It seems that in the past few years, no staging of the Tokyo Auto Salon would be complete without a Suzuki Jimny dressed up as a mini-me of the Defender or the G-Class, courtesy of DAMD. But for 2024, the Japanese aftermarket specialist is instead taking inspiration from two ’80s rally legends for its Jimny showcase pieces, following the theme ‘European Masterpiece.’
On, and it has collaborated with Italian firm OZ Racing to don them up in those iconic white rims. So, these Jimnys do manage to give off hot-hatch vibes instead of looking like a pair of trick-or-treaters in January.
The first concept is called the DAMD Little 5 or Little Cinq, modeled after the Renault 5 Turbo. Cheekily, the decals on the side proclaim it to be a ‘Non Turbo,’ unlike the Monte Carlo Rally-winning French hatch.
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After transplanting the 5 Turbo’s face onto the Jimny’s, the designers have wisely restrained themselves in fashioning the concept’s widebody kit. The Little 5’s rear fenders are, uh, little compared with the actual car’s muscular haunches, and the shadowy images hide side air intakes that are again pretty tame versus the inspo’s aero bits. No hood vent, either, but the rear wing and the diamond emblem that mimics Renault’s logo are nice touches.
The second concept is a tribute to the Lancia Delta Integrale and called the DAMD Little Δ or Little Delta. As with the Little 5, its front end has been redesigned, this time taking on the Group A icon’s four circular headlamps and split grille. The red paint job and the green-and-white racing stripes pay homage to Lancia’s Italian heritage, and of course, no Integrale-themed modification would be complete without the massive rear wing.
DAMD is still bringing a Defender-inspired mod to the 2024 Tokyo Auto Salon—check out a preview of its van concepts here. As for Suzuki, it has not hinted at any reimagined Jimnys for this year, but it has come up with some interesting builds for the show.
