Suzuki Jimny 2007 News

It's the Suzuki Jimny - also known as the Sierra - and there is no sign yet of of its death.The tiny little off-roader has been sold in 188 countries worldwide and Australia was one of the first, as Suzuki even claims to have invented the recreational four-wheel drive category ahead of Toyota."It's been one of the foundation stones. It's part of Suzuki's DNA. It's gone from a baby workhorse to a recreation four-wheel drive," says Tony Devers, general manager of Suzuki Australia.Work on the Sierra - originally called the LJ10 - began in 1968, when it was powered by a baby 360cc two-stroke engine. But it had a robust ladder chassis with dual-range four-wheel drive. The second-generation LJ20 came to Australia in 1974 and was upgraded to a three-cylinder engine, with a pickup called the Stockman also in the range, from 1975.Development has continued down the years, with bigger engines and a slightly bigger body, but the basics remain the same. Suzuki Australia even re-launched the Jimny Sierra last year with a new price push from $20,490 and claims of category leading fuel economy of just 7.0 litres/100km.It will never win an award for comfort or refinement, but Suzuki says it is still a worthwhile member of the family."We are selling about 1000 a year in Australia. It is now a niche product," says Devers. "What has evolved from the Jimny is the Grand Vitara, and Suzuki's all- wheel drive SX4 models. It's part of the jigsaw puzzle. The beauty of them is that there is a waiting list on the used-car front. People love them for beach work and fishing and that sort of thing."

Suzuki Australia is kicking into the donation tin to help fund the fight to save two endangered species, the Tasmanian Devil and the Black Rhinoceros.The Australian arm of the company is promising to donate $30,000 (based on projected sales from every new Grand Vitara and Jimny sold) to breeding and protection programs for both animals.About $10,000 and two vehicles will be donated to the Tasmanian Devil breeding program being run at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. The Devils are part of a survival program that hopes to ensure the species can bounce back from an outbreak of Devil Facial Tumour disease.Healesville Sanctuary is one of four mainland zoos now caring for 47 Tasmanian Devils as an “insurance population”.The remaining $20,000 will go to the Black Rhino program based in Tanzania, where conservationist Tony Fitzjohn has established a Black Rhino wildlife reserve.Poaching of Black Rhinos for their horns has cut the breed's population from 65,000 in 1970 to just over 2500.Suzuki Australia general manager Tony Devers says the company is proud to provide support to help the two species.“The Black Rhino and the Tasmanian Devil are renowned as tough creatures, making a link with the legendary tough Grand Vitara SUV an obvious one,” he says.A website has been created by Suzuki Australia  savetherhino.com.au which has more information on the projects as well as links to other sites and ways to donate.