Suzuki gets Japanese figure skater as Swift PR ambassador

MANILA: Suzuki is sponsoring Japanese figure skater Yuma Kagiyama.

According to Suzuki, it has signed a sponsorship agreement with Kagiyama until the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. During the said time period, the athlete will get to use the all-new Swift for transportation and he will serve as the company’s “Suzuki Swift PR Ambassador.”

Kagiyama aims to bring home gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Per Suzuki, “the ‘swiftness’ that Yuma Kagiyama’s skating possesses resonates with the Swift’s nimble driving performance, the ‘artistry’ with the Swift’s sophisticated styling, and the ‘techniques’ with the Swift’s high safety performance.”

Below are Kagiyama’s accolades:

• 2020: Bronze medal at the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships
• 2021, 2022, 2024: Silver Medals at the World Figure Skating Championships
• 2022: Silver Medals at Beijing Olympics Men Single & Team Event
• 2023: Bronze Medal at ISU Grand Prix Final
• 2024: Winner of Four Continents Figure Skating Championships

“I am deeply honored to receive support from Suzuki, a manufacturer that sends out many cars with strong uniqueness to the world. I will strive day by day towards the Milan Olympics to be held in 2026. Also, I will work hard to realize the dream of getting the gold medal with my team; my father and coach Masakazu Kagiyama, and Coach Carolina Kostner,” the 21-year-old Yokohama-born athlete stated.

Like himself, Kagiyama’s coach — Carolina Kostner — is also under a sponsorship contract with Suzuki’s Italian arm.

All-new Suzuki Swift

The all-new Suzuki Swift was first unveiled to the public (as a concept car) at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. In 2024, the Japanese carmaker started selling the hot hatch domestically.

It was offered in The Land of the Rising Sun with a newly developed Z12E engine mated to either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a five-speed manual transmission. It also received the Dual Sensor Brake Support II, which uses a monocular camera and a millimeter-wave radar.

The all-new Suzuki Swift is also the first version of the nameplate to be equipped with a driver monitoring system. The said feature can observe the driver’s face and notify the person behind the wheel if drowsiness or inattention are detected.

Not too long ago, the all-new Suzuki Swift was launched in India. Like the Japanese domestic market version, the fourth-generation hatchback also wears an updated grille, eyes with more character, a new chin, a new set of wheels, and a new rear bumper. The nameplate’s latest iteration also boasts a new cabin layout with a fresh infotainment screen and an improved instrument cluster.

Suzuki Swift in PH

With the all-new Suzuki Swift making its way into India, it may not be long before the brand’s local wing decides to bring its latest offering here.

The currently-available Suzuki Swift in the country — especially when compared to the new model sold overseas — does appear to have a dated look. Nevertheless, it is powered by the brand’s trusty 1.2-liter engine exclusively mated to a CVT.

It is priced at P989,000.

Photos from Suzuki

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