A five-door Suzuki Jimny is in development – report
The bigger version of the popular off-roader is being developed for its Indian launch.
A five-door version of the Suzuki Jimny appears to be in development, with a larger take on the tiny off-roader reportedly on the cards for the model's launch in India in 2021.
According to a report from Autocar India, the Jimny will make its debut in that market not as the three-door version we're familiar with in Australia, but as an upsized five-door iteration.
Autocar India cites a source privy to the project who claims the larger cabin, longer wheelbase version of the Japanese 4x4 – which is designed to target family buyers – will enter production in India from December this year.
The five-door Jimny will apparently be powered by the 78kW 1.5-litre K15B petrol engine, and will be priced from 1 million lakh, or roughly AUD$21,570.
Buyers won't miss out on off-road capability, either: it will again be built on a ladder-frame chassis, with rigid axles at both ends, and will employ four-wheel drive with a low-range transfer case.
Maruti Suzuki, Suzuki's Indian manufacturing subsidiary, will reportedly commence production of the three-door Jimny at its Gujarat plant from June 2020, but that run will be entirely earmarked for exports.
Six months later, Autocar India claims, production of the five-door Jimny will commence, with that run to be shared between India and undisclosed export markets.
Suzuki Australia General Manager Michael Pachota told CarAdvice that while "no confirmation of such model has been communicated to date", he believes the local market would welcome a five-door Jimny.
"Suzuki Australia does have its hand held high if there is ever a possibility of this variant in future, as per my previous statements in 2019 when asked if there will be a 5 Door variant available," Mr Pachota said.
"Jimny is an amazing product, that even presented with current challenges in market, still continues in very high demand. Any further variants would be growing that incredible order bank even further, especially if we 'ever' start marketing any of them!"
The Jimny currently on sale in Australia is manufactured in Japan.
It's also possible the arrival of a longer chassis for the Jimny could pave the way for a pick-up version down the line (something we've already seen as a custom offering from a dealer in New Zealand).
A five-door Jimny has already been rendered by designer Nikita Chuyko for Russian motoring publication, Auto Mail. Check it out below.
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