There have been five generations of the much-lauded compact 4x4 since the launch of the original Jimny in 1970, with global sales now topping more than 2,5-million units.
Huge successes can have tiny beginnings. In 1970, the first Jimny was powered by a tiny two-cylinder, two-stroke engine with a capacity of jut 359 cc and a maximum output of only 18,5 kW.
Today, those statistics seem almost ludicrous, but that didn’t stop the first Jimny, dubbed the LJ10, from being successfully launched in Japan.
This first Jimny had a soft-top roof with zip-down canvas doors, and seating for only three, as the space behind the driver’s seat was occupied by the spare wheel. It was a very basic vehicle, with safety and convenience features noticeable only by their absence.
The LJ10 had a ladder-frame chassis designed specifically for tackling off-road terrain, and featured rugged leaf-spring suspension front and rear. Large 16-inch wheels at each corner provided traction, while the gearbox features a proper low-ratio transfer case. Designed purely as a utility vehicle, the Jimny was only 2,95 metres long, and weighed a featherweight 630 kg.
Yet, its impressive capabilities and sales success would provide the foundation and the impetus for Suzuki’s rapid growth and development in the years and decades that followed.The Jimny’s attributes have always been legendary. It is considered indestructible, with astonishing all-terrain talent and peerless reliability, even in the toughest environments. The clean, functional design of the LJ10 unambiguously reflected the little Suzuki’s no-nonsense approach.
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