Maruti Suzuki will soon begin producing the Jimny in India (up until now, the popular pint-sized 4×4 has been produced exclusively in Japan)and a new report suggests the highly-anticipated 5-door version could see the light as early as next year, if not soon thereafter…

Because of the limited capacity of Suzuki’s Kosia plant in Japan’s Shizuoka prefecture, demand for the Jimny has always exceeded supply, butthat has done nothingto curb prospective buyers' enthusiasm…Such is the "cult of Jimny" thatlow volume/specialist versions of the plucky off-roader, suchas a pick-up in New Zealand and anLCVin the UKhave come to market in 2020!

Picture credit:Nikita Chuyko;thisimage was initiallypublished by Auto Maillast year.

Earlier this year,Autocar Indiaquoted to an “official privy to information of the project” as saying production of the 3-door Jimny (from completely knocked-down kits imported from Japan) would begin at Maruti Suzuki’s Hansalpur plant in Gujarat during 2020 and that, 6 monthsthereafter, the plant would begin building 5-door Jimnys with the units designated for the Indianand export markets.

According to a recent report byGaadiWaadi.com,the 5-door version of the India-specific Maruti Suzuki Jimny is expected to be launched in India at some point during next year "with high local content" as a rival to the new-generation Mahindra Thar, which itself is a far more practical, compact-SUV-like proposition than the current (outgoing) model.

Picture credit:Nikita Chuyko, thisimage was initiallypublished by Auto Maillast year.

This developmentsuggests that, at the very least, the supply of Jimnys to Suzuki South Africa, which already sources most of the models that it sells on the local market from India, mayimprove in the near future. But what about the bigger picture? Well, the 5-door version of the Jimny, which is expected to be mechanically similar to the 3-door, but with a longer wheelbase (ostensibly based on an adapted version of the current model’s ladder-frame chassis) could ostensibly be introduced in Mzansi too. Given the intensity of the current compact family car/small crossover craze, the target market for a tiny SUV withgenuine off-road ability might seem small (within the context of the overall new-vehicle market), but then again, an extra pair of doors would certainly broaden the Suzuki's appeal.

We imagine that a 5-door Jimny, with a modicum of rear legroom and greater practicality (hopefully with a slightly bigger load bay, if that's at all possible, please Suzuki) could find its niche with genuine off-road enthusiasts who'dlike to cart the kids to school during the week… and take them along on their weekend bundu-bashingadventures.

What could it look like? Well, the best rendersthat we found during our internet trawl (shown here) were created by Nikita Chuyko for Russian publicationAuto Mail.

Another Indian publication suggests the Jimny's infotainment system will be updated to be compatible with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Although it’s unlikely that the upcoming 5-door Jimny will be quite as dextrous as its 3-door sibling off the beaten track – it will have to have a longer wheelbase to accommodate an extra pair of doors – the newcomer will share its sibling’s proven off-road underpinnings (such as low-range transfer case and liveaxles) aswell as safety systems. We believe it will also be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol motor mated with a 5-speed ‘box or 4-speed automatic.

Working with Toyota on another model

Another interesting tidbit in theGaadiWaadi.comreport is that Maruti Suzuki further plans toexpandits line-up of small crossovers (which includes the Vitara Brezza) with a new model developed in conjunction with Toyota and based on the latter company's Raize,which sits in a class below the C-HR. The Raize measures 3 995 mm in length,1 695 mm in widthand 1620 mm in height.

Further Reading:

Suzuki Jimny Commercial Announced

Suzuki New Zealand makes Jimny bakkie

Suzuki Jimny (2018) Launch Review

Suzuki Jimny (2018) Specs & Price

Suzuki Jimny 1.5 GLX (2019) Review [w/Video]