The Jimny is like no other. Whether tall or short, nothing quite matches this intrepid little 4×4. The Jimny was the first of its kind and would prove far from the last. With the introduction of the Jimny, the world learned the benefits of a small off-road vehicle. The low horsepower combined with the low weight makes for a hell of a mountain goat. This is the short but daring story of the beloved.
What year did the Suzuki Jimny come out?
Production of Suzuki Jimny began in 1970. In Japan, there is an automobile classification known as “.” These tiny automobiles were thus classified according to their size, weight, and tiny engines. There are kei cars, trucks and even vans. However, the Jimny was the first in its class to offer 4-wheel drive. The Kei class offered Japanese citizens smaller, cheaper cars that saved them money on taxes.
reports, the Jimny has a similar origin story to that of the . While we know the Jimny as a Suzuki product, they weren’t the first to build small off-roaders. That honor goes to a small company called Hope Motor Company. Suzuki would come to buy the design from HMC. Once Suzuki acquired the HopeStar ON360 (Jimny), Suzuki quickly had viable prototypes.
First generation Jimny
The first generation Suzuki Jimny LJ10 was powered by an air-cooled 359cc Suzuki FB two-stroke twin. It produced 25hp but was eventually boosted to 27hp. Suzuki built this tiny truck on a ladder frame and even had a fully functional part-time system.
The first generation Jimny managed to sell 5,000 units in Japan. This first-generation model has been in production for 11 years, according to Silodrome. As the Jimny became more popular, Suzuki made various versions, for both domestic and export markets.
Second generation Jimny
The second generation of Suzuki Jimny started in 1981. At this point, the . Suzuki had many different versions, some still tiny for the Kei class in Japan, but other larger models for export, and even some with truck beds. Export template names you may have heard include; Chevrolet Samurai, Holden Drover (“Holden” is the Australian GM division) and Maruti Gypsy (India), to match the country where the model was sold.
While JDM Jimnys still used the LJ50 two-stroke engines, some export models used larger 8-valve engines and were placed in larger and longer frames. The best example of the difference between JDM and export models was the SJ40. This model was sold as Suzuki SJ410 in most countries. The SJ40 sported improvements over its predecessors, which had been derived from the HopeStar. The primitive tiny two-stroke engines were abandoned and replaced with Suzuki’s F10A 970cc, SOHC 8-valve. As fitted to the Jimny 1000, this engine produced 51 hp, sending that power via an all-synchromesh four-speed gearbox. Some models also had an automatic transmission.
The rest of the second-generation Jimny was a roller coaster of new turbocharged three-cylinder engines, new body styles, and more general refinement. However, the model remained diminutive yet aggressive.
Third generation Jimny
The third generation Jimny arrived in 1998. Suzuki decided it was time for a major body redesign. The third generation Jimny retained its ladder frame and dual live axles. However, the tiny 4×4 has suddenly found some style. There were now hard-top and soft-top versions. The Jimny also switched from leaf springs to three-link suspension coils.
The new engine now produced 80 bhp. A real supercar compared to the original version. This third generation only lasted until 2011.
Fourth generation Jimny
The fourth and current generation Jimny returned in 2018. The world rejoiced to have its most loved 4×4 back.
This new Jimny was modern. It had real style and looked like a car built for more than just recreation. The engine for the Japan Kei car version is a turbocharged 658cc inline-three. This engine has dual valves (that is, 12 valves for its three cylinders) and uses VVT technology, Silodrome says.
The export version of the vehicle is the Jimny Sierra. This version is physically larger and is equipped with the naturally aspirated K15B 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine. This engine produces 101 horsepower and 102 lb/ft of torque. And with this version, the Jimny has become a 4×4 icon forever.
Long live the Jimny
The Suzuki Jimny has had more models and variations than I can count on my shoes. But that’s the way of a truly international vehicle. While we, and many other countries, have never had the Jimny nameplate, we have seen it in many other guises, most notably here, the Suzuki Samurai.
However, now that many of the more desirable models are big enough to get around import laws, you might see a plucky little Jimny prancing across the United States today. If you do, consider yourself lucky. These little bruises are both rare and delicious.
