The Suzuki Samurai has been reborn as the Jimny.
Suzuki no longer sells cars in the US, but it's a shame we're missing out on cool vehicles like the Jimny.
This subcompact SUV was updated for 2018. The third-generation model gets a sturdy body-on-frame platform and retro styling reminiscent of the original 1970 Jimny.
It did not receive the pickup truck body that was offered for the Jimny-based Samurai model in the 1980s. Now a Suzuki dealer in New Zealand has solved this problem by selling Jimny conversions to a pickup truck with a new car warranty.
The vehicle, dubbed the Jimny Flat Deck, is manufactured by Cowper Trucks, which offers a range of solutions for the small Jimny. For example, the Jimny's wheelbase can be lengthened by just under 8 inches to accommodate a short or long sleeper, as shown in this photo.
The only powertrain offered for the flat-platform Jimny is a 1.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 100 hp and 95 lb-ft of torque, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and all-wheel drive system as standard.
For buyers lucky enough to qualify for delivery, the starting price is NZ$37,990 (about $22,850).
Could Suzuki release its own Jimny pickup truck? The company unveiled the Jimny concept at the 2018 Tokyo Motor Show, but has so far kept quiet about possible production plans.
Suzuki turns 100 years old this year. The company was founded by Michio Suzuki as a manufacturer of looms. Since then, the company has developed in various fields and has also been involved in motorcycle and automobile production. The company's first automobile was the small Suzurite SF, produced in 1955 and available in sedan, van, and pickup truck bodies.