The All-Terrain Sciuki iQ 4x4 Is A Scion City Car Built On Grand Vitara Chassis
by AutoExpert | 31 January, 2022
No matter how few people bought it, the Toyota/Scion iQ was a great little city vehicle. The iQ's small size and four-seat interior make it perfect for city driving, but one iQ owner had other plans for his vehicle. Using the chassis of a second-generation Suzuki Grand Vitara, he converted his car into an off-road beast, calling it "Sciuki iQ 4x4."
Eric Storz is the man behind this out-of-the-box design. The Sciuki iQ 4x4 project began with a 2012 Scion iQ that underwent an odd swap. It's a whole ladder-frame chassis and running gear from a 2000 Suzuki Grand Vitara. Storz had to reduce the Suzuki frame to make it suitable with the iQ's small body, shaving 17.5 inches (445 mm) between the axles and an extra 16 inches (406 mm) off the rear overhang, as well as constructing 8 new mounts.
The second-generation Grand Vitara's five-door model measures 162.8 inches (4,135 mm), whereas the Scion iQ measures 120.1 inches (3,051 mm). The original interior was coupled with a Suzuki center console, and a difficult challenge was to connect the wire harnesses from both cars so that the Suzuki engine and Scion amenities functioned properly.
With a 155 hp (114 kW / 157 PS) naturally aspirated 2.5-liter V6 from the Suzuki, Sciuki iQ was put together. A four-speed automatic transmission with an additional short-gear manual shifter sends power to all four wheels. Storz built the drivetrain using pieces from a 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the front and factory parts in the back. The 15-gallon aluminum fuel tank had to be moved beneath the driver's side in the end.
The owner installed a 3-inch raise kit from Altered Ego with SoftRide coil springs and SuperFlex rear links, as well as new axles with front and rear lockers, for more off-road confidence. Most crucially, he chose 17-inch wheels with gigantic 31-inch Cooper tires.
Sciuki iQ has been driven over 5,000 miles (8,046 km) since its modification in August 2020. The owner estimates the entire cost to be between $7,500 and $8,000 including all automobiles and parts. The 90 hours of labor and the expertise necessary to execute such a good job aren't to be overlooked, though.
