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Two completely different styles of modifications from the same company show the tuning potential of the Jimny
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–> by Thanos Pappas
2 hours ago
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by Thanos Pappas
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The Suzuki Jimny is the perfect base for different kinds of modifications thanks to its simple, retro-flavored styling and rugged nature. ESB is one of the numerous tuners offering a wide range of accessories for the tiny off-roader, grouped in two different packages – the slammed LST and the lifted LST-Up – both benefiting from a widebody treatment.
Both kits from the Osaka-based tuner feature grille add-ons that give it an angry look, plus white-painted 16-inch CLS TC01 alloy wheels, bolt-on wide fender extensions, a large duck-tail spoiler, and a straight muffler, although similarities pretty much end there.
Read: Suzuki Jimny Turned Into An Awesome Little Turbocharged Truck
The most important difference is the ride height and suspension, with the LST featuring lowered springs by 40-90 mm (1.6-3.5 inches) and the LST-Up getting a 76 mm (3-inch) lift kit. Furthermore, the wheels are shod in different tires, with the LST riding on 195/50R16 Nankang slicks, and the LST-Up getting grippier 245/70R16 Maxis rubber which is more suitable for the wilderness.
The different focus of the two Jimnys is also evident from their bodykits. The LST comes fitted with deeper and sportier-looking bumpers connected to the wide fenders through add-ons. On the other hand, the LST-Up features slimmer off-road bumpers exposing a large portion of the suspension and the tires, combined with the cut-out fenders. This setup was chosen to allow the larger-diameter tires to steer without touching the bodywork, while improving the off-road angles in combination with the suspension lift. Finally, the LST is also fitted with side skirt extensions, while the LST-Up gets an extra grille add-on and a protective skidplate placed on the stock bumper mounts.
The tuner didn’t touch the powertrain which means that the tuned Jimnys retain their stock engines. In Japan, the model is available with either a turbocharged 658 cc three-cylinder engine producing 63 hp (47 kW / 64 PS) or the global naturally-aspirated 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 101 hp (75 kW / 102 PS).
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If you want to upgrade your Suzuki Jimny using parts from ESB you can visit the tuner’s official website. The total cost for the road-focused LST conversion is ¥596,000 (equal to $4,469 at current exchange rates) pre-tax, while the off-road-focused LST-Up will set you back ¥392,000 ($2,939) pre-tax although the latter doesn’t include the cost of the beefed-up suspension. The LST-Up is the obvious choice for those who want to use the off-roader in its natural habitat. However, there is still a target audience for the low-rider style model, despite the oxymoron of a sport tune of a ladder-frame chassis vehicle. Which one would you choose for your Jimny?
Mind you, a facelifted Suzuki Jimny is rumored to be in the works for a 2023 debut, together with the much-anticipated more practical five-door bodystyle variant. Styling changes are expected to be limited, with the most important update being the cleaner and more frugal mild-hybrid powertrain.
