The 2018 Auto Expo is just a few months away and speculative eyes try to draw focus on the biggest name in auto manufacturing in India, Maruti Suzuki. The internet has spawned hundreds of speculative pieces on what vehicles Maruti will be showcasing at next year’s expo, and one name that has cropped up multiple times is the Suzuki Jimny. For those not in the know of what the Jimny is and why it’s iconic, the Jimny is the car that inspired the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. Possibly one of the most capable off-roaders in the country, moreover since it was a petrol and much quieter than any diesel Jeep that Mahindra had to offer, it was the preferred choice of equipment for the Indian Army. The Gypsy was, in fact, such an icon that Maruti still makes them on special order for those who want one. Now with the new Jimny on the horizon, and the internet rife with rumours that Maruti will be showcasing an SUV at the 2018 Auto Expo, our Journalistic senses are tingling. Could we expect a modern compact 4×4? I think we could.
We got our first look of the 2018 Jimny a few days ago, rolling out of a factory in Japan. And now Italian magazine Quattroruote have got their hands on one, and have showcased most of the features and specifications. Well important ones, that is. On the interiors, it looks like things will be pretty basic, mostly hard plastics from the looks of it. Although there seems to be a central touchscreen infotainment system.
Now according to the folks at Quattroroute, the Jimny is likely to get two engine options a 1.2-liter 92-horsepower petrol 4-cylinder engine or a 1.0-liter 112-horsepower turbocharged engine like the one on the Baleno RS, both are likely to be paired to an all-wheel-drive system. However, transmission duties are likely to be carried out by a 5-speed manual gearbox. Although we will have to wait until the 2018 Auto Expo to find out.
