Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
31 Oct 2019
1 min read

If you’re on the edge of your seat waiting for Suzuki to produce a ute version of its too-cute off-roader, we’ve got bad news for you; a tray-backed version of the Jimny “is not on the agenda”.

Speaking on the floor of the Tokyo Motor Show, a Suzuki spokesperson told CarsGuide that a tray-back version of the iconic off-roader wasn't on the current schedule.

"We can't talk about future plans, but it's not something I've heard of," he said. "It's not on the agenda."

Read More: Should Suzuki build a Jimny ute?

Those words will drive a stake through the heart of Jimny fans everywhere, many of which have been longing for a ute variant to break cover. Those hopes were fuelled by Suzuki itself when it unveiled the Jimny Sierra Pickup Style concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon in January.

That car saw some key design changes, like a new grille, off-road rubber wrapped around new-look wheels, and, of course, a tray where the backseat used to be. 

But alas, it seems that concept will remain just that, at least for now, with no plans for a poduction version.

Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold. But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul. And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard. When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House. But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others. More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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