Suzuki Jimny

Suzuki Jimny
1998–present Suzuki Jimny
Overview
Manufacturer	Suzuki
Production	April 1970–present
Body and chassis
Class	Off-road mini SUV
Body style	2-door wagon 2-door van 2-door convertible
Related	Suzuki Escudo Maruti Gypsy
Chronology
Predecessor	HopeStar ON360

First generation (LJ10-SJ20)
Overview
Also called	Suzuki LJ50/LJ55/LJ80 Suzuki Eljot (Germany) Suzuki Stockman (Australia)
Production	1970–1981
Body and chassis
Class	mini SUV
Body style	2-door wagon 2-door convertible 2-door cab chassis
Powertrain
Engine	359 cc (0.4 l) FB/L50 I2 539 cc (0.5 l) LJ50 I3 797 cc (0.8 l) F8A I4
Transmission	4-speed manual
Chronology
Predecessor	HopeStar ON360

Second generation (SJ30/SJ40/JA/JB)
Overview
Also called	Chevrolet Samurai Holden Drover Maruti Gypsy Santana Samurai Suzuki Caribian Suzuki Katana Suzuki Potohar Suzuki SJ410/413 Suzuki Samurai Suzuki Santana Suzuki Sierra
Production	1981–1998
Assembly	Iwata, Japan Gurgaon, India Bekasi, Indonesia Bangkok, Thailand Nairobi, Kenya Bogotá, Colombia (GM Colombia) Linares, Spain (Santana Motor)
Body and chassis
Class	Off-road mini SUV
Body style	2-door wagon 2-door van 2-door convertible 2-door pickup 2-door cab chassis
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	539 cc LJ50 2-stroke I3 547 cc F5A I3 657 cc F6A I3 658 cc K6A I3 970 cc F10A I4 1298 cc G13BA/G13BB I4 1324 cc G13A I4 1905 cc XUD 9 TD I4 (Santana)
Transmission	4/5-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,030 mm (80 in) 2,375 mm (94 in) (LWB)
Length	3,195–4,010 mm (126–158 in)
Width	1,395–1,535 mm (55–60 in)
Height	1,670–1,840 mm (66–72 in)
Chronology
Successor	Suzuki Jimny JA12/22, JB32 Suzuki Sidekick (Canada) Suzuki X-90 (United States)

Second generation (JA12/JA22/JB32)
Suzuki Jimny JA12W series
Overview
Production	1995–1998
Assembly	Iwata, Japan
Body and chassis
Class	Off-road mini SUV
Body style	2-door wagon 2-door convertible
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	657 cc (0.7 l) F6A I3 658 cc (0.7 l) K6A I3 1,298 cc (1.3 l) G13BA/G13BB I4
Transmission	5-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,030 mm (80 in)
Length	3,295–3,430 mm (129.7–135.0 in)
Width	1,395–1,550 mm (54.9–61.0 in)
Height	1,670–1,825 mm (65.7–71.9 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Suzuki SJ series

Third generation (JB23/JB33/JB43/JB53)
Overview
Also called	Suzuki Jimny Wide Suzuki Jimny Sierra Chevrolet Jimny Mazda AZ-Offroad
Production	January 1998–present
Assembly	Iwata, Japan Bogotá, Colombia (GM Colombia) Linares, Spain (Santana Motor)
Body and chassis
Class	Off-road mini SUV
Body style	2-door wagon 2-door convertible
Layout	Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	658 cc K6A I3 (JB23) 1,298 cc G13BB I4 (JB33) 1,328 cc M13A I4 (JB43) 1,461 cc K9K TD I4 (JB53)
Transmission	5-speed manual 4-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,250 mm (89 in)
Length	3,395–3,675 mm (133.7–144.7 in)
Width	1,475–1,600 mm (58.1–63.0 in)
Height	1,680–1,705 mm (66.1–67.1 in)

The Suzuki Jimny is a line of off-road mini SUVs made by the Japanese automaker Suzuki produced since April 1970.

The history of Suzuki four-wheel-drive cars dates to 1968. Suzuki bought former Japanese automaker Hope Motor Company which had introduced fifteen small off-road vehicles called the HopeStar ON360. The first Suzuki-branded 4-wheel drive, the LJ10 (Light Jeep 10), was introduced in 1970. The LJ10 had a 359 cc air-cooled, two-stroke, in-line two-cylinder engine. The liquid-cooled LJ20 was introduced in 1972 with the cooling changed due to newly enacted emission regulations, and it gained 3 hp. In 1975, Suzuki complemented the LJ20 with the LJ50, which had a larger 539 cc, two-stroke, in-line three-cylinder engine and bigger differentials. This was originally targeted at the Australian market, but more exports soon followed.

The Jimny8/LJ80 was an updated version of the LJ50 with an 800 cc, four-stroke, in-line four-cylinder engine, followed by the Jimny 1000/SJ410 and Jimny 1300/SJ413. An updated version of the SJ413 became known as the Samurai and was the first Suzuki officially marketed in the US. The series from SJ410 to SJ413 was known as the Sierra in Australia, and remained the Jimny in some markets.

The new Jimny was released in 1998, and now bears the same name in all markets. The 1998 release used the G13BB EFI engine, replaced by the M13AA EFI engine in 2001 and the M13AA VVT engine in 2005, in conjunction with a minor interior redesign.

The vehicle was originally developed by the Hope Motor Company of Japan in 1967 and sold as the HopeStar ON360 from April 1968. It used a Mitsubishi 359 cc (21.9 cu in) air-cooled 2-stroke ME24 engine which produced 21 PS (15.4 kW). The rear axle was sourced from the Mitsubishi Colt 1000 and wheels were sourced from the Mitsubishi Jeep. It was a very basic two-seater vehicle with no doors, but a sturdy four-wheel drive system allowed it to go off-road. Top speed was 70 km/h (43 mph), 30 km/h in 4WD mode. The tiny Hope company sold very few ON360s, possibly as few as fifteen, although 100 ME24 engines were purchased) and sold the design to Suzuki in 1968, after Mitsubishi declined to take over production.