Isuzu Impulse RS on BAT

This is one of those rare occassions when the U.S. got the better specced car than the Japanese equivalent.
While the Japanese Piazza Nero was only available as a front-wheel-drive powered by a naturally aspirated 1.8, buyers in the United States were able to choose grades as high as this - the RS Turbo AWD.
What makes it special is that partway through the first generation, the Giugiaro-designed wedge received an upgrade in handling by British marque Lotus in the form of tuned suspension.
The upgrade carried on into the vehicle’s second-and-final generation, the JI/JR.

This vehicle for sale on Bring A Trailer is in impeccable condition with everything kept original, down to the stereo, and is also a rarity being the 5-speed manual. It surely is one for collectors of oddball cars.

What sounded good on paper was however abysmal in performance.
1.6 twin-cam turbo , all-wheel-drive, handling by Lotus, yet is produces a maximum of 119kW at 6,600rpm (160hp) from factory and 200nm at 4,800rpm.

For comparison, the Honda Civic Si-R makes the same power from a naturally-aspirated 1.6, albeit with less torque.

In Japan, the Piazza Nero was only available as a front-wheel-drive 1.8 non-turbo pushing out 110kW (150hp) at 6,400rpm and 172nm at 5,000.
In Canada they branded the vehicle as the Asüna Sunfire where specifications were identical to those in Japan.