The five-door Jimny was introduced to the world by Maruti Suzuki at the Auto Expo 2023 this year. The "Jimny" name has been in use for more than 50 years, for those who are unaware! Its first generation was introduced in 1970, followed by the second in 1981, the third in 1998, and the current fourth generation, which debuted as a three-door vehicle in 2018, on global markets.
First Generation
The original generation of Jimny was released more than 50 years ago, in 1970. The initial version, known as the LJ10, had a boxy shape and a 360cc petrol engine that produced 25PS. There was only room for three people inside, and the spare wheel was positioned next to the back seat. After a span of five years, the LJ50, the second version, was unveiled, maintaining the same design language but offering options for both soft and hard top roofs. Its 550cc engine produced more power, and the spare wheel was placed outside. In 1977, the LJ50 was replaced by the LJ80, which featured an 800cc gasoline engine producing 41 horsepower.
Second Generation
Following the first generation's success, the Jimny received a second one in 1981. The SJ410 was its first version, with a 1000cc engine producing 45PS, while the SJ413 was its second, with a 1.3-liter petrol engine initially producing 67PS. We received the Maruti Gypsy, a second-generation Jimny with a longer wheelbase than the international model. It was first available with the same 1.0-liter engine, but a 1.3-liter petrol engine with 81 horsepower and 103 Nm was later added. The Gypsy became popular very rapidly, becoming one of the most popular off-road cars in the country and even forming a large part of the fleet of the Indian army.
Third Generation
For Jimny, 1998 marked a turning point. It was a completely new product, but its powertrain remained unchanged. The recognizable circular headlamps were swapped out for squarish versions that combined the headlight and indication functions. Larger vertical slots were added to the grille, and the entire design was updated. It was upgraded with a new ladder frame, air hub locks that allowed the car to transition from two-wheel drive to four-wheel drive while it was driving, and separate coil springs and shock absorbers for the front suspension. The country did not receive the third-generation Jimny from Suzuki.
Fourth Generation
2018 saw the release of Jimny's fourth and current iteration, which has three doors. Here, too, there has been a significant redesign and its boxy shape is returning, and it has design cues from earlier generations of devices. The grille is more akin to the third generation's model. Its overall appearance is influenced by the first generation, and the round headlamps from the first two generations are returned. The fourth-generation Jimny made its global debut in India this year, dressed as a five-door vehicle and it has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 134.2 Nm and 105 PS. There are manual and automatic transmission options for the modern Jimny.
Over the course of four generations and more than fifty years, the Jimny has undergone numerous alterations. In the lifestyle off-road SUV market, which is now dominated by Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha, Maruti is back in the race. The company is scheduled to introduce the Jimny shortly, with an anticipated starting price of Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom).