Suzuki has revealed online the 2018 Jimny compact SUV ahead of its Japanese market debut in the first week of July. This is the fourth generation for the SUV since it was launched in the 1970s and this time around, the generational step up has been massive. Here then are top 5 things that one needs to know about the new Jimny.
Old school ladder on frame
It might be the fourth generation for Suzuki’s most legendary SUV, but the formula remains unchanged. It’s a ladder on frame for this new Jimny with dual rigid axles. There’s a locking differential and AWD as optional extras.
Evolution is the key
If you go back through the history pages of the Jimny, you will see that this fourth generation car looks like an evolution of the first car rather than an altogether new model. There’s the familiar round headlamps, boxy silhouette and lifted stance commonly associated with ladder-on-frame models.
Vintage outside but 2018 on the inside
The exterior might look boxy and its appeal may be primarily niche, but the cabin is 2018 Suzuki spec. It’s very similar to that of the India-spec Swift and Dzire with the same features and layout but minus the flat bottom wheel. There are subtle hints of the legendary Gypsy here in the form of the square pods for the instrument cluster and the bare bones looks of the passenger side dashboard.
Jimny Sierra
The standard Jimny or rather the JDM spec Jimny will be offered with a turbocharged 660cc Kei car spec engine. This three-cylinder mouse on steroids is good for 65bhp and roughly 100Nm of torque which, to be honest, is not a lot even in small car dependent market like India. Enter the Jimny Sierra- it will be offered with Suzuki’s new 1.5-litre petrol motor and this is the engine that will power the European spec Jimny when it is launched later this year.
