1993 Isuzu VehiCROSS

The VehiCROSS made its first appearance at the 1993 Tokyo Auto Show. While most design studios and manufacturers go to great extents to produce outrageous mock-ups and make claims of their mock-ups great technical ability (based on mostly untested principle), the VehiCROSS concept was actually produced to do both. In an attempt to re-shape the then developing SUV market, Isuzu managed to create a vehicle unique in the automotive world. The VehiCROSS’s objective was to create a "Lightweight, compact, ecologicaly clean and functional" vehicle, and "...to produce an emotional recreational vehicle, one that you will care about. The design is paramount."

Led by Satomi Murayama, chief designer/manager at Isuzu’s European office in Brussels, the design team was comprised of 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 environmentall friendly" SUV. Isuzu did this in spades.

Features unique to the Prototype:

• 205 Section tires
• Carbonfiber Grill
• Carbonfiber Hood Insert
• Hood Hinges (the fangs) that open the hood forward
• Rear Window opens upward (like a hatch), while the door swings to the side (like the production model)
• Carbonfiber Floor panels
• Carbonfiber Fuel Tank
• Aluminium Chassis (weighs 200 lbs)
• Double wishbone and twin shock absorbers all round
• Direct-injected supercharged 1.6 liter engine (close relative of the Lotus Elan) said to produce the power of a 2.2 liter motor
• Fitted Tow-hitch
• Two-piece back door, with top opening upwards and bottom swinging to the side.
• Motorcycle type binnacle (above steering wheel)
• Vertical Sub-panel fitted with gauges and Sony Satellite navigation system w/LED pop-up Monitor (comes out of dash-top)

Концепт VehiCross впервые предстал перед публикой на Токийском мотор-шоу осенью 1993 года. Несвойственную Isuzu авангардность облика автомобиля можно объяснить тем, что создал его английский дизайнер Саймон Кокс. Заслуга же японской компании в том, что она прислушалась к восторженным отзывам посетителей и, не убоявшись революционной внешности VehiCross, решилась запустить его в производство - практически без изменений. Первые серийные автомобили появились в продаже в Японии весной 1997 года.