A Tiny Jimny With a Pacific Coast Soul: Cal's Motor Brings Back American Chrome

© Cals Motor

Japan is gearing up to sell the updated Cal’s Motor Beas and Beas+ — custom versions of the Suzuki Jimny and Jimny Sierra. The cars have been moved onto the fresh “5th-type” platform, keeping their retro American flavour without clashing with the new safety systems.

The Beas is built on the Jimny XC, while the Beas+ is based on the Jimny Sierra JC. The big difference is the look: a massive chrome grille, a chrome bumper, a sloping nose, round tail lamps, and a choice between two-section or four-section square LED headlights. The idea is simple — make the little off-roader look less like a utilitarian kei car and more like a beach SUV from old California.

The move to the “5th type” was not about looks. After the update, the Jimny picked up new front sensors — clearance sonars and a millimetre-wave radar. So the bumpers and body kit had to be reworked to stay out of the electronics’ way. For a custom Jimny that matters: a striking look no longer means losing the driver assists.

The complete cars come with an Alpine DA7Z head unit, an HCE-C1000D rear-view camera, HDMI and USB inputs, an ETC module and chrome Moon Chrome wheels. The Beas runs 16x5.5J rims, the Beas+ — 16x6.0J. A finished Beas starts at 3.38 million yen (around $21,100). The Beas+ costs from 3.58 million yen (about $22,300).

Sales begin in summer 2026 through 11 Alpine Style stores in Japan. The Jimny shows something rare again: a small car can be expensive not because of its size, but because of its image.