Someone Is Turning The Suzuki Jimny Into A ’90s American SUV

1 day, 11 hours ago - 10 October 2026, motor1
Someone Is Turning The Suzuki Jimny Into A ’90s American SUV
Square headlights, a new grille and bumper, and a one-inch drop give the Suzuki Jimny Nomade a loud 1990s American SUV vibe.

Suzuki's boxy little Jimny Nomade is about to get a lot boxier. C.L.Link, a Hiroshima-based tuner known for Jimny and Land Cruiser parts, has teamed up with automotive personality Ryo Ishikawa on a build that swaps the Nomade's round headlights for square ones and chases a distinctly American look from three decades back.

The companies unveiled the project on October 6, 2026, with a full reveal planned for early next year. Suzuki has not commented on the aftermarket build, which remains entirely unofficial.

A Familiar Face

The square-headlight conversion is the centerpiece, paired with a dedicated grille and a front bumper designed specifically for this kit. Together they erase the stock Nomade's rounded face in favor of something that could pass for a shrunken GMC Typhoon, the early 1990s performance SUV based on the GMC Jimmy.

After digging up an original GMC Typhoon press photo, C.L.Link's homage to the old-school American SUV is obvious, since its own Nomade press image mirrors the Typhoon shot's background and lighting almost exactly.

Out back, C.L.Link fits a body-color panel that smooths the rear end. There's a dedicated emblem too, plus smoked taillights and red reflector lenses. A C.L.Link Type 1 rear muffler finishes the exhaust note to match the visual overhaul up front.

Suspension drops by 1 inch, courtesy of Eibach coils matched with Bilstein shocks. The combination is meant to firm up the ride without wrecking the Jimny's famed off-road manners.

The wheels gets a refresh too, with C.L.Link's own Union Rim TX 16-inch wheels wrapped in Toyo Open Country H/T II tires sized 215/70R16.

C.L.Link built its name on parts for the Suzuki Jimny and Toyota Land Cruiser, and this project leans on that existing catalog rather than introducing an entirely new parts line. The 1990s theme isn't subtle. Square lights and a lowered stance were the look plenty of American trucks wore before round headlights and taller ride heights took over.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2027 Debut And Order Timing

The customized Nomade heads to Tokyo Auto Salon 2027, which runs from Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17, 2027 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. The show has long served as Japan's biggest stage for tuner builds, making it a fitting launchpad for a project this visually loud.

Orders open alongside the Tokyo Auto Salon dates, which gives C.L.Link a hard deadline to finalize the parts package before customers can buy in. Whether orders go through dealers, direct sales, or a limited run hasn't been detailed yet.

The square-headlight look, once reveal day comes, will be the clearest signal yet of how far aftermarket shops are willing to push Suzuki's smallest SUV.