Unlike in decades past, there aren’t a ton of cars for sale outside the U.S. that we pine for. The Suzuki Jimny is a notable exception. While we can’t imagine many American buyers would go for such a small off-roader, we can’t help but want one. Unlike compact crossovers like the Ford Bronco Sport and Jeep Renegade, the Jimny is a true, old-school off-roader with a ladder chassis and an honest four-wheel drive system.
The Jimny EV teaser is seen at the top right.
The latest Jimny was a huge hit in Europe, Japan, and elsewhere, and its successor will be electrified. Suzuki announced its roadmap to 2030 on Thursday, and naturally, it includes a lot of hybrids and EVs. The presentation made no specific reference to the new Jimny, but a slide teasing future models for Europe teased what is almost certainly a Jimny EV.
Currently, the Jimny uses a 101-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder, though it’s offered with a 660-cc turbo three-cylinder in Japan to comply with kei-car regulations. Suzuki recently launched a five-door version of the Jimny, which will be built by the company’s Indian subsidiary, Maruti Suzuki.
While a five-door, electric Jimny has a much broader appeal than an underpowered three-door, don’t expect to see it come to America. Suzuki says it will focus on Europe, Japan, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Notably, the slides from its presentation indicate that Suzuki will only sell the Jimny EV in Europe. Instead, they’ll get an electric version of the Hustler, a Jimny-inspired crossover.
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Source: www.caranddriver.com