General Motors and Isuzu to build pickups together
General Motors and Isuzu Motors Ltd. will get together for another joint venture to start developing new pickups together for emerging markets. The JV, called LCV Platform Engineering Corp., has worked together successfully before on pickup development and production, and despite GM having sold off much of its Japanese investments (Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru, etc.), the company says the work it has done with Isuzu to develop and produce pickups should continue due to its success in the past.
LCV Platform Engineering Corp. is a 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu based in Fujisawa, Japan. The arrangement and accompanying facilities should be ready to go in September of this year.
[Source: Associated Press via the Detroit Free Press]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
risingsun 5:44PM (6/13/2006)
GM needed to do more to differentiate these from the Isuzu version. The interior on the GMC/Chevy is straight Isuzu. Their marketing for these rigs made them out to be a LOT more truck than they are in real life. Ever since Nissan moved the Frontier pickup up a notch, they left the ultra-small bare-bones truck slot open, and this is all this truck has going for it. I haven't driven a worse manual transmission in a brand new truck EVER.
The H3 is based on this platform, no? 5-cyl is gutless, and a poor excuse.
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John 5:53PM (6/13/2006)
The H3 is no power rocket but it is far from gutless! It has plenty of torque and that's what a real SUV needs! Look at the crappy Lexus Lx470...235HP now thats a joke! Oh, but it's a Toyota!!!!!!!
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PJ 6:00PM (6/13/2006)
Just out of curiosity, John, have you driven the H3? It felt pretty gutless to me when I drove one. Its five-cylinder (like most) feels "rubber-band"-y off the line--no torque, then a big swell of it--and then all power fades by 4,500 rpm. It sounds strained, too. Hardly a burly truck motor.
Like risingsun, I'm not sure GM should be touting the "success" of the Colorado/Canyon/i-Series. They suffer the same unsatisfying power-delivery issues, and the new Frontier and Tacoma make the interior look (and feel) pretty shabby. They steer pretty nicely for a truck, but don't really stand out in any way on-road.
Of course, I don't know their sales figures off-hand. Anyone know if they're selling well (fleet sales don't count)?
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Whydrive 6:03PM (6/13/2006)
I hope folks realize the venture is to make trucks for "emerging" markets before they bash GM.
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Ryan 6:18PM (6/13/2006)
"Look at the crappy Lexus Lx470...235HP now thats a joke!"
Ya know, I think I could manage just fine in my LEXUS LX470, yeah I could live. :-)
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Howard Kerr 7:18PM (6/13/2006)
"Look at the crappy LX470....235HP now that's a joke!"
YES, THAT IS A JOKE, THE LX470 HAS A 275 (THAT'S SEVENTY FIVE, NOT THIRTY FIVE) HORSEPOWER ENGINE.
"I haven't driven a worse manual transmission in a brand new truck, ever."
It's not just the trucks that have awful manual transmissions, but with the exception of the 'Vette and the old Camaro/Firebird, all the manual transmissions in GM products are STRONG advertisements for the company's automatics. You would think they are conciously trying to punish customers for saving a few bucks on the price of a transmission.
It's obvious, NO ONE at GM drives a competitor's products, at least not one with a manual transmission.
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Glenn A. 7:54PM (6/13/2006)
OK, does the current arrangement make the USA an "emerging market" because the Colorado/Canyon are all Isuzu? (Tongue in cheek).
Frankly, about all Isuzu have left are emerging markets with pickups and SUVs, they have no automotive operations (as in CARS) left anywhere worldwide, no car experience (lately), don't even sell light vehicles in their OWN market (Japan) any more, only snub-nosed medium duty (real-work) trucks.
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John 8:52PM (6/13/2006)
I have driven the H3....and bought one. It is a great truck. No it's not a Hemi but it has enough power/torque and is awsome in all weather conditions. It gets great gas milage on 87 octane. I average just over 20. For an SUV like this its great!
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Nick 9:32AM (6/14/2006)
these vehicles do have merit...you hypocrits bash GM for building gas guzzling vehicles, but then they come out with the highest-mileage pickup on the market that is more geared towards personal use than work (i.e. reality), and you trash it. The interior is spartan, but for god sakes it is a pickup truck...as long as it is sturdy that is fine. Toyota and Nissan do build the best compact pickups, but they are taking them upmarket and a loaded Tacoma now sets you back $32k. You can finagle a loaded Colorado for a lot less than that.
If this JV were to apply Isuzu's diesel experience and create an 2007 regs-accepted diesel engine for this platform, they could theoretically have a small pickup that gets over 30mpg. Unfortunately, they will probably do this, but not for the American market...GM would be too unwilling to invest that kind of money into a product that doesn't pull much profit here.
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Bob 10:20AM (6/14/2006)
The manual transmission in the Canyon and Colorado may suck, its built by Aisin of Japan, which is partly owned, and supplies manual trannys for Toyota.
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DPC car videos 11:42PM (8/31/2006)
This totaly looks like a GM truck with a different emblem.
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