The money-spinning eco car market is about to witness accelerated competition with the introduction of the second phase of the programme that allows both old and new manufacturers to churn out even more attractive models.

The first model in the Eco Car Phase 2 programme will be the award-winning Mazda2 that's set to be formally launched early next year. And although this car's price range may be considerably higher than eco cars on sale now, it rings a warning bell for other automakers to quickly shift into higher gear.

Suzuki was one of the first marques to offer a car under the first eco car project. The Swift five-door hatchback quickly gained cult status, witnessing more orders than Suzuki's plant could supply. Due to the high popularity, buyers had to wait months to take delivery on their cars.

Unlike several other eco cars that are cute small cars for the city - like the Nissan March, Honda Brio, Mitsubishi Mirage and Suzuki's own Celerio - the Swift boasts a larger body.

It is actually a B-segment car but can take advantage of eco-car privileges because it can fulfil all the requirements - fuel economy of 20 kilometres per litre, CO2 emissions of 120 grams per kilometre and Euro crash standards.

Toyota's Yaris, which was the last model to be sold under Phase 1, also fits the criteria, and now, the Mazda2 is set to take on the competition. It's a matter of engine downsizing.

The Swift is powered by a 1.2-litre, four-cylinder engine capable of producing 91 horsepower and 118Nm, which is basically what you would get from that displacement. The engine is mated to a fuel-saving continuously variable transmission (CVT).

With the competition heating up, Suzuki has decided to offer a new flagship model for its Swift range, which had been available with five trim levels at prices ranging from Bt434,000-Bt564,000.

The new Swift RX gets additional equipment upgrades and although final pricing has not been released, Suzuki executives say they will try to "keep it under Bt600,000" at the grand launch during the Thailand International Motor Expo later this month.

The main upgrades in the Swift RX include paddle shifters, cruise control and new headlights, making the price increase pretty acceptable for what you get.

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