Suzuki previewed what a pickup variant of the current-generation Jimny could appear to be with a close-to-production concept unveiled in 2019. The range has grown since, there is a four-door Jimny available, but we have not seen a truck yet. That would change, in keeping with the brand.
“Anything that starts with Jimny ends in sales,” said Michael Pachota, the overall manager of Suzuki’s Australian division, in an interview with Australian website CarSales. “The [pickup] project, I’d say, shouldn’t be dead.” He described it as “a Jimny with two seats and nothing on the back.” The thought of turning this seriously capable pocket-sized SUV right into a truck is not unprecedented: Recent Zealand-based Suzuki dealer Brendan Foot sells a built-to-order Jimny pickup called Ute — the local term for “pickup” — that includes a flatbed with folding sides.
It’s too early to inform whether the Jimny trucklet would appear to be the concept unveiled in 2019 or like Brendan Foot’s truck (shown above). The primary difference between the 2 is the cab: The concept includes a barely longer cab than the production Ute built by the dealership. Pachota’s comments suggest the model will feature two doors, it doesn’t sound like a crew-cab version is within the pipeline, and CarSales speculates it could revive the Mighty Boy name last used on a tiny, hatchback-based three-cylinder pickup built from 1983 to 1988.
Strong demand is convincing executives to pour money into the Jimny. Australian sales have increased by over 50% in 2024, and motorists who buy one are placed on a months-long waiting list. Should you buy an automatic two-door today, you may find yourself waiting eight months for it.
Looking ahead, Suzuki can be planning to release hybrid and electric variants of the Jimny to comply with emissions regulations in key markets across the globe. The previous should arrive before the latter. The aftermarket is not out of ideas, either. Prior to now few years, we have seen the Jimny was a Mercedes-Benz G-Class replica, a Ford Bronco look-alike, and a clone of the Eighties Lancia Delta rally automotive.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
