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 and marketed worldwide as the Suzuki Swift. 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, Isuzu Geminett, Margalla and Holden Barina. 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".
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First generation (1983)
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. 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. 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. The original model was available as the base GA, the GL, and the more expensive GLX models. Only three-door versions were available for the first few years. Early models were sold in Finland as the Suzuki Extra.
The 1.0-liter turbo (G10T) and a three-speed automatic transmission were introduced in Japan on the last day of May 1984. The turbo raised the power to (JIS) and it received 165/70 HR12 tyres. In August 1984, the longer five-door body was introduced, as was the 1.3-liter (1,324 cc) four-cylinder version (SA413).Automobile Guide Book 1984/1985, p. 113 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 a somewhat more powerful engine than the standard 1.3-liter models ( vs (DIN)). 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. 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.
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 .Jongeneel, p. 63
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. In New Zealand, the Swift was assembled locally in Wanganui by Suzuki beginning in 1985 and developed its own niche in the market, selling about 800 cars per year. The Holden Barina was also assembled in New Zealand, but by GMNZ in their Petone plant. 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 (SAE), entered production in Indonesia in early 1986 as the "Forsa". 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 grille 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 (JIS net), while the more powerful twin cam GTi model also arrived. The facelift model entered Indonesian production by early 1987 as the Forsa GL, and now featured some external trim pieces from the sporting GTi. 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 (JIS) in the Japanese market. In foreign markets, the car produced at 6450 rpm and 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 based on period road tests. 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.Modern Motor, November 1986 The rear suspension was also entirely different from lesser versions.
International markets Market Make & Model Year Body Notes Australia Holden Barina 1985–1988 5 Australia Suzuki Swift 1985–1988 3/5 Canada Pontiac Firefly 1985–1988 3/5 Canada Chevrolet Sprint 1985–1988 3/5 Canada Suzuki Forsa 1985–1988 3/5 Colombia Chevrolet Sprint 1986–2004 5 Manufactured at GM Colmotores, Bogotá, Colombia Indonesia Suzuki Forsa 19851986–1990 35 SA310 with 970cc F10A four-cylinder (SA410) Japan Suzuki Cultus 1983–1988 3/5 Initially marketed as the SA-310 Japan Isuzu Geminett 1986–1988 3 N. America Suzuki Forsa 1985–1988 3/5 New Zealand Holden Barina 1985–1988 3/5 New Zealand Suzuki Swift 1985–1994 3/5 Pakistan Suzuki Khyber 1989–2000 5 Only came in GA trim, with the G10 engine. USA Chevrolet Sprint 1984–1988 3/5
Beginning in 1985, Cooper Motor Corporation (CMC) of Nairobi, Kenya, also assembled the SA310.
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 (SAE net) carbureted 1.0-liter (993 cc) inline-three cylinder or (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 alongside the Sprint until 1987. In the United States, the Chevrolet Sprint label was supplanted by the Geo Metro for the 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. For the 1988 model year, the naturally-aspirated model was named the Chevrolet Sprint Metro.
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 did not become available until 1986. All models featured front-wheel drive and 12-inch steel wheels. The Turbo Sprint received white hub caps, 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, but somewhat stronger in Canada. 6,360 cars were sold in model year 1987 and an additional 1,544 examples in 1988, for a total of 7,904 examples.
Colombia