Maruti Jimny With Rear Wheel Steering: Check It Out [Video]
Maruti Jimny is a capable off-roader. India has already had several tasteful builds based on this vehicle. We have seen people spec it with off-road bumpers, G-wagen-like grille, headlamps and more. Most of these remain cosmetic mod jobs. However, there are some insane builds and mod jobs which have given the Jimny major mechanical upgrades. We have seen owners up-tune the SUV’s engine and alter its hardware. In a recent video shared on Instagram, we get to see a Jimny that’s been modified heavily and is even equipped with rear-wheel steering.
The video shows a modified Jimny driving around in what looks like a closed private land. The vehicle has rear-wheel steering. Towards the start, it is seen attempting what looks like a crab walk. Later in the reel, the Jimny is seen doing short turns. This Maruti SUV features RWD. So here, the live axle gets manoeuvring ability. This shortens the turning radius and alters the overall dynamics.
This vehicle has been built by TRACK 4WD garage in Wayanad, Kerala. Below is another video showing the same vehicle doing tighter turns. We can see how the rear wheel steering has made its turning radius shorter and more manageable. This particular vehicle has also been specced with off-road wheels and other accessories as well. The suspension seems to be beefed up as well. It wears a number plate that reads KL 11 CA 101. This means that it is registered under the Kozhikode Regional Transport Office (RTO).
The turning radius of the stock Jimny is large compared to its overall size and proportions. People often find it to be slightly cumbersome to take turns in city traffic and manoeuvre into and out of tight spaces. We have experienced the same with our long-termer Jimny as well.
This isn’t the first time that we see a Jimny equipped with a rear-wheel steering mechanism. Previously, a video shared on the YouTube channel ‘Aaruksh’ showed an insanely built Jimny having off-road fun somewhere in North India. The vehicle is seen having fun with vehicles like a Thar, Wrangler and Willys. This Jimny was being used to explore the unexplored terrains and ‘ make a track’ where just wilderness existed.
This Jimny rides on massive off-road tyres and gets a lifted suspension setup as well. The vehicle is so built that it can tackle any terrain- no matter how rough it is. The video also shows the impressive articulation and flexibility of this Jimny’s mechanicals.
Maruti Suzuki launched the 5-door Jimny in India in June 2023. With its boxy design and compact proportions, the Jimny proves to be extremely capable on terrains. It is available in two trims- Zeta and Alpha. The India-spec is powered by a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine that generates 105hp and 134Nm of torque. Both a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
The Jimny uses Maruti Suzuki’s K15B engine and comes with RWD. The claimed fuel efficiency is 16.94 kpl for the manual and 16.39kpl for the automatic. The real-world mileage, we found out, was slightly lesser. The vehicle offers Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro four-wheel drive system, a manual transfer case and a low-range gearbox. This system gets selectable modes- ‘2WD-high’, ‘4WD-high’, and ‘4WD-low’.