Hmmmm. I see a pattern in Zooks. Kinda like the Jeep designations, only easier, sorta.
It all started with the LJ series. "LJ" stood for "little jeep" so the story goes. The CJ was the "civilian jeep". The LJ, LJ10 and LJ20, knicknamed the "Brute", used a simple numerical order, and it doesn't seem like the number desingation had much to do with the vehicle spec.
Then came the LJ50, still similar to the design of the earlier LJs, but with a larger 500cc motor. Hmmm, is the 50 derived from the 500cc? (note: it had a plastic pipe running from the heater fan housing to the distributor then to the clutch housing. The purpose was when crossing deep water you turned the blower on and it pressurized the distributor as well as the clutch housing to keep the water out! And this same company brings today nixes all rag tops and gives us the pavement-bound XL7 instead?)
Anyway, ponder this...
The next in line was the LJ80, sporting a fresh 800cc. 50/500cc -> 80/800cc. Makes sense.
Then it gets goofy again. They release the SJ series, The SJ10 was basically a LJ50, and the SJ10 was a LJ80. What's the "S" stand for? Suzuki? Small? Super? States? And why back to the 10 and 20 number? I haven't found that answer yet. Why, God, why?!?!
Then the numbering changes for the better. They introduce the SJ410. This was a totally different beast, and will eventually be built as the Samurai. The SJ410 had a 4 cyl. 4 stroke 1.0 liter motor. Hmmm 410. 4 cyl, 1.0 L gives us he 410 designation.
Next came the SJ413, or Samurai, with a 1.3L 4-banger motor. Makes sense.
I have little info on the Sidekick, but I am told the desigations we JA413, JA416, JS418 and JA420, with the 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0L motors respectively. I do know that the Samurai was orignally intended to be rebaged as the new Tracker for GM's fledgling new division, and as part of GM's partnership with ASMC. But GM nixed using the "Sammy" and had ASMC make new platform. So we get the Sidekick.
Flash to today. The Vitara and V. They are desinated the SQ416, SQ420, SQ625. The GV being the SQ625, and following the Suzuki format, that means a 6 cyl, 2.5L motor. AT least it's neat to refer to my GV in a manner similar to it's proud forefathers. "Yup, that's my SQ625 parked next to my built SJ413, and behind that is my restored LJ50 *wishful thinking*." LOL
I am unsure of the designation of the XL7, but the H27 motor will prolly show up as a 627 numerical designation. I am also unsure of what happens to the desigations this year as the Vit gains the 2.5L. Just wish the GV got the 2.7 to make it the "rocket" of their 4x4 line, and they stroke the 2.7 out to a 2.9 or a 3.0, and a least 200+ hp and ~200 ftlbs. for some real balls in the XL.
Anyone care to add to my ranting?
