- Jimny apparently cut from Suzuki’s European lineup in bid to meet CO2 emission regulations
- New Suzuki Jimny built for commercial use to return in Europe in 2021
Europe’s new emission regulations set to take effect in 2021 have claimed a new victim, the ultra-cool Suzuki Jimny compact SUV.
The Jimny has been talked about in automotive circles since the fourth generation launched in 2018 with a rugged, almost G Class-like design. As a matter of fact, someone built a kit that could make your Jimny look like a G wagon. Even Schmee got a Jimny to sit next to his McLaren Senna and Ford GT.
Now, it is apparently on the way out according to a report by Autocar India.
Fuel-efficient on paper with a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder engine (a three-cylinder is also available), the Jimny is actually not that eco-friendly at all with a CO2 emission rating of 170g/km with a four-speed automatic gearbox. Manual transmission models average 154g/km. New EU legislation will require all automakers to average 95g/km of CO2 emitted for their entire fleet of vehicles sold in Europe.
The popularity of the Jimny would likely have pushed Suzuki’s fleet emissions average above the limit. As such, the Japanese automaker will retire the small SUV in Europe and replace it in 2021 with a commercial version. The latter won’t have any rear seats and will qualify as a N1 category vehicle which doesn’t count against an automaker’s fleet emissions average.
Suzuki plans to return with a passenger version of the Jimny once it develops a more efficient engine to put under its hood. Other Suzuki models sold in Europe like the S-Cross and Vitara will feature a new 48-volt mild hybrid system paired to a new 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine.
For us here in North America, this isn’t a massive loss. It is, however, interesting that the most notable model to be impacted by EU regulations so far had an average fuel economy rating of 6.4 litres per 100 kilometers or roughly 37 mpg.
If you’re in Europe and want a Jimny, you better get on that quick.
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