The brand new 5-door Maruti Suzuki Jimny, for which the company has already received an astounding 30,000 bookings, will be unveiled on June 7, 2023.
This vehicle competes with the Mahindra Thar and Force Gurkha thanks to its 1.5-litre, four-cylinder K15B petrol engine, which generates 105 horsepower. Suzuki's All Grip Pro technology is used in either the 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission, which distributes power to all four wheels. To ensure fuel efficiency and minimise emissions, it incorporates automatic engine stop-start technology compatible with both gearboxes.
The key reasons why Maruti picked the somewhat older K15B petrol engine with the 5-speed manual and traditional 4-speed automatic gearbox. This choice was made since the 3-door Jimny already has this engine and is offered in foreign regions.
The Jimny may achieve substantial degrees of localisation since India serves as a manufacturing and export hub. Therefore, it is economical to have a single powerplant for the 3-door and 5-door models. This streamlines manufacturing procedures and enables businesses to use economies of scale.
It's interesting to note that from 2019 to 2022, the same K15B gasoline engine was used to power several Maruti vehicles, including the Ertiga, XL6, Vitara Brezza, S-Cross, and Ciaz, as well as Toyota's Urban Cruiser. However, Maruti tried to switch out this engine with a more fuel-efficient and clean K15C petrol unit to satisfy more stringent emissions standards and CAFE requirements. Many Toyota and Maruti models now on the market have this improved engine.
The engines in the vehicles mentioned above are installed transversely. However, installing the K15C petrol engine in the Jimny would need a longitudinal installation. Apparently, Suzuki (global) was unwilling to redesign the Jimny engine since it offered so few advantages over the K15B motor that it replaced.
Additionally, sources claim that the business intends to focus on regions where the K15B engine continues to comply with all legal requirements. The K15C prioritises maximising fuel economy, whereas Maruti feels the K15B's higher bottom-end oomph is more suited for the Jimny's off-road use.
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