The Suzuki Jimny has a loyal and loving fan base, but there are many potential buyers that simply need more space than what the diminutive, but highly capable, 4×4 currently offers. However, their prayers could be answered as soon as next year, according to CarAdvice, which cited reports out of Japan.
What’s more the five-door Jimny ‘Long’ – as it’s said to be named – will offer a turbocharged engine to compensate for the increase in weight, according to these reports.
This will likely take the form of a force-fed version of the current 1,5-litre petrol unit, also featuring mild hybrid fuel saving technology. We don’t know exactly how powerful the new turbo Jimny will be, but CarAdvice is predicting outputs of around 110 kW and 250 N.m. For the record, the current three-door Jimny’s 1,5 normally aspirated engine produces 75 kW and 130 N.m, and this unit is likely to be offered as a base engine in the new five-door.
5 door Maruti Suzuki Jimny: New details surface https://t.co/fc20OTINSL
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In terms of its overall size, it is widely speculated that the upcoming five-door Jimny will have a wheelbase that is 300 mm longer than the three-door’s. Assuming that the vehicle’s rear overhang remains the same, this would bring the overall length up to 3925 mm.
According to Autocar India, the stretched Jimny will usher in a facelift that will also apply to the three-door model. Like the latter, the five-door model will be built by Maruti Suzuki in India, and although it hasn’t been confirmed for South Africa, it would surely be an obvious contender for our market.
Read our road test of the Suzuki Jimny 1,5 GLX AllGrip three-door.