Upcoming Maruti Jimny Electric: What It Could Look Like
Rumour has it that Maruti Suzuki could be working on an all-electric version of the Jimny. While details are sparse, the EV could be based on the 3-door version. In markets like Europe where the emission norms are too stringent, the 3-door Jimny is currently sold as a commercial vehicle. Building an EV will likely solve this. If reports are to be believed, the Jimny EV could debut in 2026. Later, the 5-door EV will likely launch in markets like India. A recent render shows how the Jimny electric could look.
Jimny EV Render: Key Highlights
In the render, the three-door Jimny EV is finished in a lovely shade of Maroon. Despite its electric genes, the vehicle looks butch. It gets chunky wheel arches finished in Black. The front fascia looks rugged with a unique design for the grille. Since this is an EV, this will be a faux grille- just for the sake of aesthetics. The circular LED headlamps and indicators will remind you of the Gypsy. Like on the Jimnys and Sierras from the past, this concept also comes with a bumper-mounted turn signal and fog lamps. There is also a sturdy skid plate at the front.
The boxy shape and quirky proportions have been kept safe in the concept. Being a three-door, the silhouette could seem familiar to Jimny owners and fans. The side also gets a Black insert and the roof is finished in Black. The vehicle rides on good-looking alloy wheels with AT tyres.
In another render showing the 5-door EV, the rear design can be seen. In keeping with the model’s design DNA, it gets a boxy rear end, a muscular single-piece tailgate that opens sidewards, rear fog lamps that sit on the rear bumper and a tailgate-mounted spare wheel. The tail lamps get C-shaped detailing and resemble those on the Thar Roxx. The rear bumper also comes with faux exhausts.
Jimny EV: Powertrain Possibilities
It remains to be seen how Maruti Suzuki will design the platform and powertrains of the electric Jimny. The petrol version has a ladder-frame construction and is quite rugged. Its body-on-frame chassis demands space. Plus, the vehicle has compact proportions. Thus taking the conventional ‘electrified ICE platform’ could be difficult as mounting the battery packs on this chassis will be a strenuous task.
It isn’t however, impossible. There are EVs that have been built from body-on-frame SUVs. The next big deterrent would be the cost factor.
The best way out for Maruti Suzuki could be to base the Jimny EV on a new skateboard platform. Probably an iteration of the 27PL platform that’s under development, could help. Co-developed with Toyota, this platform is expected to debut on the eVX. It could make for the right fit on the 5-door electric Jimny as well.
Using a skateboard platform will likely demand a trade-off in terms of off-road abilities. The 27PL architecture will support the use of dual electric motors. Thus AWD can be expected. This platform can accommodate battery packs of up to 60 kWh. 48 kWh and 60 kWh units are expected on the eVX. The Jimny EV could come with any of these, should Suzuki choose to base it on the 27 PL.
If taking the ‘ICE electrification’ route, Maruti will have to do major re-engineering to the chassis to safely accommodate the say, 60 kWh battery pack within the frame. It will then have to use more powerful electric motors to propel the added bulk.