In June 2018, the first official images of the new Suzuki Jimny appeared on the Japanese automaker’s corporate website. And now the brand has released additional technical details for the fourth-generation version of its small off-roader.
According to the corporate website, the new Jimny will draw its power from a “newly developed” 1,5-litre petrol engine. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder K15B engine makes 75 kW and 130 N.m (up from the 63 kW and 110 N.m offered by the outgoing 1,3-litre), and will again be offered with the choice of a five-speed manual gearbox (with gear ratios “optimised” for the new engine) or four-speed automatic transmission (which has been “redesigned to offer less friction and better fuel economy”).
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.
Expected to run on 15-inch wheels shod in 195/80 R15 rubber, the little Jimny is underpinned by a “newly developed” ladder frame chassis with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, part-time four-wheel drive (with low range transfer gear) and three-link rigid axle suspension. “Brake LSD (limited slip-differential) traction control” is also included.
Up front, you’ll find solid disc brakes, while the rear features drums (with leading and trailing shoes). Kerb weight for the manual model is a claimed 1 090 kg, while the automatic derivative will tip the scales at 1 110 kg. The fuel tank, meanwhile, will hold 40 litres (precisely the same as the outgoing model). The rear luggage area can hold a mere 85 litres, but this increases to a claimed 377 litres (some 53 litres more than before) with the back seats folded down.
Interesting options that will be offered in some markets include LED headlamps with washers, hill hold control, hill descent control, high-beam assist, weaving alert and lane departure warning. Suzuki Auto SA earlier told us that it hoped to launch the new Jimny in South Africa in November 2018. Take note, of course, the local specifications have yet to be confirmed.
