New Suzuki Jimny modified into Land Rover Defender & Mercedes G-Wagen is AWESOMENESS!

When the Suzuki Jimny was first unveiled earlier this year, there was much talk about how much the compact off roader resembled the iconic Mercedes Benz G-Wagen. Taking full advantage of the boxy design of the all-new Jimny, Japanese customizer DAMD has come up with two body kits that transform the off-roader’s looks. While one body kit makes the Jimny look like a Mercedes G-Wagen, the other gives it the look of a Land Rover Defender.

DAMD calles the G-Wagen body kit as the Little G and the Defender body kit as the Little D. Very apt, we say. While  the pictures will give you an idea of what has changed to make the Suzuki Jimny look like the G-Wagen and Defender, the off roader remains mechanically unmodified. This is a good thing given the fact that the mechanical simplicity of the all-new Jimny remains untouched, and the factory reliability intact.

In markets abroad, the all-new Suzuki Jimny gets two engine options – a 3 cylinder-660cc triple cylinder turbocharged petrol meant for Suzuki’s home market of Japan, and a 1.5 liter-4 cylinder naturally aspirated K-Series petrol for the rest of the world. The biggest, 1.5 liter motor powers the off-road focused Jimny Sierra, and puts out 100 Bhp of peak power and 130 Nm of peak torque.

This engine gets two gearbox options – a 5 speed manual and a 4 speed torque converter automatic. Both engines drive the rear wheels of the Jimny, which also gets a part-time four wheel drive transfer case with both low and high  ratios for hard-core off road conditions. The latest Jimny retains its ladder frame chassis and three door design,  with seating for 4 adults.

A longer wheelbase Jimny is said to be in the works for future. Although there were rumours that Maruti Suzuki would manufacture the Jimny at its Sanand factory in India, and make the facility a production hub for the right hand drive version of the Jimny for export markets, plans don’t seem to have come through. The engineering head of Maruti Suzuki, Mr. CV Raman, has ruled out the 3 door Jimny for the Indian market saying that it’s too impractical.

With the Maruti Gypsy – the current Jimny’s grandfather so to speak – getting discontinued in India from March 2019, we hope that the decision makers at Maruti suzuki have a change of heart. With modern mechanicals and safety options, the 4th generation Suzuki Jimny can be a perfect replacement for the Maruti Gypsy. For now, enthusiasts are hoping that at least the five door version of the Jimny comes to India.