Suzuki Jimny, a three door lifestyle SUV, popular for its mild off-roading capabilities, is expected to receive a generation upgrade. The recent spy shots taken during a dealer presentation confirm that the fourth generation of the Jimny is in works. The spy images reveal the exterior of the prototype and also give us a glimpse of the interior of the upcoming SUV.
The design remains identical to all its predecessors and the prototype carries a similar boxy design – It is safe to say that Suzuki has NOT thought out of the box with this one. The wheels are designed to be at the extreme end of the car, offering a more than adequate approach and departure angle. The car now gets flared wheel arches with a little extra body cladding for a tougher look.
The exterior of the Jimny has been made to look old school, however the interiors have been revamped to be at par with modern hatchbacks. The screen of the infotainment system is placed high on the centre console and below sits a pair of square air vents which feature a different design than those on the sides. The car gets a two-pot instrument cluster placed right behind the newly designed steering wheel.
The new Jimny is expected to be based on the same old-school ladder frame chassis. However, we anticipate it to be stronger and rigid than the current model. The next-gen model is rumoured to be equipped with Suzuki’s ‘Allgrip Pro 4x4’ four wheel drive system mated to a low range gearbox to enhance its off-road capabilities. Power source is expected to be the 1.0-litre booster jet or the 1.2-litre naturally aspirated mill.
Indians are far more familiar with the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy, which is the predecessor of the current Suzuki Jimny on sale. However, we cannot vouch for the fourth gen Jimny making its way to India, as Maruti Suzuki would have cars in other segments as their priority. In the meantime, the new Jimny is likely to be showcased at the 2017 Tokyo Motor Show and we anticipate the sales will commence in early 2018 for the European markets.
