Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, it’s the reborn Suzuki Jimny that gets a new lease of life thanks to an unlikely avenue: the van market.
After arriving in 2018, the fourth-gen Jimny quickly racked up a huge order book, but the little off-roader is relatively high. CO2 emissions still risked compromising Suzuki’s European fleet average.
Following confirmation that the passenger car model would be phased out throughout 2020 ahead of the emissions regulatory changes introduced on January 1, 2021, Suzuki has finally confirmed that a light commercial vehicle (LCV) N1 version will be put on sale this year in its place.
As a van, the Jimny LCV does not contribute to the average of its fleet and therefore has no impact on the 95g / km it must achieve. Instead, it is governed by more lenient regulations for vans.
The Jimny LCV is then the first utility vehicle of the Japanese brand since the Carry van. But don’t be fooled that the utility vehicle version of the Jimny heralds a triumphant return to vans for the company. It really is a way to keep selling the fun and hugely popular Jimny despite EU regulations forcing the car to be taken off sale.
For all intents and purposes, the Jimny LCV is the same as the passenger car, with no difference in its powertrain, suspension, or bodywork. Power comes from the same 1.5-liter gasoline engine producing 100 hp and 95 lb-ft and is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.
The part-time four-wheel drive system is unchanged, as is the three-link rigid axle suspension with coil springs. What has changed is the removal of the rear seats, which have been replaced with a steel and mesh bulkhead to separate the driver and passenger from the new cargo area.
To achieve a load length of over 900mm (to allow the Jimny LCV to qualify as a utility vehicle), the front seats were moved forward 10mm, creating a total floor space of 0.86 cubic meters (or 863 liters). ), i.e. 33 liters. more than the passenger car has when the seats are folded flat.
It also has the same safety features as the outgoing passenger car, with dual sensor brake assist with automatic emergency braking, eCall emergency assist function, tire pressure monitoring, hold uphill and hill descent control.
It gets 15-inch black steel wheels and a more basic DAB radio with Bluetooth rather than the touchscreen with satellite navigation that high-end SZ5 car models might have, but the LCV has a multi-function steering wheel and air conditioning as standard.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-02 13:01:23
