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The ‘All-new Suzuki Jimny Bakkie’ April Fool’s Joke might have been a clever bit of market-testing as Suzuki Australia’s general manager Michael Pachota this week confirmed that the idea is very much alive.

Suzuki Auto South Africa posted the gag on their social media in April, and ever since then, people have been clamouring for the non-existent Jimny utility vehicle.

With customer demand for the 2024 Suzuki Jimny growing stronger all the time, the Japanese carmaker has now decided to explore different versions of the popular compact off-roader, including a hybrid and EV model. And of course, a bakkie.

Hold onto your seats #SuzukiSA fam, because the all-new Suzuki Jimny Bakkie is finally here! You’ve been asking and we listened!
With its compact size and rugged versatility, this little bakkie packs a punch 😉 pic.twitter.com/yLHZTX0PJT

— Suzuki SA (@Suzuki_ZA) April 1, 2024

Along with an EV version of the Jimny that’s expected to arrive by 2030 (one of five new battery-electric Suzukis likely to be revealed by the end of this decade) and a hybrid version due before then, Suzuki is considering a Jimny ute for global release – perhaps reprising the Mighty Boy name.

The Suzuki Mighty Boy was produced from 1983 to 1988 and was a “bonnet type” bakkie (or coupé utility) with a 550 engine. It was classified as a commercial vehicle in Japan (and in Australia), meaning it could benefit from lower taxes for such vehicles, but it never really took off as a proper bakkie. Despite this, it still has a dedicated following in Japan.

Pachota recently said “Anything that starts with Jimmy ends in sales,” so the the long-awaited two-door pick-up based on the Jimny

When quizzed about the long-awaited two-door pick-up based on the Jimny at the launch of the new Suzuki Swift, Pachota stated: “The project, I would say, is not dead.”

Jimny Pick-Up Style concept was also revealed at the 2019 Tokyo Auto Salon, but the recently introduced five-door Suzuki Jimny with its 340mm-longer wheelbase, appears to make a lot more sense as a basis for the Jimny bakkie.

Suzuki New Zealand then poured more fuel on the fire in 2020, forging ahead with a local conversion program that resulted in the Jimny utility that Aussies have been clamouring for ever since.

Jimny sales have increased by more than 50% so far in 2024, making it Suzuki Australia’s top-selling model and the second most popular model in the small SUV segment behind only the Mazda CX-3. Here in South Africa, the love for bakkies is strong, so we’re happy for the Aussies to carry this torch.

Bring on the baby bakkie.

[source:carsales]