Naza teases Suzuki Jimny Rhino Edition for Malaysia, what's the story behind the rhino?
CY Foong · Jun 15, 2023 03:30 PM
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The plucky little Suzuki Jimny does what a massive Ford Ranger Raptor can do off-road but its small size also makes it quite well-adapted to the concrete jungle. With that said Suzuki Cars Malaysia has just uploaded a teaser for a special edition Jimny on its Facebook page.
Like any other teaser, the main star is shrouded in the shadow but the post does give a bit of a clue on what this upcoming Jimny will be. No, it’s not the 5-door model that was just launched in India but the rhinoceros is a throwback that most Jimny fans would associate with.
If you pore through the Jimny aftermarket scene, you might come across some parts with a rhinoceros logo. According to an extensive book covering the Jimny’s history, Suzuki SJ the Enthusiast’s Companion, the association between the horned beast and the tiny off-roader was first made in the UK in the 1980s when the second-generation Jimny was introduced there.
Prior to the SJ413’s unveiling at the 1982 Birmingham Motor Show, Suzuki’s British distributors at the time were sent units of the off-roader which had plastic spare wheel covers carrying a drawing of a rhino. The distributors liked the animal and had it redrawn with the rhinoceros symbolizing toughness and dependability.
As they say, the rest is history and since then, the rhinoceros has been depicted as the de facto symbol of the Jimny. Throughout the years, there might have been some special editions of the Jimny with the rhino logo, mostly in the UK but the most recent one was unveiled in South Africa.
The South African-spec Jimny Rhino Edition only offers aesthetic enhancements with exclusive rhino decals, a soft spare wheel cover with the rhino logo, a Suzuki Heritage grille, red Suzuki mud flaps, as well as rain and wind deflectors.
It seems likely that the teased Malaysian-spec Jimny Rhino Edition could feature the same kit as the South African version. Since the upgrades are only visual, the same naturally-aspirated 1.5-litre K15B 4-cylinder (102 PS/138 Nm) will likely remain as will the sole 4-speed automatic transmission.
The Suzuki Jimny in Malaysia is distributed by Naza Eastern Motors and is only available in one variant, the Jimny 1.5 AT which is priced from RM 174,900.
Traded advertising for a career that fits his passion for cars. Enjoys spotting cars during his free time and has a soft spot for Japanese Kei cars but drives a thirsty manual sedan.
