In case no one has been following this, here's copy from IsuzuPerformance about the recent company timeline on their involvement (and ongoing removal) with GM. Feel-good stuff for those of us who are big Isuzu fans in general...
http://www.isuzuperformance.com/gifs...portscoupe.jpg
In August of 2003, Isuzu released to the Japanese auto press, this rendered image of two vehicles identified as "sports coupe(s)", in a very obvious attempt to test the waters and see what public sentiments are toward a re entry of Isuzu in car making.
Here is a short time line to give an idea of the historic ramifications of this move by Isuzu:
1971, General Motors Corporation buys 32.4% of Isuzu and subcontracts them to make Chevy Luv pickup trucks.
1981, against the direct protest of General Motors, Isuzu puts the Piazza and Impulse into production, embarrassing GM because the newly redesigned Camaro and Trans Am pale in comparison to the Giugiaro designed sports coupe. This begins GM's vendetta against Isuzu.
1984, GM begins reselling rebadged Geminis under the Spectrum name, but, as a condition of the arrangement, restricts Isuzu's rights to advertise their own cars in the US and European markets and imposes quotas on the number of vehicles Isuzu can sell. This effectively destroyes any chance for Isuzu to build brand consciousness, brand loyalty, and a reputation as a car builder, in all markets outside Japan.
1989, GM begins reselling rebadged Gemini Coupes under the Storm name. This vehicle outsells GM's own domestically produced Cavalier, Sunbird, Corsica, and Beretta, combined, causing great embarrassment for GM.
1994, GM discontinues their Storm model, eliminating close to 95% of Isuzu sales of cars leaving Isuzu with weak name recognition and little hope of recovering from this financial blow. This combines with the collapse of the Japanese economy after Isuzu went up market to more luxurious and more expensive models with their 1990-93 redesign of their cars, and Isuzu decided to discontinue car sales.
1994, Isuzu constructs a shrine to the much missed Gemini car in their Fujisawa plant.
~1998, Isuzu attempts to purchase then financially troubled Nissan Motor Company in order to acquire a name and a company to build passenger cars under.
1999, GM acquires 49% of Isuzu, controlling interest, but due to Japanese laws restricting foreign ownership of Japanese corporations and Japanese labor laws which strictly follow seniority, GM is unable to appoint an American to head Isuzu and must continue to deal with Isuzu management's continued resistance to GM domination. GM is instead allowed to install a non-voting "advisor" to the corporate board.
2001, Isuzu lays off 25% of their international work force due to financial losses and ailing sales.
2002, Isuzu negotiates a $84 million debt restructure with it's Japanese bank and buys 37% ownership back from GM, reducing GM's ownership of Isuzu to 12%. GM's "advisor" on the corporate board is replaced by a position filled by the Japanese bank, who is allowed a vote. As part of the restructuring, Isuzu sells the Lafayette, Indiana plant to Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru), withdrawing completely from their joint SUV venture with GM. The GM built Trailblazer set to be rebadged as an Isuzu Ascender seems all but dead on arrival as Isuzu plans for production of their own SUVs in Thailand.
2003, Isuzu finds itself in the enviable position of being one of only three commercial truck producers in Japan who is selling diesel trucks that comply with the new, strict emissions laws for the Tokyo metropolitan area, which require particle scrubbers for exhaust. The law outlaws the use of trucks without these devices in and around the four prefectures surrounding Tokyo, and as no aftermarket retrofit is available, truck operators are required to buy new trucks. Mazda, unable to develop a commercial truck that complies with the new emissions laws, subcontracts all it's commercial truck production to Isuzu. Isuzu leads commercial truck sales in Japan and shows a profit for the first half of 2003 for the first time in decades. Isuzu's stock showed a 400% increase in value (from 50 yen/share to 200 yen/share).
2003, Isuzu releases rendered images of what they call "a sports coupe" which is described to be in the vane of such noted Isuzu cars as the Bellett 1600GTR and the Giugiaro designed 117 Coupe.
2003, Sources within American Isuzu Motors vehicle distribution (US market vehicle distributor) indicate that Isuzu intends to severe all ties with GM by 2007 (this can be confirmed on Isuzu's website in their Three Year Business Plan which states one of its primary recapitalization goal as "Retire GM's shareholding without consideration"), ending all joint ventures, rebadging, parts sharing, and cooperative efforts and purchasing back all of the remaining 12% of stock owned by GM. The Rodeo and Axiom (now made by Subaru at the Lafayette, Indiana plant) will be discontinued at or shortly after the end of the 2004 model year. There will be no serious effort to market the GM made Ascender through the 2005 and 2006 model years, after which Isuzu's contract to sell that vehicle will end. Isuzu plans to introduce at least two completely new models in late 2006, totally designed and manufactured by Isuzu and with no ties to GM.
January 2004, Isuzu stock passes 235 Yen per share, a 470% increase since Spring 2003.
February 2004, Sources within American Isuzu Motors public relations and vehicle development departments indicate that the replacement for the Isuzu Trooper will be built on the Isuzu D-Max/Colorado platform in Thailand and that model should be introduced as a 2005 1/2 model year vehicle. Work continues on this vehicle within the Ceritos headquarters of AIM where the vehicle is referred to in house simply as "the new Trooper". Current plans are that the concept car for this vehicle will be introduced at the Detroit Auto Show and later displayed at the Chicago Auto Show. Further plans are to introduce the Thailand made D-Max pickup into the US market, also hopefully in 2006.
Isuzu's PR department was very proud to point out that the 250 HP 6VE1 V6 direct injection engine has received accolades and awards from both Popular Science Magazine and Ward's Automotive. Direct injection is seen as the future for gasoline engines to improve economy, emissions, and power output, and Isuzu's engine has been held out as one of the best in the industry. In addition to this, Isuzu plans to push diesel engine powered models in their SUV lineup as an alternative to other manufacturer's hybrid vehicle offerings. Diesel offers the same environmental benefits with power, drivability, range, and cost that is comparable or favorable to gasoline. The problem is that the US market has not been exposed to many of the better diesel powered vehicles which are almost indistinguishable from their gasoline powered equivalents. The US market has seen mostly very tempermental and difficult to drive, and the reputation of diesel powerplants has suffered in this market as a result of this. General Motors, Ford, and Daimler/Chysler have already expanded their SUV and pickup offerings with diesel offerings (to help them meet tightening CAFE standards) and have begun marketing campaigns to improve the reputation of diesel power in the US, and Isuzu plans to reap the benefits of these efforts by following the promotional campaigns of the US manufacturers with their own campaign to reinforce diesel's improved reputation and point out that Isuzu is the oldest, most experiences diesel manufacturer in the world, offering better quality and higher performing diesel products at lower prices than the US makers.
2005 is seen as the transition year between the old GM dominated Isuzu and the new Isuzu that is free to build, sell, and advertise whatever, wherever, whenever, and in whatever quantity they like. Getting past a tight year which their only offerings will be the rebadged, GM made Ascender, will be the challenge, but they are already on track to surpass their needed sales minimum in the US market by 20,000 units in this fiscal year. The only remaining concern is that now that all decisions will be made by Isuzu in Japan, the US office hopes to be allotted a large enough advertising budget to allow for a serious promotional effort for what amounts to a reintroduction of the marque in the US market.
Early April 2004, Isuzu stock passes 265 Yen per share, a 550% increase since Spring 2003.
Mid April 2004, Isuzu stock passes 310 Yen per share.
July 2004, Isuzu stock passes 323 Yen per share.
August 2004, Sources within Japan indicate that Isuzu Motors has announced, within their domestic market, the introduction of the "D-Max Hi Lander" sport utility vehicle (Trooper replacement) will be manufactured in Thailand and introduced in Thailand for the 2005 model year. This strategy introduces the SUV first into the market dominated by the D-Max Pickup, that vehicle being the number one selling automobile in the large Thai market. The Thai made D-Max Hi-Lander will then be introduced into the Japanese home market in 2006.
August 2004, Dutch shipping company TPG TNT Logistics wins a $48.25 Million contract to pack and ship "car parts" from Isuzu plants around the world to assembly plants in Thailand. Note the specific use of the phrase "car parts", quoted directly from the Reuters story, which conspicously did not use the phrase "truck parts".
August 2004, Universal Motors Israel is in talks with "car maker Isuzu" Motors for Central European sales and distribution rights. Again note Reuters use of the word "car" and their specific omission of the word "truck". Also note that Isuzu is expanding their distribution network.
The concept drawing released by Isuzu and the written statement that accompanied it indicate it to be the new Sports Coupe(s). (Remember, Japanese has no plural form and this will be important immediately below).
One source indicates both cars are two different trim levels of the same model vehicle which is to compete with such Japanese piers as the Honda Integra (Acura RSX in the US) and Toyota Celica, both considered the dominant specialty small cars in the Japanese domestic market.
A second source indicates that these are in fact two different models following the recent auto industry trend for retro styling. The darker color car in the background is indicated as the "New Bellett GTR", a compact sports coupe approximately 158 inches in length with a 94 inch wheel base, a two door four seat with very rounded styling and flared fenders with a silhouette surprisingly similar to the Audi TT. The retro exterior elements that draw from the original Bellett GTR are the composition of the grille with integrated quad style headlamps, the two chromed bars across the grille itself, black painted hood, antenna ariel over the center of the windshield, crease lines in the hood, and three box notch back proportion. This vehicle would be expected to have a four cylinder engine, likely a 2 liter gasoline engine, with DOHC and possibly direct injection, from the 4EE engine series, but no firm information on drivetrain layout. This model would fill the role of the affordable sporty model in the lineup. Meanwhile, the lighter colored car in the foreground is described as the "New 117 Coupe", a mid sized sports coupe approximately 168 inches in length with a 101 inch wheel base, a two door four seat with a sloped rear window somewhat like a fast back body style. The retro exterior elements that draw form the original 117 Coupe are again the composition of the grille with integrated quad style headlamps, this time with the lower edge of four round lamps extending below the lower grille line, distinctive hexagonal emblem with bar extending to the left and right, flat hood devoid of creases, metal tone trim pieces, and the sloping rear window and rear trunk lid. This vehicle is expected to be rear wheel drive with the 250 HP 6VE1 V6 direct injection engine. This model would be an image car to compete with such cars as the Nissan 350Z and Mazda RX8.
Isuzu appears back on track to build cars.
