Showcased at the 2020 Auto Expo, Maruti Suzuki is expected to launch Jimny off-roader in India soon. While there is no conclusive word from Maruti on this matter yet, Shashank Srivastava- the Executive Director of Maruti Suzuki's Marketing & Sales division has recently revealed in an interview that the company is preparing a marketing plan for Jimny in India. This intimates Maruti's clear signal of launching the SUV in our market.
While Jimny's India launch is still far away, the brand has already started its manufacturing at its Gurgaon-based facility for export purposes. However, it is being speculated that a more practical five-door long-wheelbase (LWB) version of the Jimny will be introduced in India. Interestingly, an extended version of the Jimny has already been spotted testing in Europe, and a leaked document has also revealed its dimensions and engine specifications.
The document reveals that the five-door Jimny will be 300 mm longer than its 3-door counterpart. It will measure 3,850mm in length, 1,645mm in width, and 1,730mm in height. It will weigh around 1,190 kilograms that are 100kg more than its 3-door model.
The current-gen 3-door Jimny uses the same 1.5-liter K15B naturally aspirated petrol unit (102PS/130Nm) that also powers many other Maruti offerings like Ciaz, Vitara Brezza, S-Cross, XL6, and Ertiga. However, a Japanese media report has recently suggested that the 5-door Jimny could also get a 1.4-liter turbo-petrol engine (127PS/235Nm) along with Suzuki’s mild-hybrid technology. As of now, the Swift Sport and UK-spec Vitara utilize this engine. Transmission options are likely to include both manual and automatic units.
The Indian-spec Maruti Suzuki Jimny is expected to revive the Gypsy badge, which was discontinued in 2019. Expect it to be priced from Rs 10 lakh. On its arrival, it will rival the likes of Mahindra Thar and the upcoming Force Gurkha. Besides, Mahindra is also working on a five-door variant of the Thar, which is likely to launch by 2023.
