Isuzu Bighorn

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Isuzu Bighorn
Production period: 1981-2002
Class : Off-road vehicle
Body versions : Station wagon , panel van

The Isuzu Bighorn was an off-road vehicle that Isuzu produced from 1981 to 2002. The Bighorn was the first SUV- style off-road vehicle from Japanese production and a model for the Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Hilux Surf, which were later released by domestic competitors. The Bighorn was still manufactured in truck construction with a ladder frame and accordingly the suspension was not very comfortable. As a result, sales in the domestic market were initially sluggish, but increased with every new competitor. The Isuzu Bighorn was offered in the home market and New Zealand .

In export it was mostly called Isuzu Trooper , but was also offered under some other brands of the GM group or built under license, described in the individual generations.

First generation (1981–1991)

Bighorn I
Bighorn I 3-door

Bighorn I 3-door
Production period: 1981-1991
Body versions : Station wagon
Engines:
Otto engines : 2.0–2.6 liters
(65–89 kW)
Diesel engines :
2.2–2.8 liters
(45–85 kW)
Length: 4120-4470 mm
Width: 1650-1760 mm
Height: 1815-1845 mm
Wheelbase : 2300-2650 mm
Empty weight : 1550-1820 kg

In September 1981 the model first appeared on the home market as the Isuzu Big Horn Rodeo . The background of the name was the 1980 Isuzu Faster Rodeo , Isuzu's first four-wheel drive vehicle . At that time, Isuzu planned to name all 4WD models with the suffix Rodeo . Some car models in Isuzu's home market therefore also bore this designation, but this practice was discontinued with the increasing export of Isuzu models or the marketing by General Motors abroad.

The Big Horn Rodeo was only available as a 3-door SUV or 3-door panel van , with a short or long wheelbase. There was a choice of soft top or hard top roof versions for the SUV. The soft top had 4 seats and the hard top 5 seats. A 2.2 l diesel engine with 45 kW (62 hp) and a 2.0 l gasoline engine with 65 kW (88 hp), which came from the Isuzu 117 Coupé , combined with a four-speed gearbox or optionally a four- speed gearbox, served as drive - automatic transmission from Aisin-Warner . The all-wheel drive had manual freewheel hubs . There was power steering as standard, depending on the market. Disc brakes were installed at the front and drum brakes at the rear . At the same time as the sales launch in Japan, Isuzu also offered the model in New Zealand . Holden marketed the Isuzu-built model as the Holden Jackaroo . As the Isuzu Trooper, the model was gradually introduced worldwide.

With the diesel engine in particular, the vehicle was limited in performance, which limited its popularity with private customers. Isuzu reacted to this in January 1984 by installing a turbocharger in the diesel engine, which increased the output to 54 kW (73 hp), and for export to 55 kW (75 hp). This engine received a five-speed manual transmission, which was now also available as an option for the other engines. At the same time, the five-seat model was given more variable rear seat backrests, which until then could only be folded down as a whole. With these revisions, Isuzu also changed the name of the model to Isuzu Bighorn.

From June 1985 there was also a five-door model with an extended wheelbase and a fuel tank with 83 l instead of 50 l. A 2.3-liter gasoline engine with 81 kW (110 hp) was added, while the four-speed manual transmission was no longer available.

In 1986 there was a 2.2-liter diesel engine with 64 kW (87 hp) and a Garrett turbocharger for the US market for the Trooper export model . Due to the unconvincing performance, this engine was withdrawn from the range in 1987.

In January 1987 the Bighorn and the export models were revised. Essentially, the front was changed and the chassis was significantly improved. The shock absorbers were now electrically adjustable. An anti-lock braking system was now available as an option. A 2.8-liter turbodiesel engine with 70 kW (95 hp) was new for all models. This engine already had direct injection and came from the Isuzu Elf . The export model Trooper was launched as a special model Irumusha with Recaro seats, Momo steering wheel and various electrical helpers and air conditioning as a luxury model for North America . This model initially had an exclusive 2.6-liter petrol engine with 89 kW (121 hp).

From June 1988 the Irumusha R was added. This one had wider tires on aluminum wheels and wider fenders. The Irumusha special models were now offered in the home market and in the other export countries, as was the 2.6-liter gasoline engine. On the home market it was also offered by Subaru as Subaru Bighorn. It was only available with the 2.8-liter turbo diesel engines. The Subaru Bighorn was built and sold after the end of the Isuzu Bighorn I until 1993, but was not given a successor.

From November 1988 the 2.8-liter turbo-diesel was also available with charge air cooling , which increased the output to 85 kW (115 hp). From 1989 there was also a seven-seater variant and a special model in cooperation with Lotus .

The Bighorn I was still produced until 1993, although from November 1991 only the Subaru model and the Trooper for some export markets were produced.

  • Rear view

  • 5-door

  • Subaru Bighorn

  • Holden Jackaroo

  • Isuzu Trooper

Second generation (1991-2002)

Bighorn II
Isuzu Bighorn II

Isuzu Bighorn II
Production period: 1991-1998
Body versions : Station wagon , panel van
Engines:
Petrol engines : 3.2–3.5 liters
(130–160 kW)
Diesel engines :
3.0–3.1 liters
(84–117 kW)
Length: 4230-4750 mm
Width: 1745-1835 mm
Height: 1835-1845 mm
Wheelbase : 2329-2760 mm
Empty weight : 1780-2170 kg

In October 1991 the second generation was presented at the Tokyo Motor Show and from December 1991 initially only offered with a long wheelbase on the domestic market and again as an Isuzu Trooper for export . The short wheelbase models were offered from March 1992. From this point on, the model was also offered in Europe as Vauxhall or Opel Monterey . The Holden Jackaroo came from Japan , while in New Zealand it was called Isuzu Bighorn. He was offered as a Chevrolet Trooper by GM in South America.

The models had now become significantly larger, but the variety was the same. Four internally ventilated disc brakes and power steering were standard on all versions. Depending on the market and the equipment version, an anti-lock braking system was also standard. The new models also had new engines. It was a 3.2-liter V6 petrol engine with gasoline injection that developed 130 kW (177 hp). The 2.8 liter direct injection diesel engine, originally from an Isuzu truck, was no longer used because it did not meet emissions regulations in many markets. Therefore there was now a 3.1-liter turbo-diesel engine with swirl chamber injection and intercooler with an output of 84 kW (113 hp). As before, the engine power was transmitted via a manually shiftable five-speed gearbox or a four-speed automatic. As with the predecessor, there was selectable all-wheel drive and, depending on the market, manually operated or automatic freewheel hubs. There were also special models again in collaboration with Lotus, as well as the Irumusha sports models, some of which had different names outside of the home market.

From September 1992, electric front windows were standard on all models. In December, the Bighorn received the Japan Car of the Year award .

In 1993, Isuzu signed a mutual vehicle supply agreement with Honda . From October of the same year, the Isuzu Wizard was produced as the Honda Jazz and the Honda Civic as the Isuzu Gemini .

  • In 1994 the Honda Horizon was launched on the basis of the Bighorn exclusively for the Japanese market. It differed from the Isuzu with minimal changes to the interior, a different grille, different aluminum wheels and the Honda logos.

In 1995 the electronic control of the injection pump of the diesel engine was changed and the turbocharger improved, which increased the output to 92 kW (125 hp). The car was now also available with permanent all-wheel drive.

  • The cooperation between Honda and Isuzu resulted in a new model for Honda's luxury brand Acura for the North American market, the Acura SLX .

From August 1996, ABS was part of the basic equipment everywhere. For the first time, depending on the market, there were full-size front airbags as standard .

In 1998, Isuzu redesigned the front with a new grille, headlights, indicators and bumpers. Most of all, however, happened with the engines. A newly developed 3.0 l diesel engine with four cylinders, common rail injection and balancer shaft to reduce vibration replaced the previous turbo diesel engine. The output was 117 kW (159 hp). In North America, a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine with two overhead camshafts and 160 kW (218 hp) was introduced with an electronically controlled all-wheel drive, the all-wheel drive system from Borg-Warner , which increases the power as required distributed to the individual wheels and is significantly more comfortable and economical than permanent all-wheel drive. The Irumusha series was discontinued and now as a sports package, with each option also Recaro seats, sport suspension, electronic hill start assist , as Bighorn / Trooper Plaisir offered.

From 1999 this engine and the 4Mode all-wheel drive system were also offered in the rest of the world. In the same year production of the Honda Horizon and the Acura SLX also ended. While the Honda did not have a successor, the Acura MDX was a successor to the 2001 model. Sales of the Opel Monterey were also discontinued in most European countries. From January 2000, Isuzu imported the Bighorn II again as an Isuzu Trooper to Europe in countries with right-hand traffic.

The last revision of the Bighorn and its sister models took place in 2001. The diesel engine was revised with regard to lower noise and the electronic control of the automatic transmission was readjusted. An electronically controlled throttle valve has now been installed in the 3.2-liter gasoline engine. The starting help has been improved, as have the emissions from gasoline engines.

  • 2002 the sale of the Bighorn in Japan was stopped and remained there without a successor.
  • In 2002 and 2003, the Isuzu Trooper was replaced in North America by the Isuzu Axiom and Isuzu Ascender .
  • 2003 also ended the export of the Holden Jackaroo , which had no successor, and the Chevrolet Trooper.
  • The Isuzu Trooper was also discontinued between 2002 and 2003 depending on the market.

In most countries there was no direct successor, but the model was replaced by GM models.

  • In the Philippines, however, the Isuzu Trooper was produced and offered until 2005. There the model replaced the Isuzu Alterra .

  • Facelift version

  • Acura SLX

  • Holden Jackaroo

  • Opel / Vauxhall / Holden Monterey

  • Isuzu Trooper from 1999

Web links

Commons : Isuzu Bighorn  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Subaru Bighorn  - Collection of images, videos and audio files
Commons : Isuzu Trooper  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Commons : Acura SLX  - collection of images, videos, and audio files