The new Suzuki Jimny is scheduled to launch in South Africa in November 2018, but the local arm of the Japanese automaker has already released indicative pricing for the little off-roader.
Suzuki Auto SA made the announcement at the Festival of Motoring at Kyalami, revealing that the local line-up will comprise three derivatives.
In base GA specification with a five-speed manual gearbox, Suzuki says the Jimny should start at around R265 000. In posher GLX guise (also with a manual cog-swapper), the Jimny should come in at about R300 000, while opting for a four-speed automatic transmission on this model will take the price to an estimated R320 000.
Final pricing will be announced at the end of October 2018. The outgoing range, for the record, comprises two variants (a manual at R266 900 and an automatic at R285 900).
In South Africa, a full-sized spare wheel, ABS, brake assist, electronic stability control, Isofix child seat anchors and two airbags will ship standard on all three models.
The GLX specification, meanwhile, will include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, electric windows, colour-coded exterior door handles, colour-coded side-mirror caps, 15-inch alloy wheels, LED projector headlamps, keyless access, front foglamps, cruise control, a 50:50 split rear bench and a seven-inch touchscreen arrangement with Apple Carplay and Android Auto functionality.
The new three-door, four-seater Jimny will measure 3 480 mm long (or 3 645 mm if you include the spare wheel cover), with an unchanged wheelbase of 2 250 mm. Ground clearance comes in at 210 mm, while the latest-generation model boasts an approach angle of 37 degrees, a breakover angle of 28 degrees and a departure angle of 49 degrees.
Suzuki Auto SA’s website earlier confirmed that the naturally aspirated 1,5-litre four-cylinder K15B engine will be the powerplant of choice locally, delivering 75 kW and 130 N.m (up from the 63 kW and 110 N.m offered by the outgoing 1,3-litre) to all four wheels via either a five-speed manual gearbox or four-speed automatic transmission.
Three dual-colour combinations will be available, along with five basic hues.
