Suzuki Jimny electric would 'ruin' it – global boss
11/04/2024 07:30 PM
Electric power – and possibly also hybrid technology – is not on the agenda for the Suzuki Jimny due to the weight it would add, according to the company’s global president.
The global boss of Suzuki has poured cold water on plans for an electric – and possibly also hybrid – version of the popular Suzuki Jimny four-wheel-drive.
Suzuki strongly hinted at a hybrid or electric Jimny in January 2023, when the 4WD’s silhouette was shown on a slide of an investor presentation teasing the company’s future range of electrified vehicles.
But the global president of the Japanese small-car specialist, Toshihiro Suzuki, has now said such a vehicle would “ruin” the Jimny’s best attributes.
“If you talk about the Jimny EV, I think it would ruin the best part of the Jimny,” he told overseas media, as quoted by the UK’s Autocar.
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“I think the core strength of the Jimny is the right weight.”
The quotes strongly suggest the Suzuki executive was referring only to a fully-electric Jimny, given his use of the term ‘EV’.
However, the UK publication – which was present when the remarks were made – claims the top boss was referencing either hybrid or electric power.
“If we want to keep providing the Jimny to the market as tools for the professionals, maybe the e-fuel, or biofuel utilising the ICE technology would be the way to keep Jimmy supported in the future,” said Suzuki-san.
In Europe and the UK, the Jimny is now sold only as a commercial vehicle – with two seats and a metal divider ahead of the boot – to avoid more stringent CO2 emissions targets for passenger cars than light-commercials.
An electrified Suzuki Jimny would assist the company under the Australian Government’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), which will penalise car makers for selling too many high-emissions vehicles.
Manufacturers can continue to sell less-efficient models, but they must be offset by low- or zero-emissions cars that fall under strict CO2 targets to avoid paying fines.
Despite its small size, the Jimny’s 1.5-litre engine emits enough CO2 that – combined with its low weight – it would attract penalties of $2000 to $3500 under the NVES, which must be offset by other cars in Suzuki’s range.
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