Next-gen Suzuki Jimny displayed at PIMS 2018

MANILA: The new generation of the Suzuki Jimny has been one of the most anticipated vehicles in the Philippines market. And feeding on to everyone’s excitement, the car is finally here, put up at the 2018 Philippine International Motor Show.

Yes, Suzuki has finally put the much-awaited Jimny up for a preview for the public to take a closer look. It was first revealed in July and comes with a set of new features and a refreshed design. Plus, it gets a new 1.5-litre engine under the hood too.

The new generation of Suzuki Jimny manages to keep its signature boxy appeal intact even in this edition. It forms the perfect blend of modern styling elements with those of the retro world. The headlamps up front are circular and are complemented by a five horizontal-slat grille design. At the rear, the tail lights are horizontally placed on the lower bumper. There is also a center-mounted spare wheel on the tailgate.

Move inside the cabin and you will be greeted by a very fine combination of old and new. It extracts a lot of its designing elements from the new Swift hatchback as we see the same hooded cockpit console and digital climate controller. Also, a touchscreen infotainment system is added to the package. However, in order to make it relevant to the Jimny of the yesteryears, there is a grab handle given on the dashboard.

Getting to the mechanical bits, the next generation Suzuki Jimny is packed with a new 1.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine which is called the K15B. This is a replacement of the older 1.3-litre unit and manages to churn out 102 PS of power at 6,000 rpm and the highest torque of 130 Nm. As for the transmission, there is either a 4-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. Plus, it comes with the 4WD given as standard.

The off-roader is slated for a launch in the Philippines during the second quarter of 2019 and would be available in three different trim levels. It will be priced from PHP 1.1 million.