Suzuki's new engine was a dramatic departure from the '95 model's, which had been based on the original Gsxr's power plant.
Suzuki also introduced an engine architecture that set the main crankcase parting lines at an angle, with the transmission shafts and the crankshaft separated by an intermediate case. This technique let the transmission be snug up against the crankshaft without the side effect of reducing the gear size.