GM, Isuzu Back In LUV

by Derek Kreindler

Published: September 26th, 2014

Isuzu and GM agreed to develop a next-generation mid-size pickup for world markets, though Canada and the United States will get their own distinct model under the terms of the agreement.

Although GM has held as much of 49 percent of Isuzu’s equity, the tie-up was wound down in 2006. The two companies have a long history of collaboration on trucks, starting with the Chevrolet LUV and continuing through the current Isuzu D-Max, which shares a significant amount of technology with the current GM mid-size trucks.

The next-generation truck will be important for markets like Thailand and Australia, where mid-size pickups play a role akin to America’s full-size trucks.

#Chevrolet #GeneralMotors #GM #Isuzu #PickupTrucks #Trucks

Derek Kreindler

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13 of 48 comments

PrincipalDan on Sep 26, 2014

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!" - Isuzu

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Monty on Sep 26, 2014

Derek: Do you do this deliberately? Posting a minimum of one mini-pickup/ute story a week is a sure fire way to start the small truck flame wars each and every time. Or maybe you just take some perverse pleasure out of it? Firing up the Ranger jihad once a week?

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- Lou_BC on Sep 26, 2014
  
  Monty - just don't mention chicken tax and all will be fine..........
  
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- Pch101 on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @Lou_BC Did this post confuse you, too, or did you just refuse to believe it because it wasn't written by a law school student? http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2014/09/25-years-cars-really-expensive/
  
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- Petezeiss on Sep 26, 2014
  
  "Ranger jihad" Not I, effendi... I am a Moderate! I have not beated my wifes in 3 days nor cut not'ing off.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Sep 26, 2014
  
  Pch101, why are you such an asinine person, so anal, yet you think you are clever. Dangerous way to be. Being narrow minded tends to reduce you capacity to develop as a human.
  
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- Lou_BC on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @Big Al from Oz - it is easy to catch sucker fish if you use the right bait. LOL
  
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Lou_BC on Sep 26, 2014

I wouldn't want anything smaller than the current crop of mid-sized trucks. We will get the Colorado/Canyon and the rest of the planet will get a poverty spec Isuzu with 1 ton HD springs. The Colorado/Canyon siblings being released by GM have decent specs and so far have gotten good reviews. These are the specs for the Colorado/Canyon: 3,500 lb for base and 7,000 for max tow package is good. These ratings are based on SAE testing criteria. Cargo ratings are very good and in many cases superior to many 1/2 ton pickups. Cargo Ext. Cab 6'2" box 4x2 2.5/mt.............1,410 2.5/a...............1,450 3.6..................1,580 4x4 2.5..................1,430 3.6..................1,560 Crew cab 5'2" box 4x2 2.5 ................1,460 3.6.................1,590 4x4 3.6.................1,590 crew cab 6'2" box 3.6 4x2...............1,540 4x4...............1,520 These cargo ratings mean that these trucks can actually tow a max rated trailer and still have extra capacity for passengers and gear (unlike FCA).

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- Big Al from Oz on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @Lou_BC, I do think the US GM midsize twins have a nicer look about them than the globals. From what I've read this is what the Colorado was meant to be. This is good news. Here the GM twins which the sibling is a Dmax don't quite reach the same level of refinement that the other newer midsizer's have reached. As for the Izuzu comment. The Izuzu is similar to the global Colorado in features and design. There is no poverty pack, there is a base model and Izuzu doesn't come as cheap as the Colorado as their is no small gasoline offering. It has the same suspension as the global Colorado and they do ride rougher than the Amarok, global Ranger and BT50.
  
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- DenverMike on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @Lou_BC - That's one thing that's nice about the Colorado. It gains cargo capacity as options, size and weight increases. It has to be the only truck on earth that does that! And unlike the diesel FCA you bring up, when the Colorado gains a diesel, cargo capacity will increase too!!!
  
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- Lou_BC on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @DenverMike - It does look like GM had done their homework on the Colorado. On the other site we frequent the Ram Jihad gets all bent out of shape when I point out the fact that Ram has poor cargo ratings. I do think that there will be cross-shopping between the Colorado diesel and the Ram Ecodiesel. It is a logical conclusion to make. Both will be the only small diesels and both will have similar mpg ratings. The Ram has a towing advantage erased by crappy cargo ratings. That should give an edge to the Colorado with better cargo ratings.
  
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- Big Al from Oz on Sep 26, 2014
  
  @Lou I also think there will be some cross shopping between potential V6 full size and the Colorado. I don't think many V8 pickup shoppers will come over, unless they were after acceleration, even then I do think a V6 Colorado should be quite good in this area. As for the diesel, when that arrives you might get a handful of V8 full size customers, especially if they are going to tow a 24' caravan or camper trailer.
  
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RobertRyan on Sep 26, 2014

"The next-generation truck will be important for markets like Thailand and Australia, where mid-size pickups play a role akin to America’s full-size trucks." Yeas but we differ from Thailand in having a variety of different trucks. The US is more like Thailand, in that Pickups, play a much greater role than other types of vehicles

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