October 23: Remember Suzuki?

Remember Suzuki? That little Japanese car company that sold a few models under their own name, while also supplying Chevrolet with the same model under a different name. They even made a stab at greatness with the unusually named Kizashi, the almost a midsize sedan. That name is right up there with Nissan's  Qashqai, when it comes to names that our North American tongues get twisted into pretzels pronouncing. When I think of Suzuki, this little 4x4 is the first thing that comes to mind.......

 Born to be wild? Well maybe, depending on your definition of wild, but to its credit, this little 4x4 was rugged and could handle some moderately difficult off road work. Sold elsewhere in a variety of versions.....

This was the Samurai, and this is what comes to mind when I think of Suzuki. But the Samurai had a baby brother, the cute as a button Jimny, which never graced our shores........

This little bruiser (maybe a little overkill here, Barry) was as capable as its bigger brethren. The Jimny has been selling everywhere else since 1990 and only now has it introduced its fourth generation for 2019, as you can see in this montage courtesy of CarDekho, India's new and used car website.......

According to Suzuki, the demand for this latest version has been staggering, with over 4500 orders coming from England alone. Quite remarkable and apparently nowhere near what they'll actually be shipped, of this little 4x4.

Staying true to the original, at least in some respects, the little Jimny is simple and tough. Check out the instrument panel.......

Almost a throw back to those days gone by, when all we needed to know was right in front of us and not hidden away somewhere in the car's computer, ready to be accessed, providing the driver knew where to look.

So give your head a shake, if you think North America has the latest and the greatest, when it comes to vehicles in all price ranges. Say it ain't so Joe, because it ain't. Just because they don't sell here, doesn't mean Suzuki has been lost to the other world markets. And (with apologies to Martha Stewart) that's a good thing.

Until next time.......