The fourth-generation Suzuki Jimny rolled out in 2018 with a choice of three-cylinder turbo for the Japanese market’s kei version or naturally aspirated four-cylinder for the global version. The latter’s 1.5-liter mill isn’t particularly frugal. Gas mileage also takes a hit from the body-on-frame construction and the poor aero, which is why the Jimny was reimagined as a two-seat commercial vehicle in Europe back in July 2021.
Finished in Medium Gray, the special edition is beautified with black decals that include bodyside stripes with small inserts reading Horizon, plus Jimny decals on the lower part of the doors. Equipped with black-painted steelies mounted with Dunlop Grandtrek AT20 rubber, the Jimny Horizon further sweetens the deal with a removable trailer hitch and flexible mud flaps.
The otherwise optional Adventure side skirts are featured as well, along with a spare wheel cover boasting the Suzuki logo and lettering. Highlights further include a retro-style front grille with Suzuki lettering and undercarriage protection for the front bumper. Only available with a five-speed manual, the special edition is an F-class affair in terms of CO2 emissions. The lowest automakers can go in Europe is G, which – understandably – means that the Jimny’s days are numbered in the European Union and the UK.
Back in January 2023, the Japanese automaker published the so-called Growth Strategy for FY2030. The 53-page release includes a product plan for Europe and the United Kingdom, which lists five all-electric models.
One of them is a Jimny-like sport utility vehicle. The first of said zero-emission vehicles will drop sometime during fiscal year 2024, with the others to follow suit by 2030. The plan for Europe and the UK is for Suzuki Automobile sales to comprise 80% electric vehicles and 20% hybridized vehicles by the end of the decade.
It’s not clear when the Suzuki Jimny EV – or whatever it will be called – is due to be revealed. However, we do know that Suzuki will deepen its relationship with Toyota Motor Company for autonomous tech and batteries for electrified vehicles. Japanese automaker Subaru also depends on Toyota – for the time being – for both electric and hybrid technologies. The bZ4X served as the blueprint for the Solterra, whereas the previous-gen Crosstrek Hybrid combines a boxer engine with a Toyota hybrid system.
Suzuki, meanwhile, sells two badge-engineered Toyotas in the Old Continent in the form of the Swace (based on the Corolla Touring Sports Hybrid) and the Across (based on the RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid). Care to guess why Suzuki partnered with Toyota for these models? The answer is – of course – fleet-wide emissions.
Come 2025, automakers will be required to average 93.6 grams of carbon dioxide emissions per kilometer for passenger vehicles and 153.9 grams for light commercial vehicles. Each gram above that will be fined, with said fine multiplied by the number of vehicles sold in the European Union that year. Given the aforementioned, it’s no wonder that the internal combustion-engined Jimny will be canned for an EV.