Japan is a different place altogether in terms of pop culture, literature, and art, as well as car culture. To this effect, DAMD decided to take the Suzuki Jimny and dress it up as if it were a miniature G-Class and Defender. The scope of these body kits beggars belief, sporting the sort of attention to detail that you wouldn’t expect from the aftermarket scene.
First of all, it should be mentioned the Land Rover-esque model is called Little D. Read that again, slowly, and try not to laugh out loud. The Jimny with Mercedes-Benz influences is called Little G, and as expected, DAMD made it as bling-bling as possible.
The tuner hasn’t released pricing information but did confirm the body kits are under development. Production should start in the first quarter of 2019, and no, DAMD doesn’t mention if the body kits are interchangeable between the short-wheelbase Jimny and long-wheelbase Jimny Sierra.
In addition to the bumpers, grille, hood, fender flares, and side steps, the Little D and Little G also feature aftermarket wheels that mirror the design of the originals from Land Rover and Mercedes-Benz. Pictures of the cabin haven’t been released, but on the other hand, the Jimny doesn’t need an overhaul in this regard.
Now in its fourth generation, the small SUV rides on an all-new platform that stays true to the previous generation’s body-on-frame design. Produced at the Kosai plant in Shizuoka for all markets, the Jimny is available with two engine and three transmission options.
The short-wheelbase model designed according to kei car regulations comes with 658 cubic centimeters of three-cylinder turbo. Move on up to the Jimny Sierra (a.k.a. the one for Europe and markets outside Japan), and you’re looking at the 1.5-liter K15B, a four-cylinder engine that relies on natural aspiration to develop 100 horsepower.
Even though it features Suzuki Safety Support, the Jimny hasn’t impressed the Euro NCAP, receiving three stars overall for its crash-test and occupant-protection performance. When all is said and done, this fellow is safer in all aspects compared to the previous generation, which ran from 1998 to 2018 with minimal changes.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News