Maruti May Launch Jimny To Take Discontinued Gypsy's Place in India

• Published On: 13 August 2019
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Maruti To Launch Jimny as Gypsy Replacement in Indian Market?

India's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki has discontinued the Gypsy SUV in the Indian market owing to the latest safety norms and the upcoming strict BS-VI emission norms. Now there are reports doing rounds on the internet that the maker could start the production of the latest Jimny for the Indian market as early as 2020. This new SUV is being touted as the replacement for the beloved Gypsy in the Indian market. Although, these reports must be taken with a pinch of salt as a lot of online portals have been predicting the launch of Jimny for quite some time now. However, coming back to the Jimny, it was brought to India in its first generation as the Gypsy and it went on become a huge success here. However, the Jimny is in its fourth generation in the global market now, while the Gypsy was discontinued in India. The reports indicate that the company is working on a new SUV that will be based on the Jimny Sierra. This new SUV will be sold as a competent off roader that is flexible and comfortable enough for everyday use.

Ever since Suzuki launched their Jimny in their domestic market in 2018, the SUV has managed to earn heaps of praise in both domestic as well as global markets. The maker mostly imports the Jimny as it is not manufactured in any other country of the world. India may become the lone country to manufacture Jimny, if the move to bring it to the Indian market comes through. The tax on importing cars to India is very high and if the maker is even half-serious about launching the car in India, it will have to be built in the country.

The Jimny sold in global markets comes with a 2-door setup and may not perform that well in the Indian market given the kind of past similar vehicles have faced here. However, there are also reports that Suzuki is also working on a conventional 4-door version of the Jimny. This could be the version that makes its way to the Indian shores as the public here prefers the more conventional 4-ddor setup in a car. This new version of Kimny will also have an extended wheelbase, thereby it will also come with a lot more space inside the cabin.

As of now Suzuki Jimny comes with the option of either a 660 cc, 3-pot turbo petrol engine or a 1.5L, 4-pot petrol engine rated for 104 Bhp and 138 Nm. The engine comes with a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Jimny is a rear wheel drive SUV that comes with a four wheel drive transfer case with high and low ratios as standard. In the end, an official word from Maruti Suzuki on the development or launch of the vehicle in the Indian market still is awaited.