Isuzu Piazza

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Isuzu Piazza
Production period: 1980-1993
Class : Sports car
Body versions : Combi coupe
Previous model: Isuzu 117 Coupe
Successor: Isuzu PA Nero

The Isuzu Piazza was a hatchback sports coupe produced by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Isuzu from 1980 to 1993 . In the US the piazza was sold as Isuzu Impulse , in Australia as Holden Piazza . Technically Piazza I was based with rear-wheel drive on the Isuzu Gemini I, with the Opel Kadett C was used. The 2nd generation, like the temporary Gemini models, had front-wheel drive and was offered in Canada as the Asüna Sunfire . The Geo Storm model series was derived from the 2nd generation as a sports coupé, hatchback and station wagon . The Geo Storm, in turn, was marketed in Japan as Isuzu PA Nero from 1992 and replaced the piazza here.

Isuzu Piazza JR120 / 130 1980–1990, Isuzu Impulse 1983–1990

Piazza / Impulse JR120 / 130
Isuzu Piazza I.

Isuzu Piazza I.
Production period: 1980-1991
Body versions : Combi coupe
Engines:
Gasoline engines : 2.0–2.3 liters
(67–132 kW)
Length: 4385 mm
Width: 1765 mm
Height: 1300 mm
Wheelbase : 2440 mm
Empty weight : 1250 kg

In 1978 Isuzu gave Giorgetto Giugiaro the order to design a new sports coupe as the successor to the Isuzu 117 coupe . Isuzu gave Giugiaro several Isuzu Gemini and gave him a free hand in the execution of the order. The result was Giugiaro's prototype Asso di Fiori ("Ace of Cross"), which was shown for the first time at the 1979 Tokyo Motor Show to general applause. Giugiaro spoke of his "fifth Copernican revolution" because he had succeeded in combining design innovations from several previous prototypes in one design suitable for mass production. Isuzu decided within 48 hours that the prototype would only go into series production with minimal changes.

The piazza went on sale in Japan in November 1980. There was initially a choice of a two-liter in-line four-cylinder engine with an overhead camshaft (SOHC) and 88 kW (120 PS) or a two-liter engine with two overhead camshafts (DOHC) and 99 kW (135 PS), each with a five-speed gearbox or four-speed automatic. From 1984 a version of the 88 kW engine with a turbocharger was also available that developed 132 kW (180 hp) and replaced the engine with two camshafts. The Piazza was available in numerous equipment versions: Bella, XN, XJ, XE, XG, Nero and others. Sport suspensions from Irmscher and Lotus were available for the Piazza .

In the US, the piazza was introduced as Isuzu Impulse in 1983 , as was the Holden Piazza in Australia . Initially there was only the engine with one camshaft, here with 90 hp (67kW, 91 hp). The turbo variant developed 140 hp (104 kW; 142 hp).

In 1987 the piazza underwent a facelift with a larger rear spoiler lip and exposed instead of pop-up headlights . Only in the USA did a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 110 hp (82 kW; 112 hp) replace the two-liter naturally aspirated engine. All piazza received the sports suspension developed by Lotus with modified stabilizers and harder springs and dampers. By August 1990, Isuzu had produced a total of 113,419 copies of Piazza I. The piazza was not offered in Germany.

Isuzu Piazza, Isuzu Impulse JT22 1990-1993

Piazza / Impulse JT22
Isuzu Piazza II

Isuzu Piazza II
Production period: 1989-1993
Body versions : Combi coupe
Engines:
Petrol engines : 1.6–1.8 liters
(104–119 kW)
Length: 4168-4216 mm
Width: 1694 mm
Height: 1298-1313 mm
Wheelbase : 2351 mm
Empty weight :

The second generation of the Piazza (Impulse again in the USA) was created on the GM platform R. GM had commissioned Isuzu to develop the successor to the Isuzu Gemini , a sportier successor to the Geo Spectrum , which was then launched on the market as the Geo Storm . The body design of the Storm was heavily influenced by GM, mainly GM Europe and the design template for the Lotus Elan M100. Under the leadership of Shiro Nakamura, Isuzu's head of design at the time, the new generation of the Gemini and the Geo Storm derived from it emerged. A successor for the Piazza / Impulse should differ from both. So Nakamura's team began to develop the Storm Coupé with a different rear and a front based on the Gemini III. Here they took over design elements from the first piazza, such as the half-covered headlights with the integrated radiator grille below the bonnet, as well as the design of the taillights, under the impression of European style. The Piazza II in Japan was later advertised with European design. The second generation of the Piazza was not re-marketed as Holden in Australia, perhaps because the predecessor sold poorly.

The three-door model was introduced in 1989 as the Impulse XS and was offered in the USA and Canada from 1990. It now had front-wheel drive with a four-cylinder 1588 cm³ gasoline engine (4xE1) with two overhead camshafts and 130 hp (97 kW). Lotus Cars , which like Isuzu belonged to GM, had originally revised the 1.6-liter engine and the transmission from the Isuzu Gemini II and used them for the Lotus Elan M100. Isuzu also built this combination into the Impulse. Lotus fine-tuned the suspension of the Impulse with softer springs and harder shock absorbers and stabilizers. All Piazza / Impulse of the second generation received the chassis tuned by Lotus. In Japan, Piazza II was sold from July 1991 to spring 1992. Here the model was only available with the 4XF1 four-cylinder engine with 1809 cm³ displacement, four cylinders, two overhead camshafts and 140 PS (104 kW). In 1991 the Impulse RS with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine (4XE1W) with 160 hp (119 kW) and all-wheel drive was introduced in the USA and Canada. The turbo model was discontinued as early as 1992, while the 1.8-liter engine of the Japanese model replaced the 1.6-liter engine. Sales of the Impulse in Canada ended in 1992 parallel to Japan. While the Isuzu PA Nero was being introduced in Japan as the successor to the Piazza, the Impulse was offered in the USA until the end of 1993. The combination of the Asian crisis , stricter emissions regulations, crash safety requirements, General Motors' model policy with restrictive market segment specifications, caused Isuzu to withdraw from the car industry. Therefore, the Asüna Sunfire, which corresponded to the Isuzu Impulse , was launched in Canada in 1993 . Only a few months later, GM discontinued the Asüna brand , whereupon Isuzu also discontinued the production of the Impulse.

Asüna Sunfire

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