The Indian Army could be looking to acquire the 5-door off-roader Maruti Jimny that could replace the Gypsy currently in use by the army.
According to a media report, the army plans to replace around 35,000 units of the Gypsy. Maruti will offer the army-spec Jimny 5-door in a Dark Jungle Green shade, which will be reserved for the army version. Besides the colour, the army-spec Jimny is said to feature a strengthened chassis with stiffer springs and increased ground clearance.
The SUV is likely to be powered by the same 1.5-litre petrol engine as the civilian version. It develops 103 BHP and 134 Nm and is paired with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and Suzuki’s AllGrip Pro all-wheel drive system.
The Gypsy has been the army’s off-roader of choice for decades. It was lighter and more nimble compared to the Safari Storme and Mahindra Scorpio, which are also part of the army’s fleet.