Suzuki Cultus

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See Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Esteem for export versions of this vehicle

Suzuki Cultus
Also called:	Suzuki Esteem Suzuki Swift
Manufacturer:	Suzuki Motor Corporation
Production:	1983–2003
Successor:	Suzuki Ignis Suzuki Swift
Class:	Subcompact
Body style:	3-door hatchback 5-door hatchback 4-door sedan 2-door convertible
Similar:	Fiat Uno Honda City Nissan March Toyota Starlet

The Suzuki Cultus was two different models sold in Japan by Suzuki Motor Corporation. One model, the Cultus proper, was sold in the international market as the Suzuki Swift. Another, larger, was known as Cultus Crescent and sold in export markets as Suzuki Baleno/Esteem.

The first Cultus was introduced in 1983. It was available with a hatchback body in 3- and 5-door configurations, and two petrol engines from the G family, a three cylinder powerplant with 993 cc, and a four cylinder version with 1324 cc. Power ranged from 60 PS JIS (44 kW) to 75 PS (55 kW). Manual and automatic transmissions were available. A turbocharged version of the smaller engine was later introduced, with power raised to 80 PS (59 kW), and 165/70 HR12 tyres.

The Cultus was slightly restyled in 1986, adopting a new frontend, with redesigned grille, headlights and bumper. Engine power was slighty detuned on the 1.0 L and 1.3 L model, and the Cultus Turbo was joined by a more powerful sports version, the Cultus GTi. This featured a new variant of the 1.3 L engine, with 1298 cc, thanks to a shorter stroke (75.5 mm, down from the previous 77 mm), fuel injection and 97 PS (71 kW). Production of the Cultus' first generation stopped in 1988. This car was exported by General Motors and sold in the U.S. as the Chevrolet Sprint, and in Canada as the Pontiac Firefly.

The second generation was introduced in 1988. It kept the same basic dimensions of the previous model, but the redesigned rearend made for better use of the cargo area. Like its predecessor, the new Cultus was available as a 3- or 5-door hatchback, and was powered by G-series engines from 1.0 L to 1.3 L. However, this last one had adopted a SOHC 16-valve arrangement, with standard fuel injection. Power was 58 PS (43 kW) and 82 PS (60 kW) arrangement. For the first time, 4WD was optional on the larger engine.

Luxury and sports versions arrived within the year. The Cultus GTi was now much more powerful, reaching 115 PS JIS (85 kW) with the same 1.3 L, but adopting DOHC 16-valve heads. This was an impressive number for a B-segment model at the time. Luxury versions were the Cultus Ellesse (which included automatic air conditioning, central locking, power windows and adjustable steering wheel) and the Esteem, a saloon version, sold in export markets as Swift Sedan. The Esteem featured a larger 1.5 L engine, capable of reaching 91 PS (67 kW), and it was available with optional 4WD. The equipament was the same as the Cultus Ellesse.

In 1992, Suzuki introduced a convertible version, but this was based on the hatchback body and has only two seats, so low sales prompted the automaker to drop the ragtop model from the lineup after one year. The Cultus remained for sale in Japan until 1998, when its place in the lineup was effectively taken by the Wagon R Solio (a larger version of the Suzuki Wagon R keicar) until the arrival of the Suzuki Ignis in 2000, which strangely was called Swift in Japan. The car remained available in other markets, and production continued until 2003. Assembly had also been shifted to other locations, such as India (Maruti), Hungary (Magyar Suzuki), Pakistan (Pak Suzuki) and China (Chang'an).

[edit] Cultus Crescent

Suzuki Cultus Crescent
Also called:	Suzuki Baleno Suzuki Cultus (from 1998 in Japan) Suzuki Esteem
Manufacturer:	Suzuki Motor Corporation
Production:	1995–2002
Successor:	Suzuki Aerio
Class:	Compact
Body style:	3-door hatchback 4-door sedan 5-door wagon
Similar:	Honda Civic Mitsubishi Colt Nissan Sunny Toyota Corolla

The Suzuki Cultus Crescent was Suzuki's first attempt at creating an automobile that could fight in the same market segment as the Nissan Pulsar or Toyota Corolla. It was exported to other countries with the names Esteem and Baleno.

The Cultus Crescent, as identicated by its name, was an enlarged version of the Cultus, introduced in the Japanese market in 1995. It was built on the same platform, and shared many of its components with its younger sibling, but in order to compete within a larger automotive segment, it featured a chassis stretched in about 10 cm (4 in). In Japan, Suzuki marketed it as a member of the Cultus family, but in other markets it was considered a separate model.

The Cultus Crescent was available initially in two body variants, a 3-door hatchback and a 4-door saloon. Suzuki continued to use the SOHC 16-valve G-family engines, in 1.3 L and 1.5 L form, with power ranging from 85 PS (63 kW) to 97 PS (71 kW). The larger engine was the only one available in the sedan, and 4WD versions were missing from the initial lineup. This was corrected in 1996, with the appearance of the Cultus Crescent Wagon, Suzuki's first station wagon. The 1.5 L remained base model, but 4WD was attached to a 1.6 L variant, basically the same engine as found in the Suzuki Escudo, with power raised to 115 PS (85 kW). A sports variant, dubbed GT, used Mazda's 1840 cc BP engine, with 135 PS (99 kW).

In 1998, the base Cultus/Swift was no longer sold in Japan, and Suzuki dropped the "Crescent" name. The larger model was now simply called Cultus, and received a new frontend, with a rounder grill and new headlights. The 1.6 L 4WD variant was extended to the rest of the lineup, but not the 1.8 L engine, which was only available in the other bodies other than the wagon in export markets. The Cultus remained in production in Japan until 2002, after a year of overlapping with its replacement, the larger and entirely new Aerio. Production of the Cultus was shifted to other countries, and the car is still available in developing nations markets such as India (where it is known as Maruti Baleno) and Southeast Asia.