The Isuzu VehiCross Is A Bizarre SUV The World Forgot
I must admit, before watching this video, I’d never heard of the Isuzu VehiCross, and neither can I recall seeing one IRL. There’s a good reason for that: they were only ever sold in Japan and the US, and in small numbers: just 5958 were built.
That’s not to say it was a flop: the VehiCross was a kinda/sorta halo car for Isuzu that stayed reasonably close to the concept that spawned it, and production was supposed to be limited.
It was manufactured in an usual way too, with its weirdly-shaped body panels stamped out using a ceramic die. Compared to a more conventional cast iron die, the ceramic equivalents can be made for fraction of the cost and in a fraction of the time, meaning Isuzu was able to make its concept a reality surprisingly quickly. The downside is ceramic dies wear out more quickly, but that wasn’t a problem given the VehiCross’ intended volumes.
The example Doug DeMuro is checking out here happens to be the final one made, and as you’d expect, it has plenty of weird touches. Chief among which is the enclosed spare wheel holder: the whole back end of the car seems to have been designed around it, from the low step of the boot aperture to the curved rear windscreen - complete with curved heater elements.
It’s a willfully bonkers car, this…
Comments
I know why people forget, It makes you vehiCross-eyed
#daddydoug
No, #dougdaddy
I remember this from Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3
I do too.
Someone at my school owns one. It’s the only one I’ve ever seen, though I don’t get around that much.
There’s one somewhere in New Hampshire that I’ve seen
I saw this and I was like: “HOLY JESUS, they remembered the Vehicross??”
I knew it since I was very young. It was in Test Drive: Off Road 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQaE6hJ6dZ8
My Pick-Up has the same interior. But, without the fancy colors
Does it have any of the upmarket amenities included in the vehicross
“Should we make a boat or a SUV?”
“Yes”
hummerinator (Suzuki samurai, lada niva & iveco daily lover)
Just love this so much1!!!!!
Quirks and features