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The more practical variant of the popular ladder-frame off-roader is set to debut next month
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–> by Thanos Pappas
3 hours ago
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by Thanos Pappas
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We’ve been waiting for the 4-door version of the Suzuki Jimny for a long time, and the latest spy photos from India prove that it is finally ready to hit the roads. The longer Jimny was spotted free of any camouflage for the first time, ahead of its debut at the 2023 Auto Expo in January.
The SUV was photographed near the city of Leh which is the joint capital of the Ladakh region in India. Unlike earlier sightings of camouflaged prototypes in Europe, this time it was fully exposed due to an ongoing photo/video shoot for promotional purposes.
Read: Suzuki Jimny Turned Into An Awesome Little Turbocharged Truck
Predictably, the design of the four-door Jimny (or 5-door, if you must count that tailgate) closely mirrors its three-door counterpart, looking identical up to the B-pillar. Usually, 4-door models get smaller front doors than their three-door equivalents but this is not the case with the Jimny. Thus, the rear doors are slightly shorter despite the significantly longer wheelbase which is rumored to grow by 300 mm (11.8 inches) to 2,550 mm (100.4 inches). The stretched model is expected to measure 3,850mm (151.6 inches) long, with the other dimensions remaining unchanged.
The profile now has three windows, while the front and rear overhangs remain quite short so the approach and departure angles will not be compromised. The rear end of the Jimny is also carried over from the three-door model, including the side-hinged tailgate with the spare wheel, and the bumper-mounted taillights. A “Jimny” badge is visible in the photos, debunking earlier rumors about the potential use of a different name.
Rushlane reports that the longer Maruti Suzuki Jimny could be optionally available with a three-row configuration, although space for the passengers would be quite limited in a possible seven-seater variant. In any case, the longer Jimny is expected to offer a decent amount of legroom for rear passengers and a proper boot. This would make it a practical ladder-frame SUV suitable for families, unlike the current Jimny which is solely available as a two-seater LCV in European markets. The dashboard will most likely be carried over from the current model with minimum changes, including a fresh 9-inch infotainment screen sourced from other Suzuki models.
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Both Rushlane and Autocar India report that the Jimny will be fitted with the naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter K15B petrol engine. The unit which already powers the three-door Jimny produces between 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS) and 107 hp (79 kW / 108 PS) depending on the market. Other media including Motor Beam suggest that the four-cylinder engine will be updated with mild-hybrid tech, potentially benefiting performance and reducing emissions. The electrified motor that is rumored for the entire facelifted Jimny range, would allow Suzuki to make it available again as a passenger SUV in Europe. In any case, power will be transmitted to all four wheels with the help of the AllGrip Pro 4WD system. Besides the standard five-speed manual gearbox, an optional automatic transmission is also tipped to join the range.
The market launch of the five-door Suzuki Jimny in India is expected in mid-2023, with other markets set to follow in the near future. Rival models in India will include the upcoming five-door variants of the similarly-styled New Force Gurkha, and the Wrangler-style Mahindra Thar. Europeans on the other hand do not have much of a choice when it comes to affordable ladder-frame SUVs, so competition will be limited to the unibody but off-road-ready Dacia Duster and the Suzuki Vitara stablemate.
