Suzuki Cultus - Second Generation

The second generation, introduced in Japan in September 1988, followed by their European debut at the Brussels Auto Salon in October. Some say it was designed at GM's Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, USA, and GM did designate it the GM M platform. (Personal interviews with GM Proving Grounds Technicians indicate that the car was never seen at the Proving Grounds during the development period, thus casting doubt on a Warren design.) The chassis, engines, and drivetrains were developed by Suzuki, The second generation offered new styling and four wheel independent strut suspension. A turbocharged version remained fairly popular in Canada, which was the only export market for the version.

It was available with a 1.0 liter 3-cylinder with a power output of 53 hp (40 kW), a 1.3 liter 4-cylinder, and a 1.6 liter four-cylinder. 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 100 hp (75 kW) of power. The GTi also featured all wheel disc brakes.

Suzuki facelifted the Cultus in 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.

All Swifts get a redesigned front and rear fascia as well as a new dashboard. GS sedans receive power steering and new hub caps. The 1.0 litre 3-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 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 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 plant Aymesa 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. Production of the sedan ended about 1996, while the hatchback version continued to being produced until 1999 or 2000 and it was badged as Chevrolet Forsa in latter years. It was imported to Colombia from 1991 til 2004, where it was called the Chevrolet Swift.

Generation two of the Cultus remains in production today in Pakistan only. In North America, a rebodied version of the second generation was sold as the Suzuki Swift/Chevrolet Metro/Geo Metro/Pontiac Firefly. Designed by General Motors, the design echoed that of the contemporary Chevrolet Cavalier and Pontiac Sunfire. In Japan, the Cultus was gradually replaced by the slightly larger Cultus Crescent, sold as the Baleno in Europe and as the Esteem in North America.

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

2= 2-dr convertible
3= 3-dr hatchback
4= 4-dr sedan
5= 5-dr hatchback
a. Manufactured at Magyar Suzuki
b. Imported to Colombia
c. Geo branded models in US after 1989, in Canada after 1992
d. MF, MH: only generations of 'Cultus-derived' Barina
e. Justy JMA/MS, manufactured at Magyar Suzuki
f. Manufactured at Paksuzuki