Suzuki aims to achieve carbon neutrality in the European Union no later than 2050. That's more than a quarter of a century away from the present day, but as you're well aware, Japanese manufacturers are laggards in all things battery-electric vehicles compared to European and American competitors.
The Suzuki Motor Corporation is quite a bit smaller in every respect than fellow Japanese automakers Toyota and Honda. Be that as it may, the Shizuoka-based manufacturer promised to launch five all-electric vehicles in the European market alone between fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2030. The aim is to reach a sales mix of 80% EVs in this part of the world, with the remaining 20% being hybrids.
All five vehicles were previewed in the form of black-and-white silhouettes, of which one resembles the Jimny we all know and love. It should be noted that every single Jimny coming to Europe is the so-called Sierra specification, whereas the kei-sized version is exclusive to the brand's domestic market.
In addition to footprint, another tremendous difference between the Sierra and kei models is the powerplant: NA four-cylinder versus turbocharged inline-three. Believe it or not, said three-cylinder engine has another application in the form of the Caterham Seven 170 ultra-lightweight sports car. After all, the boutique automaker from Dartford was acquired by Japan's VT Holdings Co. back in 2021.
Turning our attention back to the Jimny, which is currently offered with two seats in the European Union due to emission regulations, the long-awaited Jimny EV is certain to carve out a niche for itself. The only problem is, we don't really know much about the first-ever Jimny with electric propulsion, not even the year when the all-electric 4x4 will arrive at dealers.
Photo: AutomagzPro on YouTube
That hasn't stopped the folks at AutomagzPro from imagining the Jimny EV with a considerable degree of creative liberty in terms of exterior design. AutomagzPro understands that a single 100-kW electric motor will have to suffice, although it's not clear how the drive unit's torque will be transferred to both axles. 100 kilowatts converts to 134 horsepower or 136 in the metric system, which is adequate in a vehicle with the aerodynamic properties of a brick.
Pictured in both three- and five-door flavors, the Jimny EV is better suited with five doors because of the roomier version's longer wheelbase. Suzuki already produces a five-door Jimny in India, although said model hasn't yet been confirmed for Europe. As with the Jimny Sierra for global markets, the five-door sibling relies on a 1.5-liter NA inline-four with 105 ps (104 hp) and 134 Nm (99 lb-ft) to its name.
When it comes to wheelbase, the Jimny Sierra measures precisely 2,250 millimeters (88.6 inches) from axle to axle. The Jimny 5-Door levels up to 2,590 millimeters (102.0 inches), whereas curb weight tops 1,210 kilograms (2,668 pounds) for the heaviest configuration available as of December 2023. If the Jimny EV comes exclusively as a five-door, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will tip the scales at more than 1,400 kilograms (3,086 pounds).
Considering that the Jimny 5-Door has a slightly longer wheelbase than the soon-to-be-discontinued Renault Zoe, one could argue that Suzuki could use a high-voltage battery with a capacity of at least 50 kWh. Last but certainly not least, and contrary to the speculative rendering below, don't expect the charging port to be located on the driver's door.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News