Paul Tan's Automotive Industry News

Isuzu VehiCROSS

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VehiCROSS

Even though first introduced ten years ago back in 1997, the Isuzu VehiCROSS still looks space today. The Isuzu VehiCROSS was never intended to be a mass production model, produced only as a halo car. In concept form, it was showcased with both 4-door and a roadster body, but only the 2-door version made it’s way into production. Underneath it lay mostly mechanicals from the Isuzu Trooper, and engine options were also the same 3.2 liter and 3.5 liter V6 petrol engines that make over 200 horsepower.

Despite it’s looks, it had real offroad capabilities, including a low ratio transfer case. It’s 4-wheel-drive system was also advanced for it’s time, using a Torque On Demand system from BorgWarner, using 12 independent sensors to detect wheel spin and redirecting power to the wheels with the most traction.

Now, why am I blogging about this? Well, there’s a 1999 model Isuzu VehiCROSS on sale on Ebay Malaysia, and the bid is standing at about MYR 108,000.00 right now. There are only 4309 units in the whole world.

24 Comments »

  1. rexis said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

    This was designed 10 years back? It looks even more space age then Triton!

  2. redragon said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 3:26 pm

    it was the first car/vehicle I’ve ever seen with a reverse camera. unfortunately, it doesn’t have a nice drive. But I really liked the look of it.

  3. KL-ATR said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

    I’ve seen 2-3 in the “metal”. If you want a futuristic car, this is the closest ever to a production run. I remember watching a sci-fi movie where they used the VehiCross too! But they chopped off the roof and turned them into a SUV roadster. Sure looks cool.

  4. LittleFire85 said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 3:56 pm

    That person who put this on bid must be a sales person from Naza.. All AP “Mostly” come from Naza… Anywayz i think this car is already extinct in Japan coz after 5 years they gonna be scrap…

  5. drM said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 4:01 pm

    this look like a cobra, isn it?

  6. sxe10r said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 4:29 pm

    this one is limited ??! wow … what is the 4 door looks ?? …small body with 3.2 I4 & 3.5V6 ??? can imaging the power of the car …. i drive bighorn with this engine b4 … quite powerful the pickup … can fight the prado TZ turbo

  7. Gus-Gus said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 4:56 pm

    Three years ago, I saw one at one of the second hand car lots in Taman Megah. Didn’t think of asking about the price then because I wasn’t interested in buying it. Thing is RM100k+ for the VehiCROSS on eBay is expensive because when it first went on the market it was less than RM200k and that was ten years ago. Nice car but no matter what the mileage, definitely not worth RM100k+ now. Spare parts will become a problem too.

  8. bobtahar said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 5:04 pm

    collectors’s item should be and must be expansive.

  9. maibatsu_thunder said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 5:06 pm

    Paul Tan, not buying it for yourself?

  10. engtaokia said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 5:35 pm

    saw one and only unit at kuching also…with twin sport exhaust muffler!!!

  11. ckengyo said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 6:45 pm

    quite expensive. if u stay close with motor trader malaysia, it had show up 2 time this year. the 1st time is around 75k in bangsar. the 2nd 1 just appeal in last month issue asking 4 100k+ as well.
    well, is hard 2 get loan i guess & it sure very thristy from what i found out from owner from net. if any 1 interested please make sure can get loan b4 bid on it.

  12. albagmane said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 6:46 pm

    man… this proves tat how smart a human can be… despite the age of this vehicle, it still look modern and concept! if paul didnt post this blog, i never know this is from isuzu lar… wat a surprise to me…

  13. Kevin Lee said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 7:18 pm

    ive seen this vehicle once in front of sunway pyramid, i couldnt belive my eyes when someone actually got this vehicle over, its really scarce like a hummer, ive only had the hotwheels scale of this vehicle, anyone interested? hehe

  14. ab said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

    looks like sth from an episode of power rangers or something like that…

  15. Driven2020 said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 10:02 pm

    got some more here

    http://www.difflock.com/diffmag/issue7/isuzu/index.shtml

    I still remember the XU-1 when it came out as concept vehicle

    if it were on sale, definitely on top of my 4×4 wish list

  16. Driven2020 said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 10:03 pm

    here’s another one

    http://www.isuzu.co.jp/museum/conhis/xu-1.html

  17. mystvearn said,

    May 29, 2007 @ 11:12 pm

    Is this car on permanent 4×4? Cause with that petrol engine, going to suffer.

  18. mr42 said,

    May 30, 2007 @ 8:34 am

    Hiii…

    During the economic turmoil in the year 1997-1999, there are hundreds of these Vehicross stockpiled in Kinabalu Motor Assembly stockyard in Inanam, Kota Kinabalu…I’ve seen and even test drove one of those units there….Very futuristic and modern in design, although it share the same platform and engine with the isuzu bighorn/trooper SWB version…These Vehicross were supposedly awaiting to be sent to some Asean countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Philipines, Thailand and to some Arab countries…

    In Malaysia at that time, the selling price, from what I remembered was about RM185K…Quite expensive at that time….competing direct with Ssangyong Korrando…

    Due to poor response, I heard the Vehicross were sent back to Japan…:(

  19. moha774 said,

    May 30, 2007 @ 1:10 pm

    ab said,
    May 29, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

    looks like sth from an episode of power rangers or something like that…

    Not Power Ranger lar…features in one of many Ultraman series..cant remember which one..

  20. moha774 said,

    May 30, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

    ab said,
    May 29, 2007 @ 8:36 pm

    looks like sth from an episode of power rangers or something like that…

    Its Ultraman series…cant remember which ultraman..

  21. aesthari said,

    May 30, 2007 @ 2:38 pm

    Nice car, I’ve always liked it since I saw one in Shutokou Battle 01 years ago. It has that blend of fun, macho, and futurism that not many other 4×4 has. There are many concept cars better than this one, but for production models, no other 4×4 even comes close to this baby in terms of design

  22. pekan said,

    May 31, 2007 @ 9:57 am

    When my company was opened back in ‘97, one unit was presented to Tun Mahathir as a gift from Isuzu, as a gesture of appreciation.

    Don’t think he’s using it that much.

  23. kei9 said,

    May 31, 2007 @ 4:31 pm

    ultraman?………hahaha!

  24. gary lim said,

    March 22, 2009 @ 11:14 am

    saw 1 at a used car lot in bangsar selling for only 75k in 2008,was sold when i enquired bout it.

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