Share

The Autozam AZ-Offroad was that automatic Jimny you could never have

accreditation

You might not recognise the name Autozam, but for Mazda followers, it has special significance. 

As the Japanese economy surged ahead in the late 1980s, Mazda was seeking to differentiate its marketing and product mix. Consultants advised that the best way to do this was by launching new sub-brands. 

Toyota had proven this theory with Lexus, achieving remarkable success in America. Mazda's two most notable sub-brands were Eunos (for luxury vehicles) and Autozam (for quirky compact cars). 

One of the most interesting of all Autozams was the AZ-Offroad. Many of the Autozams featured a collaboration with Japanese compact car specialist, Suzuki, and that meant there was always going to be something for off-roaders. Something small and hugely capable. 

A Jimny in all, but name 

As Suzuki prepared to introduce in its third-generation Jimny in 1998, Mazda managed to secure a batch of production. The result was Autozam's AZ-Offroad, a very charming bit of Japanese 4x4 vehicle history. 

mazda az offroad

Image: Mazda

Mazda knew Suzuki's Jimny had great appeal as both a serious off-road exploration vehicle and an urban runabout. Under the Autozam joint-venture agreement, the Jimny gained a slightly restyled front grille, with Mazda's corporate logo taking pride of place. An additional front fender-mounted wing-mirror was also fixed to the passenger side, allowing for better blind spot awareness. 

Inside it was every bit a Suzuki Jimny too, but for the steering wheel boss having a Mazda corporate identity at its centre, instead of Suzuki's 'S'. 

The Autozam AZ-Offroad, as this Mazda Jimny was known, featured a wonderfully unusual specification, which was typical for Japanese vehicles of the time. Mazda's sales ambition was domestic, which meant the Autozam AZ-Offroad was produced in a decidedly Kei-car specification. 

mazda az offroad

Image: Mazda

Tiny turbocharged engine 

South African Jimny fans would have longed for the Autozam AZ's engine and drivetrain in the late 1990s. It was powered by a tiny engine, paired to a traffic-friendly automatic transmission – something Suzuki only managed to introduce to the South African market with the fourth-generation Jimny, in 2018. 

The Autozam AZ-Offroad's 660cc engine was turbocharged and had three-cylinders, which generated 47kW. That peak power number was equal to the 1.3-litre petrol engine, which South African Jimny followers will be familiar with, powering those Suzuki Samurais which were sold here, in the early 1990s. 

What made this Autozam's 660cc engine quite remarkable, was its 7500rpm redline. Driving through a four-speed automatic transmission, this Mazda 'Jimny' was good for a 125km/h top speed. 

Low mass made AZ-Offroad very capable in technical terrain. This was especially true with a for novice adventure driver at the wheel, who could rely on the combination of a low-range transfer case and automatic transmission, to module speed when things got steep. On sand tracks, the high rev-threshold of this Autozam AZ-Offroad made it nearly unstoppable. 

Production of the Mazda 'Jimny' ended in 2003, after only five years in the market, also signalling the end of Autozam.

mazda az offroad

Image: Mazda

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE