The
Isuzu Panther is a multi-purpose vehicle manufactured in
IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
for the Asian market by Isuzu Motors. The model is suited to carrying large loads of passengers or cargo. It was developed to meet local conditions in terms of climate, roads and family structure as a durable vehicle. The Panther is also popular in the Philippines (known as the
Hi-Lander Crosswind, which bested the diesel version of the
Toyota RevoFor other uses, see Revo.The Toyota Revo is an Asian Sport Utility Vehicle produced by Toyota since 1998. The development started in 1997 and sold in 1998. It shares the same chassis platform with the corresponding Hilux and Hiace...
) and
VietnamVietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
.
The Panther is also manufactured and marketed in
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
under the name
Chevrolet TaveraThe Chevrolet Tavera is a compact MPV produced in Indonesia by Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors and in India by American automaker General Motors sold in ASEAN and Indian markets. It uses the platform of the Isuzu Panther, a diesel-powered multi-purpose vehicle sold in Indonesia...
.
In the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, the Crosswind is now in its third generation and still gaining popularity.
The
Isuzu Panther is a multi-purpose vehicle manufactured in
IndonesiaThe Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia comprises 17,508 islands. With an estimated population of around 237 million people, it is the world's fourth most populous country, with the world's largest population of Muslims.Indonesia is a republic, with an...
for the Asian market by Isuzu Motors. The model is suited to carrying large loads of passengers or cargo. It was developed to meet local conditions in terms of climate, roads and family structure as a durable vehicle. The Panther is also popular in the Philippines (known as the
Hi-Lander Crosswind, which bested the diesel version of the
Toyota RevoFor other uses, see Revo.The Toyota Revo is an Asian Sport Utility Vehicle produced by Toyota since 1998. The development started in 1997 and sold in 1998. It shares the same chassis platform with the corresponding Hilux and Hiace...
) and
VietnamVietnam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam , is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east...
.
The Panther is also manufactured and marketed in
IndiaIndia, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal...
under the name
Chevrolet TaveraThe Chevrolet Tavera is a compact MPV produced in Indonesia by Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors and in India by American automaker General Motors sold in ASEAN and Indian markets. It uses the platform of the Isuzu Panther, a diesel-powered multi-purpose vehicle sold in Indonesia...
.
In the
PhilippinesThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
, the Crosswind is now in its third generation and still gaining popularity. It has a new style which makes it simple yet also sporty to look at. It is still powered by the 4JA-1 Diesel Engine, but was even better with the option of a 81hp, Normally Aspirated version or the 85hp, Turbocharged version. This third generation model is also equipped with Isuzu‘s Flex Ride Suspension System which promotes a comfortable ride while maintaining composure, durability, and high ground clearance.
1983
The first Gemini was the 1974
Bellett Gemini. It was based on the third-generation
Opel KadettThe Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999.-First generation :...
on the General Motors T-car platform and came in four-door sedan and two-door
coupeA coupé or coupe is a closed car body style, the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
body styles.
In addition to sedan and coupe models,
HoldenGM Holden Ltd is an Australian automaker based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery business, but later moved into the automotive field, becoming a subsidiary of General Motors in 1931. Holden has taken charge of vehicle operations for GM in Australasia and,...
in Australia produced the Gemini as a three door
station wagonA station wagon is a passenger automobile with a body style similar to a sedan, or saloon, but with the roofline following the full, sometimes extended rear cargo area and sometimes an extra row of sometimes rear-facing seats, ending with a more vertical door than on a hatchback.Also sometimes...
and three door
panel vanA panel van is a form of van; in some national usages it is distinct from a purpose-designed van in that it is based on a family car chassis; elsewhere in the world it applies to any solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck , without rear side windows — in this usage the term is...
, which were derived from the
Vauxhall ChevetteThe Chevette was a model of car manufactured by Vauxhall in the UK from 1975 to 1984. It was Vauxhall's version of the family of small "T-Cars" from Vauxhall's parent General Motors ; the family included the Opel Kadett in Germany, the Isuzu Gemini in Japan, the Holden Gemini in Australia, the...
wagon, with Gemini front panels. The Australian
Holden GeminiThe Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors–Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
was fitted with an Isuzu G161Z engine, although some models were available with a diesel variant of an Isuzu G180 engine. The more common G161Z was a 1.6-liter 8 valve SOHC fed by a Nikki carburettor. The Holden Gemini was
WheelsWheels is an Australian automotive magazine published monthly by ACP Magazines. The publication is well-renowned by Australian car enthusiasts...
magazine's
Car of the YearCar of the Year is a phrase usually considered to have been invented by Motor Trend magazine in the 1950s for their annual award for best automobile...
for 1975.
In Europe, the 1976 Gemini was equipped with a 1.3-liter engine known as the 1g13c, which was adopted by
OpelAdam Opel GmbH, commonly known as Opel, is a German automaker. The company was founded on 21 January 1863, began making automobiles in 1899, and was acquired by General Motors in 1929...
in
GermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium,...
for their
Opel KadettThe Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999.-First generation :...
.
In
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, sports models were available under the names ZZ/R and ZZ/T. These were equipped with an Isuzu G180W 8-valve DOHC 1.8-liter engine, most commonly fuel injected, producing 97kW at the flywheel. It is rumoured that these models also came with a factory LSD and a shortened shift throw on manual models.
Isuzu Gemini was also sold in
South KoreaSouth Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
as
Saehan Gemini, whose manufacturer became
Daewoo MotorsGM Daewoo Auto & Technology was first established as National Motor in 1937 in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea...
in 1982. It then became
Daewoo Maepsy after 1982 and remained on sale until it was replaced by Daewoo Lemans in 1986.
The coupe was replaced in 1981 by the derivative Isuzu Piazza, which was introduced in the United States in 1983 as the
Isuzu ImpulseThe Isuzu Piazza is a small sporty 3-door liftback coupé that was manufactured by Isuzu from 1981 to 1992 in two generations...
.
Sold as:
- 1975–1984 - Holden Gemini
The Holden Gemini is a compact car that was built and sold by General Motors–Holden's from 1975 to 1986. It was derived from the Japanese Isuzu Gemini, one of the many cars based on the GM T-car platform.- TX :...
- AustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
- 1982–1984 - Holden Gemini - New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses , and numerous smaller islands, most notably Stewart Island/Rakiura and the Chatham Islands. The indigenous Māori named New Zealand Aotearoa, commonly translated as The Land of the Long White Cloud...
- 1975 - 1983 Opel Gemini - Malaysia
Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia that consists of thirteen states and three Federal Territories, with a total landmass of . The capital city is Kuala Lumpur, while Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government. The population stands at over 28 million inhabitants...
, ThailandThe Kingdom of Thailand is an independent country that lies in the heart of Southeast Asia.It is bordered to the north by Laos and Burma, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the west by the Andaman Sea and Burma...
- 1976–1979 - Opel Isuzu/Buick Opel - United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- 1976–1982 - Saehan Gemini - South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often simply referred to as Korea, is a country in East Asia, located on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea to the north. Its capital is Seoul, the second largest...
- 1981–1984 - Isuzu I-Mark
- 1981–1990 - Isuzu Piazza
The Isuzu Piazza is a small sporty 3-door liftback coupé that was manufactured by Isuzu from 1981 to 1992 in two generations...
- 1983–1989 - Isuzu Impulse
The Isuzu Piazza is a small sporty 3-door liftback coupé that was manufactured by Isuzu from 1981 to 1992 in two generations...
1996
General MotorsGeneral Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
sought a replacement for their world car
T-bodyThe General Motors T-car was an automobile platform designation for subcompact cars. It was the 1970s' most prolific world car program. The original T-cars were all rear-wheel drive unibody cars....
KadettThe Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.Delta in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999.-First generation :...
/ Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents. As
T-bodyThe General Motors T-car was an automobile platform designation for subcompact cars. It was the 1970s' most prolific world car program. The original T-cars were all rear-wheel drive unibody cars....
manufacturing had been turned over to Isuzu in Japan for economic reasons, so would the manufacturing of the replacement. In 1984, Isuzu again commissioned
Giorgetto GiugiaroGiorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
who was responsible for the 117 Coupe and the Piazza. This time, he was to design an economy car on the new
front-wheel driveFront-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
R-body platform. The R-body featured a
MacPherson strutThe MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot, widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson who developed the design, based in part on designs created by Guido Fornaca of FIAT in the mid-1920s...
front suspension and beam axle rear suspension, which foreshadowed most of GM's offerings through their current model lineup.
GiugiaroGiorgetto Giugiaro is an Italian automobile designer responsible equally for a stable of supercars and several of the most popular everyday vehicles driven today...
's design followed the Piazza design very closely in shape and detail, though the proportions made the Gemini appear shorter and taller in its three door version, and a four door sedan (notch back) was also designed.
Unfortunately for everyone involved, Isuzu presented the designs to
GMGeneral Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
prior to freezing them, and GM ordered a number of detail changes to them without ever consulting the designer, Giugiaro, which was taken as an insult, and ended the long relationship between the noted Italian designer and Japan's oldest car builder. The insult was serious enough to Giugiaro that he denied the car was his design until a decade after the vehicle went out of production.
The R-body Gemini was introduced in 1985. In Japan, the vehicle was available with a 1.5 liter SOHC engine, 1.5 liter turbocharged engine, and 1.7 liter
I4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is a four-cylinder internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a...
diesel engineA diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber during the final stage of compression...
. A 1.6 liter DOHC engine was introduced in late 1987. Trim levels were widely varied, from basic models to Irmscher and Lotus Tuned versions, and plenty of optional equipment and dealer options were available.
In the US, the vehicle was available from
ChevroletChevrolet is a brand of automobile produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant in 1911, Chevrolet was acquired by General Motors in 1917...
(and later
GeoGeo was a brand of small cars and SUVs marketed by General Motors as a subdivision of their Chevrolet division, introduced in 1989. Their original slogan was "Get to know Geo." Originally formed by GM to compete with the growing small import market of the late 1980s, the line continued through the...
) as the Spectrum, or from Isuzu themselves, as the I-Mark. GM's Pontiac division sold the I-Mark as the Pontiac Sunburst in Canada from 1985 to 1988. Pontiac discontinued the Sunburst because it felt that the engine was a little weak and did not have much performance. GM Canada announced that the Sunburst's replacement would be the Passport Optima in 1989. For
GMGeneral Motors Company, often known as simply GM, is a United States based automaker with headquarters in Detroit, Michigan. GM was the world's 18th largest corporate entity and third largest automaker as ranked by 2008 revenues on the Fortune Global 500. Ranked by global unit sales for 2008, it...
, this was an entry level vehicle to attract young buyers and to compete with Japanese compact cars in the US market.
The Spectrum lacked many of the options and equipment of the I-Mark, though both were available with the 1.5 liter SOHC non-turbo and turbo engines, but no diesel engines were offered in the US. The turbo model I-Mark was called the RS model in 1988 and then changed to the LS model in 1989. The I-Mark was available with the 1.6 liter DOHC engine in 1989 only, as the RS model. In 1988 and 1989, the LS and RS models were offered with Lotus Tuned Suspension, the sportier suspension featuring more rigid dampers, alternate spring rates, and bigger sway bars.
Sold as:
- 1985–1989 Isuzu I-Mark - United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- 1985–1989 Isuzu Gemini - Japan
is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and Central AmericaManagua
Guatemala City
San Salvador
San Pedro Sula
Panama City
San José, Costa Rica
Santa Ana, El Salvador
León
San Miguel|-|}...
- 1985–1988 Chevrolet Spectrum - United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
& CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- 1989 Geo Spectrum - United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- 1985–1989 Pontiac Sunburst - Canada
Canada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
- 1985–1989 Holden Gemini - Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the continental mainland , the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans...
- 1985–1989 Chevrolet Gemini - Chile
Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
External links