model fitted with the locally built (by "Suzuki Engine Manufacturing Indonesia") four-cylinder, 970 cc F10A engine from the popular Suzuki Carry 1.0 and 55 PS (54 hp; 40 kW) (SAE), entered production in Indonesia in early 1986 as the "Forsa".^[13] The imported three-door model was discontinued, while the more upscale Forsa also benefitted from the new flush headlamps.

Facelift version (1986)

The model was refreshed and upgraded in June 1986. The leaf springs of the rear end were replaced by coil springs, the front end (forward of the steel body) was remodelled with a more forward swept grill and headlights, the dashboard was remodelled, and the windscreen was now caulked in place (rather than being held with a molded seal as in the earlier model). The 1.0- and 1.3-liter were slightly detuned while the turbo model gained fuel injection and now produces 82 PS (81 hp; 60 kW) (JIS net), while the more powerful twin cam GTi model also arrived.^[14] The facelift model entered Indonesian production by early 1987 as the Forsa GL, and now featured some external trim pieces from the sporting GTi.^[15] A more luxurious GLX model was also added later.

GTi

In June 1986, Suzuki introduced the flagship GTi (AA33S) model with both styling and performance upgrades over other models. It was originally available as a manual three-door hatch only, although later a five-door version called GXi was added. The GTi was one of the first Suzuki to feature electronic fuel injection on its G13B high performance twin cam engine. This new engine has 1298 cc thanks to a shorter stroke (75.5 mm, down from the previous 77 mm), fuel injection and 97 PS (96 hp; 71 kW) (JIS) in the Japanese market. In foreign markets, the car produced 101 PS (100 hp; 74 kW) at 6450 rpm and 83 lb⋅ft (113 N⋅m) of torque at 4950 rpm, giving the GTi a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of between 8.7 and 9.0 seconds, and a quarter mile time of 16.8 seconds at 83 mph (134 km/h) based on period road tests.^[16][17] The front brake system was also upgraded with larger diameter disc brakes.

Interior updates included velour highlighted door cards and seat trimming. A red theme across the dashboard displays, carpet and seat roping was standard as was a centre console. Electric adjustable mirrors were also added.

Exterior styling upgrades included a model-specific molded spoiler, side skirts, and a bumper bar incorporating fog lights.^[18] The rear suspension was also entirely different from lesser versions.

International markets

Beginning in 1985, Cooper Motor Corporation (CMC) of Nairobi, Kenya, also assembled the SA310.^[19]

Japanese market designations

• 1983～1988 AA41S
• 1986～1988 A43S, AB43S, AA53S, AB53S, AA33S, AB33S, AA43V

North America

Suzuki Forsa

It was marketed in Ecuador, Chile, Indonesia, Canada and the U.S. from 1985 to 1988 – with Suzuki offering the supermini with either a 48 hp (49 PS; 36 kW) (SAE net) carbureted 1.0-liter (993 cc) inline-three cylinder or 70 hp (71 PS; 52 kW) (SAE net) fuel injected 1.0-liter (993 cc) inline 3 cylinder turbocharged engine. The Indonesian market Forsa has carbureted 1.0-liter (970 cc) four-cylinder engine.

An undetermined number of Forsa superminis were imported to Hawaii and Puerto Rico and some of them have found their way to the U.S. mainland. The EPA lists the 1985 Forsa model as the Suzuki SA310 (the original JDM name for the Cultus, Forsa and Swift), no listing for 1986, and both the Forsa and Forsa Turbo for 1987 and 1988.

In 1984, Suzuki and General Motors announced they would sell rebadged models of the Suzuki Cultus in North America as Chevrolets and Pontiacs, with Suzuki selling their own version as the Forsa. As it turned out, the Pontiac Firefly was only sold in Canada.

Chevrolet Sprint

In 1985, GM began marketing in North America as the Chevrolet Sprint, reusing the name from a previous GMC vehicle. The Chevrolet Sprint was sold only in the Western United States until nationwide sale was begun in 1986. Sprint consumers had a choice of ER, Base, and Turbo models. In Canada, the car was sold as Suzuki Forsa and Pontiac Firefly. Firefly marketed in FE, Turbo, and Base models. GM continued to market the Chevette until 1987 alongside the Sprint. In the United States, the Chevrolet Sprint label was dropped with the introduction of the Geo Metro (second-generation Cultus), but it continued to be used for a while longer in Canada.

The "Sprint" and "Sprint Metro" differed in their engines, though both were computer controlled carb systems. From 1985 to 1988, the carbureted 1.0-liter 3-cylinder engine used a hemispherical head design. Later, fuel injection required the cylinder head for 1989 be redesigned to add the additional cooling required, reducing gas mileage.

The Sprint was originally offered in parts of the western US for the 1985 model year; subsequently Chevrolet marketed the Sprint across North America. All models were initially three-door hatchbacks. Starting in 1986, a five-door hatchback version was offered, called the Sprint Plus. That year, another model called the Sprint ER was offered that included a few extra features, such as an "upshift" light to indicate the ideal speed to shift to the next highest gear on manual transmission models. Although air conditioning was offered in all years, the three-speed automatic transmission wasn't offered until 1986. All models featured front-wheel drive and 12-inch steel wheels, which were covered by white hub caps on the Turbo Sprint regardless of body color.

Turbocharged versions of the 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine were available in the Turbo Sprint in both the United States and Canada beginning with the 1987 model year. The fuel injected Turbo Sprint utilized an IHI RHB32 turbocharger. Colors were limited to white and red for the Turbo Sprint. Sales were insignificant in the United States (around 1,550 cars sold in model year 1988, less than three percent of overall Sprint sales^[20]), but somewhat stronger in Canada.

• 
  1986 Chevrolet Sprint 5-door, showing older headlight style (US)
• 
  Rear view with different tail lights style. Only applied to Chevrolet Sprint, Canadian Pontiac Firefly and Australian Holden Barina.
• 
  Chevrolet Sprint Turbo (US)
• 
  Pontiac Firefly (Canada)

Chevrolet Sprint Metro

For the 1988 model year, the naturally-aspirated hatchback was named the Chevrolet Sprint Metro. Production of the first Geo Metro models began at Suzuki's plant in Hamamatsu, Japan.

Colombia

The name "Chevette Sprint" was considered before simply calling the Colombian model (first generation) the "Chevrolet Sprint" — to distinguish it from the originally Opel-designed knock down kits imported from Brazil for assembly in Colombia.^[21] When presented on 7 October 1986, the Sprint caused a sensation.^[21] Colombian Sprints were all five-door hatchbacks fitted with the 993 cc three-cylinder G10A engine and a five-speed manual transmission. The Sprint remained in production virtually unchanged until 2004, with a total production of 70,848.^[21] Slight modifications were made in 1987, including increasing the wheel sizes from 12" to 13" and with modernized bumpers and headlights. Another slight update took place in 1997 bringing with it monopoint fuel injection and an increase in power from 50 to 53 PS (49 to 52 hp; 37 to 39 kW).^[21]

Pakistan

The first generation Cultus was sold in Pakistan as Suzuki Khyber, by Pak Suzuki assembly line, and produced between 1989 and 2000, only in GA trim level. It was equipped with a carburetor base four-strike engine, and a five-speed manual transmission. Production was ended in 2000, replaced by second generation Cultus.

Second generation (1988)

Second generation (SF)
1989–1991 Suzuki Swift GA 3-door (pre-facelift, Australia)
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Forsa II (Ecuador) Suzuki Forsa Amenity/Esteem (Indonesia; pre-facelift) Suzuki Esteem (Indonesia; facelift sedan) Suzuki Eleny (Indonesia; facelift hatchback) Suzuki Margalla (Pakistan; sedan) Suzuki Swift (Worldwide) Changan Suzuki Lingyang (China; sedan) Chevrolet Sprint (Canada) Chevrolet Swift (Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela) Chevrolet Forsa (Ecuador) Geo Metro (North America) Holden Barina (Australia) Maruti Suzuki 1000/Esteem (India; sedan) Pontiac Firefly (Canada and Middle East) Subaru Justy (Europe)
Production	1988–2000 (Japan) 1989–2001 (Canada) 1989–2007 (India) 1990–1996 (Indonesia) 1991–1998 & 2000–2016 (Pakistan) 1991–2004 (Colombia) 1992–2003 (Ecuador & Hungary) 1999–2015 (China)
Assembly	Japan: Kosai (Suzuki Kosai Plant) Canada: Ingersoll, Ontario (CAMI Automotive) China: Chongqing (Changan Suzuki) Colombia: Bogotá (GM Colmotores) Ecuador: Quito (AYMESA/GM de Ecuador) Hungary: Esztergom (Magyar Suzuki) India: Gurgaon (Maruti Suzuki) Indonesia: Bekasi (Suzuki Indomobil Motor) Pakistan: Karachi (Pak Suzuki Motors) Venezuela: Valencia (GM Venezolana)
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door convertible 3/5-door hatchback 4-door sedan
Layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive / four-wheel-drive
Powertrain
Engine	1.0 L F10A I4 1.0 L G10 I3 1.0 L G10B 16V I4 1.0 L G10T turbo I3 1.3 L G13A/BA/BB 8/16V I4 1.3 L G13B/K 16V DOHC I4 1.5 L G15A 16V I4 1.6 L G16A 16V I4
Transmission	4/5-speed manual 3/4-speed automatic CVT (convertible)
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,265 mm (89.2 in) (3-door/convertible) 2,365 mm (93.1 in) (5-door/sedan)
Length	3,745 mm (147 in) (3-door/convertible) 3,845 mm (151.4 in) (5-door) 4,095 mm (161.2 in) (sedan)
Width	1,575 mm (62.0 in) (3/5-door) 1,590 mm (62.6 in) (sedan/convertible)
Height	1,350 mm (53.1 in) (3-door) 1,380 mm (54 in) (5-door/sedan) 1,340 mm (52.8 in) (convertible)
Curb weight	680–910 kg (1,499.1–2,006.2 lb)

Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL 3-door (pre-facelift, Netherlands)

Suzuki Forsa Amenity 5-door (pre-facelift, Indonesia), with longer tail lights for markets with short rear registration plate.

Suzuki Swift 1.3 GL sedan (pre-facelift, Australia)

The second generation Cultus first appeared in Japan in September 1988, followed by its European debut as the Swift at the Brussels Auto Salon in October.^[22] General Motors, whose Design Center assisted in its development, designated it the GM M platform.^[23] The chassis, engines, and drivetrains were developed by Suzuki, being mostly modified variants of the first generation Cultus. The second generation offered new styling and four-wheel independent strut suspension. A turbocharged three-cylinder version remained fairly popular in Canada, which was the only market for the version which was not even available in its homeland Japan.

It was available with a 1.0-liter three-cylinder with a power output of 53 PS (39 kW; 52 hp), a 1.3-liter four-cylinder, and later a 1.6-liter four-cylinder (for the sedan only). The higher powered Cultus/Swift GTi had an improved G13B engine which featured hollow camshafts, stronger web casting on the engine block, a better flowing intake manifold (the prior generation intake manifold had its shape compromised to fit into the engine bay), and its ECU now had electronic control over ignition timing. It now put out 101 PS (74 kW; 100 hp) of power. The GTi also featured all wheel disc brakes. Japanese GTi's have a much higher compression ratio (11.5:1) and accordingly more power at 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp), and were also offered with permanent four-wheel drive.

In June 1989, Suzuki introduced their first three-box sedan since the discontinuation of the Fronte 800 in 1969. Sold as the "Cultus Esteem" in Japan, it was also available with a larger 1.6-liter engine never offered in the hatchbacks. In the Japanese market, the 1.3-liter single-cam engine was changed to a 16-valve version in July 1990, which increased power to 82 PS (60 kW). Suzuki facelifted the Cultus in July 1991 for the 1992 model year. The update involved the relocation of the rear license plate to the rear bumper from in between the tail lamps. The gap vacated by the license plate was filled in with either a black plastic panel or translucent red perspex panel integrating with the tail lamps. At the front, Suzuki revised the bumper's airdam, and inside, the interior was substantially re-designed.^[24] In the Japanese market, the Cultus Esteem's carburetted 1.6 was replaced by a single-point fuel injection 1.5-liter G15A engine with 91 PS (67 kW), to fit a lower tax category.^[25] The single-cam 1.3 was also updated with fuel injection in July 1991, although its power remained 82 PS (60 kW).^[25]

All Swifts (export models) got a redesigned front and rear fascia as well as a new dashboard. GS sedans received power steering and new hubcaps. The 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine received a new cylinder head assembly: the engine of the previous generation used the same block and corresponding components but featured a head with valves in a V-formation straddling a single camshaft with rocker arms on shafts, whereas now the cylinder head assumed a much slimmer profile, owing to the valves now being in a vertical, inline configuration, actuated by inverted buckets also serving as hydraulic valve lash adjusters, all underneath a single overhead camshaft.

The first European-built model was a "Suzuki Swift" manufactured in September 1992 in Esztergom, Hungary. Updates in 1996 followed, and model year 2000 modifications included a version fitted with the same Suzuki four-wheel drive system that had been available in the Japanese market until February 1996 and badged as the Subaru Justy. The last modifications were made on the European Gen II from model year 2002 but only for the Hungarian market, the 1.3-liter engine was also changed to 16-valve version and produces 84 hp (63 kW). The production of the three-door models ended in September 2002. In the same year, in December, the four-door sedan version was also discontinued. The last variation available was a five-door version, which was offered until March 2003.

In Ecuador, the local Aymesa plant assembled some versions of this vehicle. The three-door version was called Suzuki Forsa II, while the four-door sedan version was badged Chevrolet Swift. In 1999, General Motors de Ecuador took over AYMESA's production of General Motors vehicles, including Suzuki-based ones.^[26] Production of the sedan ended about 1996, while the hatchback version continued to being produced until 2003 at least and it was badged as Chevrolet Forsa in latter years. These were powered by the 67 PS (49 kW) 1.3-liter four.^[26] Cultus variants were available in Colombia from 1991 until 2004, where it was called the Chevrolet Swift.^[21] They were assembled by GM-Colmotores in Bogotá. A stripped-down version of the 1.3-liter Swift sedan was also marketed as the Suzuki Taxi.^[27]

The hatchback was sold in Indonesia as the Forsa Amenity from 1990 until 1992, and, after a facelift, as the Eleny from 1992 until 1994. The sedan arrived in 1991 was marketed as the Suzuki Forsa Esteem, although the "Forsa" portion was eventually dropped. Most versions had a carburetted, uncatalyzed version of the 1298 cc G13BA 8-valve engine with 71 PS (52 kW) at 6000 rpm.^[28] Power claimed later increased to 73 PS. The Esteem and five-door Amenity/Eleny were assembled CKD in Indonesia, while a small number of three-door hatchbacks were imported fully built-up. From 1992 there was also a "Marissa Haque Limited Edition" of the Esteem with power steering, front fog lamps, body-colored bumpers, a rear spoilers, and a number of stickers.^[29] The Esteem sedan was also available with a 90 PS (66 kW) carburetted 1.6-liter G16A 16-valve engine (SF416), sold as Esteem GT. Esteem continued to be available until about 1996.

In China, the Cultus was known as the Suzuki Lingyang and was built by Chang'an. Production started in 1999 and ended in early 2015. The only engine choice was the 1.3-liter G13BB engine mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Lingyang was facelifted in 2007, 2010 and 2012.

The Cultus was gradually replaced by the slightly larger Cultus Crescent (Baleno or Esteem elsewhere) in Japan in 1995. However, the 3-door hatchback continued to be available with a 1.0-liter engine as the Cultus 1000F until January 2000, positioned as cheaper alternative of the Cultus Crescent.

The vehicle entered Pakistani market in 1989 with units imported from Japan, it was only available in sedan form as Swift Sedan and powered by a 1.0-liter engine producing 50 PS (37 kW). In 1991, Pak Suzuki started local production for the domestic market and renamed to Suzuki Margalla. It gained a bigger 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine and paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. The production continued until 1998 when it was succeeded by Suzuki Baleno sedan.^[30] Almost two years later, the production returned in 2000 as a 5-door hatchback and marketed as Suzuki Cultus. It had a three-cylinder 1.0-liter engine from the imported 1989–1991 Swift Sedan. In 2002, factory fitted CNG-powered option was launched along with several improvements, followed by another changes in 2005. Major facelift occurred in 2007 with new fuel injected 1.0-liter four-cylinder engine, new bumpers and seat upholstery with broader head rests. It continued to be produced until late 2016, with sales ended on 1 February 2017.^[31]

A Suzuki Swift of this generation was used as a weapon in the 2009 attack on the Dutch royal family.

Names in different markets