Production-Spec Suzuki Jimny spotted; India launch soon?

The first-generation Mahindra Thar alongside an international-spec Suzuki Jimny has been spotted at a dock in India. Maruti Suzuki is likely to give the three-door variant a miss and possibly introduce the five-door variant in the Indian market

A left-hand drive Suzuki Jimny has been spotted alongside the first generation Mahindra Thar. The variant in the picture is a three-door mid-spec Jimny equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission. While the higher variants of the Jimny are offered with a touch-operated infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android auto, the model in the picture gets a 2-din music system with Bluetooth and AUX connectivity.

The three-door Jimny is made at Maruti Suzuki’s production facility in Manesar, India, and gets exported to international markets. Even though the Jimny is manufactured in India, there are very slim chances of Maruti Suzuki to introduce the three-door variant.

The Japanese carmaker is also working on a five-door variant of the same, and a prototype of that has been spotted overseas. Initially, the car was to debut at this year's Tokyo Motor Show but as the event stands cancelled due to the pandemic, the global reveal has been shifted to next year. However, this still does not confirm whether Jimny is India-bound or not.

The five-door model will largely be based on the three-door variant in the picture. To accommodate the rear doors, Jimny’s wheelbase will have to be stretched by around 300mm. This will result in an increased overall length from 3.4m to 3.85m.

Reports on the internet suggest that Maruti Suzuki India has plans to launch the Jimny by the first quarter of 2022. The Jimny gets the same 1.5-litre K15B petrol unit that is offered in most Maruti Suzuki cars in India. This in turn could offer parts sharing and help the company keep the costs low. However, time will confirm these speculations.

Also Read:

2021 Maruti Suzuki Swift Review: First Drive 

All-new Maruti Suzuki Celerio patent images leaked

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NKJ7rCdbac