3 May 2015, Tanjung Malim Perak - The first Jimny Samurai Club of Malaysia or Kelab Jimny Samurai Malaysia (KJSM) jamboree with the codename "Rock The Road 3.0" which fully sponsored by Suzuki Malaysia Automobile (SMA) was successfully organized at Teratak Riverview near jungle of Tanjung Malim. SMA has brought three of their new Jimny JB43 for display at the jamboree where one of the Jimny was used for test drive and challenge. Did the Jimny camouflaged yellow JB43 survived? During the first day of jamboree, the camouflaged JB43 was tested for river crossing and on the second day, it took the opportunity on the group 4x4 challenge.
Camouflaged JB43 on display during the arrival of the participant at Tanjung Malim.
The JB43 doing river crossing it looks like very easy for this mini 4x4 even on standard outfit.
With approximately 190mm ground clearance, the standard coiled suspension of this mini 4x4 is adequately flexible for the unseen boulder in the river.
Personally, I would prefer this JB43 had been driven by the experienced 4x4 challenge and let it go through the Special Stage (SS) alone. The thing is, this JB43 was hooked in the back of the modified for serious challenge monster LJ80 all the way from starting box. What happen was on manoeuvring the SS, the JB43 driver cannot control the car independently and thus slamming the front into the obstacle. That should not be done at the first place. There were other standard SJ in other group and still can go through the SS without much damage. However, this shows that the "unexpected torture" prove that this 4x4 is tough, survived the challenge and yet driven back by the SMA staff back to their showroom.
In the future, we hope that SMA will prepare their JB43 for more aggressive promo by modifying the camo JB43 such as installing front and rear bar, tough sidestep and some lifting. They can even enter 4x4 adventure such as Rainforest Challenge and Adventure (RFC) for promoting the 4x4 car, just like what other manufacturer did on their double cabs. In the end, there are many Suzuki 4x4 owners out there especially the Jimny family (LJ, SJ410 and SJ413) are waiting for their turn to own the new Jimny if not the price which pull them back.