FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW: Suzuki's new-age Jimny

It was previewed by front and side silhouette teaser shots way back in July and now Suzuki has flagged its intention to join the throng of compact SUVs for city-dwellers with an all-new production model based on the iV-4 concept.

Not to be confused with the upcoming SX4 S-Cross, which debuted at Geneva in March arrives here in December, the iV-4 concept points to a showroom model that will be smaller than both the it and the Grand Vitara.

As such, it will effectively replace the venerable Jimny at the bottom of Suzuki Australia’s SUV line-up, since the hard-core three-door off-roader will soon be phased out locally due to its lack of stability control, which already prevents it from being sold in Victoria.

But Suzuki’s as-yet-unnamed compact SUV, which is a development of the Maruti Suzuki XA Alpha concept seen at the 2012 New Delhi motor show, couldn’t be more different in concept to the Jimny, even if it will share its circa-$20,000 starting price and Suzuki 4WD design cues like a clam-shell bonnet and five-slot front grille.

It will be a direct competitor for city-crossovers like Nissan’s top-selling Dualis, which itself will be renewed by mid-2014, Holden’s new Trax and the Hyundai ix35, although the Korean brand is considering a smaller SUV itself, most likely based on the Niro concept that sister brand also debuted at Frankfurt.

Other direct competitors will include the new Ford EcoSport, Nissan Juke, Fiat Panda and Peugeot 2008 (all of which are due here this year) and next year’s new Renault Captur, while Mazda, Honda and Volkswagen are also developing small crossovers for the booming global SUV market.

Measuring 4215mm long, 1850mm wide and 1665mm high, the iV-4 features an illuminated grille that’s expected to carry over to the production model due by 2015, alongside a host of customisation options, including different exterior colour, texture and equipment combinations.

Painted in specially created Brilliant Turquoise Metallic paint, the concept also features distinctive body-side character lines, foglights with a roof-mounted laser sensor and oversized 20-inch alloy wheels with 235/55 tyres.

Unlike some rivals, the production version will be available with Suzuki’s trademark four-wheel drive capability – as evidenced by the iV-4 name, which denotes ‘individuality’, ‘vehicle’ and 4-wheel drive’ -- as well as being among the lightest and most efficient models in its class.

“The production model based on the iV-4 aims to be an SUV for the present day: light in weight and boasting among the lowest CO2 emissions in its class,” says Suzuki.

“And besides being eco-friendly, the four-wheel drive model will come equipped with ALLGRIP, the next generation of 4WD technology, in order to deliver the powerful drive the user expects of an SUV. It will thus offer a combination of design and off-road performance that goes beyond a typical city-SUV.

Suzuki is yet to announce whether the iV-4 will be produced in right-hand drive form for markets outside Europe, but has confirmed production will commence in Hungary in 2015.

“Suzuki will start launching the production model, based on this iV-4 concept model, at Magyar Suzuki in 2015 and will be releasing it in Europe,” it said.

“When the production model based on the iV-4 is launched in the future, Suzuki will be introducing completely new possibilities into the SUV segment.”

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