What's the news?
Suzuki has officially (and only after months of internet leaks) revealed its much-awaited new Jimny 4x4, the replacement for one of the longest-lived models on sale. Actually the old Jimny isn't strictly on sale anymore - production ended some months ago, although you can still potentially pick up an unregistered version from dealer stock.
The new model sticks closely to the outgoing Jimny's boxy template, a style that dates all the way back to the original LJ10/SJ20 model of 1970. In fact this new one looks more than a little as if a Mercedes G-Wagen had somehow been designed by Ant-Man. It looks every inch (very few inches - the current Jimny is barely any larger than a Renault Twingo) the proper, pukka off-roader.
Which is exactly what it is. If you want some sort of on-road biased SUV, go for a Suzuki Vitara. The new Jimny will stick with tradition by retaining a separate ladder-chassis and a solid rear axle, albeit made slightly more sophisticated by a three-link setup. There will be a separate low-range transfer box for the transmission (likely to still be activated by tugging a lever, rather than pushing a button) and Suzuki has promised to meet current Jimny owners' concerns that the new model needs to retain the ruggedness and genuine off-road ability and agility that makes the current car so capable in the wild.
On-road? Suzuki says that it will be much improved over the old Jimny (couldn't do much worse etc etc...), but that it's not a priority for the car. As before, the four-wheel-drive system will be part-time, until you select low range and engage the differential locks. There's hope that it will have less of a bouncy ride quality than the old Jimny.
The cabin does at least look a bit more sophisticated, with the very decent Suzuki touch-screen mounted atop an otherwise simple, boxy and Land-Rover-Defender-y interior layout.
Expect Suzuki's current range of 1.0-litre BoosterJet and 1.2-litre petrol engines to be offered, although it's not yet known if the Jimny's separate chassis will allow the mild hybrid system from the Swift and Ignis to be squeezed in.
Sales will start in early 2019.