This diagram is a timeline of the Suzuki Cultus, Ignis and Swift.
The period of confusion is 2000 to 2008 when the Ignis appeared and was sold as the Swift, in Japan, replacing the Cultus. Suzuki produced two generations of Ignis: 2000 to 2004 and 2003 to 2008. In Europe the Swift appeared in 1988, the same as the car known in Japan as the Cultus. I don’t think we got the first generation. In Europe the Ignis and Swift overlapped from 2004 to 2008.
The HT515 Ignis is thus an odd and uncertain bridge between the Cultus and Swift. As its personality emerged – a kind of mini-CUV – Suzuki decided to create another car more in line with what the Cultus had been, a supermini. For 2017 the Ignis nameplate makes a comeback, attached to a car that is small, and chunky but which inexplicably refers to the 1978 SC100 or Whizzkid.
Driven To Write 
At his Geneva presentation, Suzuki Europe’s President found pronunciation of the word ‘Swift’ impossible. It came out as ‘sit’ or – the unkind would say – ‘shit’.
That goes some way to explaining why the Cultus/Swift has so many names; my favourite is the splendid ‘Suzuki Amenity’ used in Indonesia. Kind of sums it up – a lowest common denominator bucket, but to the car-deprived as welcome as a public lavatory to a dysentery sufferer.
Thanks for taking a look. I had no idea this item would be a quiet one. The Ignis/Swift relationship was muddled and now it’s less so.
Despite my disparaging comment, aimed mainly at the second generation Cultus, Suzuki is a carmaker (and bikemaker) in whose existence we should rejoice. Resourceful and determinedly independent, and also proof that a manufacturer need not cover every possible sector and sales territory to be profitable.
Suzuki do a good job in the 660cc to 1300cc range, and borrow where necessary if there’s a strategic desire to go larger.
Except for the mad 2.4 litre 4WD Kizashi. All their own work, and yet another answer to a question nobody asked (Another Suzuki forte (as distinct from Fronte)). It’s assured of a place in my fantasy garage, if ever I had the means and space.