Isuzu VehiCROSS (1993)
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 of 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)
