The new Suzuki Jimny is on its way to South Africa, with a local launch pencilled in for November 2018. We already know that the outgoing generation is rather handy off-road, but now we have the first official videos showing the fourth-gen model tackling various obstacles off the beaten path.
In SA, the Jimny is likely to be powered by a “newly developed” 1,5-litre petrol engine. This 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 or four-speed automatic transmission.
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 with 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. Something Suzuki calls “brake LSD traction control” (which you can see in action below) is also included.
Watch the Jimny go off-road in the two videos below (the voiceover, of course, is in Japanese)…
