It's an end of an era for the icon. Maruti Suzuki has pulled the plug on the Gypsy SUV in India. The two-door off-roader was introduced in the country in 1985 and has remained one of the longest-running models in production. In an official communication to its dealers, the automaker has asked showrooms to stop accepting bookings for the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy. The SUV was already available on a made-to-order basis and has remained largely the same over the past three decades.
Badged as the Suzuki Jimny overseas, the Maruti Suzuki Gypsy arrived in India 33 years ago in its second generation and has been sold in the same avatar ever since. Internationally, the SUV moved up to the third gen model in 1998 while the fourth generation version arrived last year globally. The original design that dates back to the 1980s wouldn't meet the updated crash test norms as well as the upcoming emission regulations that require vehicles to meet the BS6 norms. This means, it's end of the road for the iconic model that has not only been sold to civilians but also served in the armed forces.
Also Read: Fourth Gen Suzuki Jimny Review
(The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy as an extreme off-roader)
The Maruti Suzuki Gypsy has been appreciated for its strong off-roading capability, thanks to the ladder-on-frame chassis and rear-wheel drive layout. The SUV comes with AWD as well, while the compact dimensions with a high ground clearance of 210 mm make it extremely potent across various terrains. The Gypsy also remains one of the more popular models to be modified for improved off-roading prowess. In fact, the SUV has had a strong run in the Indian rally scene and still remains a popular sight despite new competition coming in.
The Maruti Gypsy was originally launched with a 970 cc F10A four-cylinder petrol engine, but was later upgraded to a 1.3-litre four-cylinder petrol. The motor powers the model even today with the 16-valve unit tuned to produce 80 bhp at 6000 rpm and 103 Nm of peak torque available at 4500 rpm. The motor comes paired with a 5-speed gearbox. The off-roader lacked a diesel engine but never received one through its run in India. The lack of modern comfort features has also made it a restricted choice for buyers, and a low-selling product. Prices for the Gypsy start at Rs. 6.22 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and is available in both soft top and hard top versions.
The Maruti Gypsy has also been serving in the Indian Armed Forces
The Gypsy was the third offering from Maruti after the 800 and the Omni. The SUV achieved a cult status amidst 4x4 purists and they'll certainly be sad to see the icon go away. This does leave room for manufacturer of to bring the new generation Jimmy to India as a halo product, but the company has not yet confirmed of any such development.
