BACK IN 2009, Formula 1 introduced an innovation called KERS (that’s kinetic energy recovery system), which captured energy that would otherwise be wasted under braking, sent it to a battery and then redeployed it later through a little motor. Proving the old adage that technology from racing eventually reaches showrooms, the same concept, now dubbed ‘mild hybrid’, is becoming common on the road a decade later, even being offered by small manufacturers such as Suzuki.
The latest version of the brand’s 1.4-litre petrol engine, newly available in the Vitara and SX4 S-Cross SUVs and the Swift Sport hot hatch, features a 48-volt mild hybrid system. However, unlike F1 cars, Suzuki uses it to improve efficiency rather than boost performance.
In the case of the S-Cross, official economy is up by…
