- Production of Suzuki four-wheel drives came when the automaker acquired the Hope Motor Company in 1968. Hope had manufactured off-road vehicles. In 1970, a 4X4 emerged that was all Suzuki. It featured an air-cooled 359 cc engine. Through the 1970s, the engine displacement grew to 800 cc, and ultimately to 1.3 liters. It gained a reputation for its crude built quality and somewhat bouncy ride. In the 1980s, the Suzuki Jimny, called the Samurai in the United States, gained popularity for its low price and fuel-efficiency, but the automotive press was critical of its inadequate performance. Suzuki launched the short-lived two-seater X-90 in 1996. It came with a 95-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. The body was only 146 inches long. The automaker discontinued it after the 1998 model year.
- The 1982 Suzuki Jimny in most markets had a 538 cc three-cylinder engine that developed 26 horsepower and 38 foot-pounds of torque. A four-speed manual transmission matched the engine. It rode on an 80-inch wheelbase, and the body was only 125 inches long and 54.8 inches wide. The Jimny, however, had a high profile at 66.6 inches tall. Its curbside weight was a scant 1,513 lbs. The 1989 Sidekick for the North American market received a 64-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder or an 80-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder matched with a three-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The Sidekick sat on an 86.6-inch wheelbase and its body was 142.5 inches long, 65.6 inches tall and 64.2 inches wide.
- An 81-horsepower 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine powers the 2011 Jimnys in most markets. A four-speed or five-speed manual complements the engine. The Jimny's wheelbase measures 88.6 inches. Its body is 140.5 inches long from bumper to bumper. It stands 65.7 inches tall. Stopping power comes from front disc brakes and rear drums. The front and rear suspension system consists of three-link rigid axles with coil springs. The steering mechanism is a recirculating ball type. The 2011 Jimny's curbside weight is 2,338 lbs.
- Suzuki designed the upscale Grand Vitara 4X4, formerly called the Sidekick, with a somewhat hybrid automobile-truck chassis. In 2006, it had an all-truck chassis accompanied by a 185-horsepower 2.7-liter V-6, but the Grand Vitara did not fare well in the North America. Sales improved after Suzuki reduced its power output and redesigned the chassis to give the 2009 Grand Vitara some passenger car comfort. Suzuki in 2011 offered Grand Vitara as a base model, mid-range Premium and the near luxury Limited. Power comes from a 166-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with a four-speed automatic. The Limited version has a four-mode four-wheel drive system that permits an RV to tow it on the road instead of a trailer.
previous post
next post