The Suzuki Jimny – the Mercedes G-Wagen for the working classes. It's small, mighty, and very yellow (at least in these press shots).

It's also massively popular. Only 1,200 cars are set to come to the UK, but according to Autocar the number of orders is massively outweighing the number of UK-allocated cars. In fact, if you head to you local Suzuki dealership tomorrow, you can expect to be told to come back in a year, because that's how long the waiting list is.

Suzuki Jimny

You can't even put a deposit down on the car any more, but you can still register your interest.

The cause for the hold up is said to be caused in part by a bottleneck at the factory in Kosai, Japan, where Suzuki builds the Jimny. Cars for international markets (including the UK) and Japan are built there. The latest Jimny is actually proving to be hugely popular in Suzuki's homeland because if you take away the bolt-on wheel arch flares, the car actually qualifies for the low-tax Kei Car regulations, which are usually for tiny city cars.

Suzuki Jimny UK market spec

That's just one reason as to why we aren't getting too many Jimnys, though. In Europe Suzuki is also limiting sales due to emissions regulations. If it sells too many Jimnys relative to the Swift and Ignis, it could push Suzuki's average CO2 levels beyond what is allowed.

The Jimny may look like a gas-guzzling big league SUV, and that's because, well, it sort of is. It's not exactly got the Mercedes that it copied the homework of or things like the Range Rover in its sights, but CO2 levels of between 154g/km for the 1.3-litre version and 170g/km for the 1.5-litre aren't exactly great.

Suzuki Jimny

If you're still interested, and you should be, fear not. Suzuki has already said it will increase the number of Jimnys in will sell from 2020 to 2000 annually. Whether that's because the model lineup will get new engines or if European production will be moved elsewhere remains to be seen.

Gallery: Suzuki Jimny first drive