Fresh rumours have surfaced suggesting Suzuki will commence production of the Jimny in India in 2020, with the aim of exporting to international markets, including the Middle East and Africa regions.
Currently, the fourth-generation Jimny is built exclusively in Japan, although the firm’s Kosai facility is struggling to meet global demand (including for right-hand-drive markets such as South Africa and the United Kingdom).
Indeed, in April 2019, Suzuki Auto South Africa told CARmag.co.za it was selling “100 percent” of its Jimny stock, with the waiting list for a new unit now stretching up to a year.
According to IndianAutosBlog.com, Maruti Suzuki could start building the latest Jimny at its new plant near Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Interestingly, the latest Jimny is not currently offered in India, which instead gets the ageing Gypsy.
The three-door, four-seater Jimny measures 3 480 mm long (or 3 645 mm if you include the spare wheel cover), with a 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.
Power comes from a naturally aspirated 1,5-litre four-cylinder K15B engine, 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.
In South Africa, the line-up comprises three derivatives, currently priced from R269 900 to R325 900.
