Visi – August 2019

NO

23

PHOTOS

IRINA MINK

WORDS

STEVE SMITH

HIP TO BE SQUARE

erodynamics...it’s
a key factorin modern
automotivedesignand
somethingcar brands
spendgazillionson. NotSuzuki,at least
notwiththe Jimny.All squaredoff
and upright, this little car’s throwback

designnotonlyappearsto have

escapedthe frontlinesof 1945,but

there’salsoa cutsiepatootsieelement

thatsuggeststhe Jimny’sdesigners

moonlightas cartoonists.Moderncars

are simplynotmeantto looklikethis.

Nonetheless,thisblendof square-

jawedpragmatismandsupporting

castmemberinCarshashadpeople

queueingup at Suzukidealerships

roundthe world.Witha globaldemand

waybeyondSuzuki’sprojections,

there’sa waitinglist in everymarket.

So yes,if evertherewerea poster

child for just how important design is

as a purchasingfactor,you’relookingat

it... butthatisn’t the only card the Jimny

hasto play.

“Doeswhatit sayson the tin”is the

nextin the deckand,withan exterior

thatpromisesoff-roadability,the Jimny

certainlyhasthe internalengineering

to backthatup. Thereare no fancy

electronicswitches,mindyou(they

didn’texistin 1945),butyoucantoggle

fromrear-to all-wheeldriveon the

fly andit hasthe requisitelow-range

gearing– thoughyouhaveto stop

andmanuallyengagethis.Withits

sturdy ladder-frame chassis and short

A

Oh-so-retro,the

unapologeticallyboxy

SuzukiJimnyhasbeen

a worldwidesuccessstory

this year. Here’s why.

�ISI REASONS

visi.co.zaAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019 180