A few surprises here in Japan. Isuzudealers don't have a any vehicles...except the GM's they are about to start selling directly here. Alot of dealers are closed down. My friend in town is open, but doesn't have a sindle vehicle. Infact he sold his last Wizard(Rodeo) last week.

I spoke to an Isuzu friend last night (a test driver). He said that Isuzu's plan to scrub the Bighorn (Trooper) but still run wth the Wizard/Mu (Rodeo/Amigo ??) platform is no longer.

He did say however, that Isuzu look about to take a vehicle from the GM platform as the new Bighorn. That will keep the Bighorn line continuing in Japan...but its a GM.

Isuzu were long confident that they would remain the stalwart of the GM diesels. The Duramax (which is actually produced by a GM subsidiary...Isuzu's former US diesel division...and based on all Isuzu diesel data) looks like it might take over. All Isuzu diesel staff, but the Isuzu name with be absorbed, and likely forgotten by the next generation.

GM is withdawing Isuzu from the market, but no one appears exactly sure how it is to be re-configured. Ford has absorbed Mazda but left it as an original brand in the market place. GM has absorbed Isuzu, but appears it won't maintain it as an original brand, except the truck division.

I thought the Rodeo/Amigo platforms were going to operate out of NA, but I'm not so sure now. The platforms themselves may disappear.

As always, news updates would be appreciated.

Bighorn.

Oh, BTW, the Duramax is smaller than you think. That's one of its innovative features. The problem with it is actually in the numbers themselves. It appears unlikely to find a way into smaller trucks because there is (at present) only one transmission that can handle its incredible output. Size constraints are related to the trans. size, not the engine size.

<small>[ 23 July 2002, 12:42 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Bighorn ]</small>