The fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny is a car that’s high in demand from markets across the world, and the sole Japanese factory producing the small off-roader is at full stretch. Help is on the way though, from Maruti Suzuki in India.
According to Autocar India, production of the Jimny will start in May this year, at Maruti Suzuki’s factory in Sanand, Gujarat, which has spare capacity. According to a source, “a bulk of the production will be exported,” which gives Maruti a business case for introducing the model in India, as domestic demand alone would not suffice.
The source added that Maruti is looking at monthly production of 4,000 to 5,000 units of the Jimny, and six months after exports commence, the model will be launched in India with a sub-Rs 10 lakh (RM58k) price tag. The Jimny is also known as the Gypsy in India.
There are separate reports saying that the Indian-made Jimny will be a five-door version of the existing model, which has a three-door body. However, the rumoured five-door model should tuck in under four metres in length to benefit from lower taxes in India. The three-door Jimny is 3,480 mm long, so there’s some room to grow.
The Jimny is powered by the widely-used K15B 1.5 litre naturally aspirated engine with 102 hp/130 Nm, paired to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The transmissions are linked to a part-time 4WD system with low range transfer gear (2H, 4H, 4L) – this ain’t no soft-roader.
Now, with recent rumours of the Suzuki brand making a comeback in Malaysia via the Naza Group, perhaps there is a chance of this Indian-made five-door Jimny reaching our shores? With five doors and a slightly longer body, this Jimny might be an even better canvas for those cute Little G and Little D conversions.
The price has to be right though, for both the importer and consumer. The Jimny is coveted by many, but its ASEAN prices vary – from RM93k in Indonesia to RM199k in Thailand and the equivalent of RM346k in Singapore.
Are you interested, and if yes, what would be a fair price? Before you shout RM50k, bear in mind that the third-gen Jimny was launched here back in 2013 from RM87k, and that was an old car (it arrived after 15 years in production) with zero hype. And our ringgit was stronger back then.
GALLERY: Suzuki Jimny at GIIAS 2019
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Will Jimny come here priced at Rm199k?
India and China are top car producers. We need their brains and input in our car industry. Pls bring in more Mainland and India automotive engineers into Malaysia to build our failing car industry
You want to bring them in so we can have bigger failings? https://paultan.org/2019/02/18/jlr-seeking-us1-billion-in-funding-after-shock-losses/
Then why we bring China to develop the whole of Johor, buy Proton out, help with ECRL and HSR etc etc etc etc etc etc?
We bring them in just for their money. Simple as that.
This Jimny Ckd at Naza group Gurun plant, expected priced Rm93k 3door Rm99k 5door.
A 5 door body would be more practical and more desirable
Should priced between trucks and compact suvs sold here
Somewhere in that ballpark
With decent specifications
1.4 turbojet engine would be ossum tho, but would increase the price
A 5 door Jimny would be good for India and it should comfortably seat 5. A sub 10 lakhs price is best. I would be interested if it has seating for 5 and enough boot space for weekend trips.
If it is around RM100k, there is good fighting chance as there isn’t any competing model of same capabilities. In 2013, the launching price basically killed itself.
this latest iteration might not accessible most, won’t sell in volume, its a niche…
a working 800cc LJ80(doorless) is my dad daily driver… previously he owned many SJ’s, LJ’s model but never wanted a Vitara… just need a light weight small engine 4WD that can easily wade through mud easily for plantation trips… future upgrade might be a secondhand 2.5L T-diesel pickup…
I wonder how it would sit 5 when the car itself is so narrow. 4 can sit comfortably enough in it. With a 5 door version rumoured, will it also come with a higher roof then the original roof it’s using.
A 3 door would be nice, but the 1 that will sell would be the 5 door. Expect to see small numbers on the road if it’s sub 100k in malaysia. There will still be those diehard fans that will buy it as the grey market commands sub 200k
For a recon 1.5 or 660 unit.
Due to our tax structure, jimny cannot compete with trucks on costs. Its too noisy inside, ride is too bumpy, small capacity petrol engine is too rough and kack power, torque and refinement. After driving a truck, you may not want to be in a jimny unless these issues are resolved, or jimny comes up with a cheap truck option to market at the lower end and compete effectively.