Forget about prototypes and renderings trying to
solve the design ‘mystery’ behind the all-new Suzuki Jimny, because the small
SUV has just been spotted without a trace of camouflage. On top of that, there
are multiple examples sitting together behind Suzuki’s factory, finished in a
variety of shades, looking just about ready to be shipped to dealers all over
the world.
Beneath its boxy design lies a traditional
ladder-on-frame chassis, which along with an all-wheel drive system should make
the new Jimny a pretty capable small off-roader.
Overall, the upcoming Jimny seems happy to depart
from conventional softened exterior designs. One might even call it
retro-looking, which it actually is. We can also tell that the new model still
slightly resembles the old Jimny, with a table spoon of Mercedes G-Class and a
pinch of Jeep Renegade. Its quirky, yet rugged appearance should definitely
attract lots of fans, however it’s unlikely that such an unconventional design
would ultimately lead to conventional sub-compact crossover sales numbers –
something the Japanese automaker is probably at peace with.
The all-new Jimny is also expected to feature some
type of semi-autonomous braking technology (no Adaptive Cruise Control though)
according to Creative311, as well as LED headlights. The cabin of the 2019
Suzuki Jimny, while it looks highly utilitarian, does gain modern-day features
such as a touchscreen infotainment display, which looks just like the one in
the Suzuki Swift.
The interior image also reveals the presence of
climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, an automatic transmission and
not much else. We did notice how some buttons are extremely large, probably so
they can be easily operated while wearing gloves.
Power is expected to come from a base 1.2 liter
naturally aspirated gasoline engine, while a 1.0-liter turbocharged
‘Boosterjet’ three-cylinder is believed to be a step up in some markets. The
latter is rumored to have a maximum output of 110 HP, as well as 170 Nm of torque.
In the end, what these images tell us is that we’ll
probably see the 2019 Jimny a lot sooner than initially expected, with a world
debut to follow at the Tokyo Motor Show in October. Sales will commence before
the end of the year, while by the first quarter of 2019, the new Jimny should
be available in different markets worldwide.
