5 Door Jimny

[XJ Junkie]

Apparently the Zips are giving serous consideration to building a 5 Door Jimny.

Personally I think it ruins the whole Jimny concept.


https://linkto.run/p/QMYMF6I6Vote here

[Wave]

It may "ruin" the concept, but take a look at the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited models, that took Wrangler to a whole new sales height with the option of the 5dr. The 5dr outsells the 3dr version. Generally family people buy 4x4's and a LWB just makes more sense for more than 2 people.
I think the 5dr Jimny will do exactly the same. I hope Suzuki SA bring it here too.
I know Tam would be happier in a LWB version that actually has a boot, and the 3dr will still be available, just hitting a larger buying market, I would happily buy a LWB version, maybe its time to move the Polo...

[Mad Manny]

These reports have been doing the rounds for well over a month.
I keep asking the two Jimny Whisperers, Flipside & Victor SAXJ for their opinion.
Both seem to think it won't happen.

Here is the breakdown:
When the SJ was replaced by the previous 1300 Jimny India did not get the Jimny.
Maruti Suzuki (Suzuki India) kept making the old SJ which they called the Gypsy.
Asthe Indian Military needed a 5 seater 5 door the Gypsy was made in 5 door for the Army.
A civilian version was also sold.
So for over 30 years India got the Maruti Suzuki in 5 door (what we'd call the last SJ).

Then Suzuki finally launched the new 1500 Jimny,
In Japan they sold the Kai version with a 660ccmotor & the Jimny Sierra.
The Jimny Sierra 1500 finally started getting exported.
South Africa was the first country outside Japan to get the Jimny Sierra 1500.
Which we call the New Jimny.
SAXJ got one of the first New Jimny's in Auto (having written off his old 1300 a few months earlier).

The Jimny was also exported to other markets...

[Mad Manny]

The New Jimny went to Europe, but because Europe slapped "Average CO2" limits on Suzuki, they restrict sales there.
The US didn't get it - Suzuki left the US years ago.

But worldwide the Jimny's are in short supply - demand is far outstripping supply.
Suzuki needed to make a plan to produce more, soon, cheaply...
Enter India:
The Indians were none too pleased that they skipped the 1300 Jimny & were anxious to get the New Jimny (1500 Sierra).
BUT, the Indians ideally need a 5 door. They use it as a family car, not a spare toy.

Suzuki & Maruti Suzuki agreed to build a massive factory in India to make Jimny's (3 door versions like ours.
This made the Indians happy, that factory will start producing vehicles in June/July.
BUT then it emerged that ALL the vehicles from that factory would be exported.
By now, you can imagine, even the placid Indians must have started getting the moer in.

Now reports indicate that ANOTHER factory will be built to make the5 door Jimny.
This factory will produce for India & for export. This factory will come online by the end of this year.

The reports of a 5 door are still not confirmed by Suzuki, so we don't know for sure.

BUT, I can tell you this - they need to make a plan to sell the New Jimny in India asap.
As far as I know, they are still selling the Gypsy...

Guys making the Mahindra Thar & the Force Gurka must be glad Suzuki is moving so slow.
Because if the 5 door Jimny is launched, sales of those two will decline...

[Saxj]

Asthe Indian Military needed a 5 seater 5 door the Gypsy was made in 5 door for the Army.
A civilian version was also sold.
So for over 30 years India got the Maruti Suzuki in 5 door (what we'd call the last SJ).

As far as I know, there was no 5 door version of the Gypsy, but rather a "Troopy" version - long wheel base with bench seats down the sides.

[Saxj]

BUT, I can tell you this - they need to make a plan to sell the New Jimny in India asap.
As far as I know, they are still selling the Gypsy...

I'm not sure about in India, but they have definitely stopped international sales.

[Mad Manny]

Victor - I did some digging.
Seems you are correct - it was a Troopy style vehicle.

From 2010 they only made to order& you had to pay up front & wait a few months.
But it is now completely discontinued.
So India has no SJ/Gypsy/Jimny - I hear used prices have climbed.

They need to get it to the Indian market stat...

[XJ Junkie]

I don’t think that the Jeep Wrangler is a comparable variation because of the seating. The Wrangler SWB & LWB halve 4 & 5 seats respectively. I very much doubt that the 5 door Jimny will be able to seat 5. So it’ll be a much more compromised package vs the original.

The whole thing with the Jimny is it’s uniqueness. It might be very much a one trick pony, but that’s it’s whole point. It’s built to be great off-road, in a compact concept. That’s it’s whole purpose which it does extremely well.

By making a 5 door version, it’ll detract too much from its core concept.

But it won’t be the first time that manufactures have lost the plot.

Look at how Mini screwed up the Mini,





The Bolsheviks messed up the Lada Niva



& the Wops messed up the Fiat 500.




I think that icons shouldn’t be bastardized. It’s very greedy.

[Saxj]

It looks like the 5 door is going to be a reality.

https://www.carscoops.com/2022/07/suzuk ... owertrain/

@XJ Junkie - will definitely still only be a 4 seater. The back seats will still be between the wheel arches, so only room for two seats.

[Mad Manny]

As I have been predicting for months...

[jakeslouw]

I don't think it is a bad idea at all.