Isuzu VehiCROSS
Encyclopedia
The Isuzu VehiCROSS is a compact SUV
from Isuzu
. Produced from 1997 (Japanese market 1997-1999) through 2001 (US market 1999-2001), it shares much of its components with the Trooper
, including both its 3.2 L and 3.5 L V6
engine that produces 215 bhp at 5400 rpm and 230 lbft at 3000 rpm of torque
. The vehicle also features the Torque on Demand (TOD) 4-wheel-drive system produced by BorgWarner
. It is a small, sporty 2-door crossover vehicle with aggressive external styling, including short overhangs, an aggressive forward stance, titanium "teeth" in the grille, a black hood-insert, and black plastic cladding over the entire lower half of the vehicle. The US VehiCROSS came equipped with 16" polished wheels in 1999 and 18" chrome wheels during the remainder of production. The Japanese version came equipped with 16" alloys with chrome center caps.
The VehiCROSS was highly regarded for its cross-terrain performance. It combined a computer-controlled AWD system for on-road driving and a locked-differential low-gear 4WD system for off-road driving. The Japanese version offered a 2WD non TOD or 4WD TOD option. The US-only constant 4WD TOD, with 12 independent sensors for detecting wheel spin and capable of redirecting power to the wheels with the most traction, gives the VehiCROSS a high level of traction on wet and icy roads. It also has a high level of performance for its height. While possessing on-road nimbleness, its body-on-frame truck construction, suspension and 4WD gearing make it very capable off-road.
Sales were intentionally limited, with only 5958 vehicles being produced between 1997 and 2001; 1805 were produced for the domestic Japanese market and the remaining 4,153 sold in the United States. As it stands, the vehicle has an obscure role in history; although, the vehicle appeared in the 2000 film Mission to Mars
as a convertible fitted with futuristic engine sound effects, and also briefly in Babylon AD
2008 starring Vin Diesel.
Motor Trend
featured the VehiCROSS on its May 1999 cover, and included it in its "Top 10 Sport Utilities" for Most Unique Styling.
Four Wheeler featured the VehiCROSS as the "First Runner Up" for Four Wheeler of the Year in 2000 behind the Tahoe Z71; when pitted against: Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon, Nissan Xterra, Ford Excursion and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The VehiCROSS scored highest of all 6 Mechanically, for Trail Performance and Highway Performance.
Both a concept four-door version (VX-4) and a roadster (VX-O2) were shown at the 2000 Los Angeles International Auto Show, but neither reached production. Both of these concepts were donated to the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles in late 2008.
Compact SUV
Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between . This class should not be confused with mini SUV, which refers to smaller vehicles.- Background :...
from Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
. Produced from 1997 (Japanese market 1997-1999) through 2001 (US market 1999-2001), it shares much of its components with 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,...
, including both its 3.2 L and 3.5 L V6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
engine that produces 215 bhp at 5400 rpm and 230 lbft at 3000 rpm of torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
. The vehicle also features the Torque on Demand (TOD) 4-wheel-drive system produced by BorgWarner
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...
. It is a small, sporty 2-door crossover vehicle with aggressive external styling, including short overhangs, an aggressive forward stance, titanium "teeth" in the grille, a black hood-insert, and black plastic cladding over the entire lower half of the vehicle. The US VehiCROSS came equipped with 16" polished wheels in 1999 and 18" chrome wheels during the remainder of production. The Japanese version came equipped with 16" alloys with chrome center caps.
The VehiCROSS was highly regarded for its cross-terrain performance. It combined a computer-controlled AWD system for on-road driving and a locked-differential low-gear 4WD system for off-road driving. The Japanese version offered a 2WD non TOD or 4WD TOD option. The US-only constant 4WD TOD, with 12 independent sensors for detecting wheel spin and capable of redirecting power to the wheels with the most traction, gives the VehiCROSS a high level of traction on wet and icy roads. It also has a high level of performance for its height. While possessing on-road nimbleness, its body-on-frame truck construction, suspension and 4WD gearing make it very capable off-road.
Sales were intentionally limited, with only 5958 vehicles being produced between 1997 and 2001; 1805 were produced for the domestic Japanese market and the remaining 4,153 sold in the United States. As it stands, the vehicle has an obscure role in history; although, the vehicle appeared in the 2000 film Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars
Mission to Mars is a 2000 science fiction film directed by Brian De Palma from an original screenplay written by Jim Thomas, John Thomas, and Graham Yost. The film's story details a fictional portrayal of a manned Mars exploration mission gone awry in the year 2020...
as a convertible fitted with futuristic engine sound effects, and also briefly in Babylon AD
Babylon AD
Babylon A.D. is a hard rock band formed in 1988. Babylon A.D. hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Original members, Derek Davis vocalist/songwriter, guitarists and music writers Dan De La Rosa and Ron Freschi, drummer Jamey Pacheco and bassist Robb Reid were all in childhood rival...
2008 starring Vin Diesel.
Manufacture and release
The VehiCROSS was originally unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 1993 Tokyo International Auto Show. Its ultimate Japanese production release in 1997 was notable in that the production vehicle arrived with very few design changes and in a very short time. This feat was accomplished through the use of inexpensive ceramic body-stamping dies and the reuse of readily-available Isuzu parts. The truck was intended to showcase Isuzu's off-road technology, and is one of the few vehicles to ship with monotube shocks with external heat-expansion chambers, a technology normally reserved for off-road motorcycle racing.Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
featured the VehiCROSS on its May 1999 cover, and included it in its "Top 10 Sport Utilities" for Most Unique Styling.
Four Wheeler featured the VehiCROSS as the "First Runner Up" for Four Wheeler of the Year in 2000 behind the Tahoe Z71; when pitted against: Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon, Nissan Xterra, Ford Excursion and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The VehiCROSS scored highest of all 6 Mechanically, for Trail Performance and Highway Performance.
Both a concept four-door version (VX-4) and a roadster (VX-O2) were shown at the 2000 Los Angeles International Auto Show, but neither reached production. Both of these concepts were donated to the Peterson Museum in Los Angeles in late 2008.
Design team
Led by Satomi Murayama, chief designer/manager at Isuzu's European office in Brussels, the design team was an international group: Simon Cox (Assistant Chief Designer best known for designing the Lotus Elan's interior), Joji Yanaka, Andrew Hill and Nick Robinson. The task was to build a "lightweight but tough, fun but environmentally friendly" SUV.- Winner of the 1999 Russian Spirit of Time Award by the Russian Design Confederation (presented to Isuzu at the 1999 Russian International Motor Show).
In motorsport
- Class Winner 1998 Paris-Dakar Rally
- Class Winner 1999 Australian Safari Rally
- Winner "Most Unique Styling" Motor Trend 1999 Top 10 Sport/Utes
- Used by Austin Robot Technology as foundation for robotic VX in 2005-2007 DARPA Grand Challenge
Production details (US version only)
| Exterior | Interior | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astral Silver Metallic | Black/Red | 1021 | n/a | n/a | 1021 |
| Kaiser Silver Metallic | Black/Red | n/a | 57 | 101 | 158 |
| Kaiser Silver Metallic | Black/Gray | n/a | 135 | 251 | 386 |
| Victory White or Ironman | Black/Red | 420 | 96 | 86 | 602 |
| Ebony Black | Black/Red | 564 | 51 | 87 | 702 |
| Ebony Black | Black/Gray | n/a | 138 | 226 | 364 |
| Proton Yellow | Black/Gray | n/a | 111 | 368 | 479 |
| Dragon Green Mica | Black/Gray | n/a | 125 | 105 | 230 |
| Foxfire Red Mica | Black/Gray | n/a | 90 | 120 | 210 |
| Pearl White Metallic | Black/Red | n/a | n/a | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 2005 | 803 | 1345 | 4153 |
Production details (Japanese version only)
| Colour | Colour No: | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Blazed Peacock Mica | 702 | 6 |
| Brurujitan Mica | 709 | 3 |
| Liberty Blue Mica | 717 | 4 |
| Astral Silver | 718 | 974 |
| Arcadian Green Mica | 719 | 4 |
| Tryton Blue Mica | 725 | 3 |
| Steel Blue Mica | 709 | 3 |
| Raspberry Mica | 745 | 5 |
| Radian Red | 756 | 19 |
| Magenta Metallic | 762 | 17 |
| Sunburst Orange Mica | 766 | 28 |
| Brilliant Red Mica | 808 | 10 |
| Ebony Black | 826 | 232 |
| Pure White | 831 | 26 |
| Straight Violet Metallic | 834 | 22 |
| Damson Mica | 848 | 3 |
| Iron Grey Metallic | 849 | 33 |
| Empire Blue Mica | 858 | 96 |
| Forrest Green Mica | 863 | 95 |
| Lava Grey Metallic | 867 | 7 |
| Leadlock Mica | 872 | 125 |
| Cosmic Blue Mica | 873 | 5 |
| Cobalt Blue Mica | 874 | 5 |
| Unknown Mica | 885 | 12 |
| Golden Yellow Mica | 892 | 63 |
| Defect Turn | 52 | |
| Total | 1805 |