Isuzu Axiom
Encyclopedia
The Isuzu Axiom is an SUV
designed in Japan
using a "knife blade" theme for its car-like styling. Built in Lafayette, Indiana
, U.S.
at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
plant on the Rodeo platform. It jointly replaced the Trooper
, but was itself replaced by the Isuzu Ascender
for the 2005 model year.
The Axiom had two trim levels: base and the uplevel XS. The XS trim had features like fog lamps, a sunroof, heated front seats, and leather upholstery.
The name "Axiom" was determined by a naming contest held by Isuzu, and was won by Dr. Hakan Urey from Redmond, Washington
, who suggested the name and won his own Axiom in 2001.
The Axiom is available with a torque on demand four-wheel drive
system, and a direct-injection 6VE1 V6 engine was added in 2004, boosting power from 230 to 250 hp
(172 to 186 kW).
The Axiom's radical styling was too extreme for some although a surprising number of its design elements later found their way into SUVs from other manufacturers. Unfortunately, under the Axiom's cutting-edge body was the largely unchanged Rodeo chassis, which was judged to be crude by critics. The stylish body was also available only as a luxury entry which limited the sales market.
The Axiom was discontinued in July 2004 after only three years of production and the Lafayette plant was retooled to build the Subaru B9 Tribeca. With the retirement of the Rodeo and Axiom, Isuzu, which once sold a complete line of car
s, truck
s and SUVs, no longer offered any Japanese-built consumer vehicles in the United States
. From 2006-2009, the lineup consisted only of rebadged General Motors
vehicles: a GMC Canyon pickup
and GMC Envoy
SUV
. Isuzu began its withdrawal from North American markets, with Canada
after the 2002 model year, followed by the United States
after the 2009 model year. Also, the Axiom was never sold in Canada.
The Chinese-produced Great Wall Hover
's design is heavily inspired by the Axiom, but is unrelated.
The Axiom's big-screen claim-to-fame was an appearance in the 2001 hit movie Spy Kids
starring Antonio Banderas
. In the film the vehicle is heavily modified for spy demands.
, Ford Explorer
, GMC Envoy
, and Toyota Highlander
.
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
designed in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
using a "knife blade" theme for its car-like styling. Built in Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette, Indiana
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Tippecanoe County, Indiana, United States, northwest of Indianapolis. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 67,140. West Lafayette, on the other side of the Wabash River, is home to Purdue University, which has a large impact on...
, U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is an automobile assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana which began as a joint venture between Fuji Heavy Industries and Isuzu Motors Ltd...
plant on the Rodeo platform. It jointly replaced the Trooper
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo,...
, but was itself replaced by the Isuzu Ascender
Isuzu Ascender
The Isuzu Ascender was a mid-size/full-size SUV built by General Motors for Isuzu. Introduced for the 2003 model year, the 7-passenger Ascender was a re-badged GMC Envoy. It replaced the Japanese built mid-size Isuzu Trooper. A shorter 5-passenger model was made available for the 2005 model year...
for the 2005 model year.
The Axiom had two trim levels: base and the uplevel XS. The XS trim had features like fog lamps, a sunroof, heated front seats, and leather upholstery.
The name "Axiom" was determined by a naming contest held by Isuzu, and was won by Dr. Hakan Urey from Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
, who suggested the name and won his own Axiom in 2001.
The Axiom is available with a torque on demand four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
system, and a direct-injection 6VE1 V6 engine was added in 2004, boosting power from 230 to 250 hp
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
(172 to 186 kW).
The Axiom's radical styling was too extreme for some although a surprising number of its design elements later found their way into SUVs from other manufacturers. Unfortunately, under the Axiom's cutting-edge body was the largely unchanged Rodeo chassis, which was judged to be crude by critics. The stylish body was also available only as a luxury entry which limited the sales market.
The Axiom was discontinued in July 2004 after only three years of production and the Lafayette plant was retooled to build the Subaru B9 Tribeca. With the retirement of the Rodeo and Axiom, Isuzu, which once sold a complete line of car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s, truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s and SUVs, no longer offered any Japanese-built consumer vehicles in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. From 2006-2009, the lineup consisted only of rebadged General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
vehicles: a GMC Canyon pickup
Isuzu i-Series
The Isuzu i-Series mid-size pickup truck line was launched at the 2005 New York International Auto Show. The i-Series replaces the Isuzu Hombre, which has been out of production since 2000....
and GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
SUV
Isuzu Ascender
The Isuzu Ascender was a mid-size/full-size SUV built by General Motors for Isuzu. Introduced for the 2003 model year, the 7-passenger Ascender was a re-badged GMC Envoy. It replaced the Japanese built mid-size Isuzu Trooper. A shorter 5-passenger model was made available for the 2005 model year...
. Isuzu began its withdrawal from North American markets, with Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
after the 2002 model year, followed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
after the 2009 model year. Also, the Axiom was never sold in Canada.
The Chinese-produced Great Wall Hover
Great Wall Hover
Great Wall Motor also produces a more luxurious, limousine version of the Hover, called the Great Wall Hover Pi . Its name is also sometimes spelt Hover•π. The first Hover Pi was given as a gift to Fidel Castro...
's design is heavily inspired by the Axiom, but is unrelated.
The Axiom's big-screen claim-to-fame was an appearance in the 2001 hit movie Spy Kids
Spy Kids
The Spy Kids series is a series of family action adventure films written, produced and directed by Robert Rodriguez. The main plot follows the adventures of two Cortez children who become involved in their parents' espionage. The rest of their family are spies as well, including their estranged...
starring Antonio Banderas
Antonio Banderas
José Antonio Domínguez Banderas , better known as Antonio Banderas, is a Spanish film actor, film director, film producer and singer...
. In the film the vehicle is heavily modified for spy demands.
Competitors
The Axiom had competitors like the Dodge DurangoDodge Durango
The Dodge Durango is a full-size crossover SUV from the Dodge division of Chrysler. It was introduced in 1998 as a mid-size SUV, and as a replacement for the Ramcharger discontinued in the North American market in 1993, and was redesigned to full-size for 2004....
, Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
, GMC Envoy
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy is an SUV from the GMC marque of General Motors. It was introduced as a high-end version of the Jimmy for the 1998 model year, the same year the Jimmy was restyled...
, and Toyota Highlander
Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander is a midsize crossover SUV produced by Toyota. It is a taller, heavier version of the Toyota Camry.Announced in April 2000 at the New York Auto Show and arriving in late 2000 in Japan and January, 2001, in North America, the Highlander became the first car-based midsize SUV or...
.