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India-bound Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-Door spied during test runs; Likely to feature a longer wheelbase; Expected to continue with the same powertrain as the 3-door version.
Spy shots from Europe reveal the highly anticipated Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-Door for India. Seen in a fully camouflaged avatar, the vehicle is set to arrive in the country by the mid of 2023. Currently, the Jimny 3-Door is manufactured in India and exported to foreign markets.
Despite the camouflage we can easily make out that the overall styling of the four-wheeler is identical to the 3-door version except for the visible increase in the overall length of the vehicle. The SUVs wheelbase will witness a significant increase in order to accommodate the extra pair of doors. As per media reports, the overall wheelbase will be increased by 300 mm, resulting in better space for the 2nd row of seats.
On the design front, the Jimny will sport an upright and boxy design that is typical with off-road SUVs. The vehicle will feature short overhangs with the wheels pushed all the way to the edge. Certain design elements like the round headlamps, ORVMs, and front grille seem to be directly adopted from the 3-door version. In addition, the spy shots have revealed the interior which is a straight lift-off from the smaller version. The increase in dimensions is said to have affected the off-road ability of the four-wheeler.
The Jimny 5-Door is expected to come powered by a 1.5-litre K15C petrol engine with a mild-hybrid system producing 103bhp. The SUV is believed to be mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox. Suzuki could also bring the more powerful 1.5-litre turbo petrol unit, which currently powers the SUV in international markets to India in order to shake-up the segment. According to reports, a diesel engine is also in consideration, as it will be a better fit for the SUV’s use case, however, there is no confirmation on this. The Jimny is based on ladder frame chassis and gets the Suzuki’s All Grip Pro 4-wheel drive system with a low-range gearbox for better off-road performance.
The Maruti Suzuki Jimny 5-Door is expected to debut in India by January during the Delhi Auto Expo 2023, with an official market launch by the mid of 2023. Once launched, it will rival the likes of Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha.