Isuzu Sports Car: The Untold Story Behind Japan's Forgotten Performance Icon
I still remember the first time I saw an Isuzu sports car prototype photo in an automotive magazine back in the late 1990s. There it was—the Isuzu 4200R concept—sleek, aggressive, and completely unexpected from a company known primarily for diesel trucks and commercial vehicles. Much like Van Sickle's experience in her PVL Finals debut, where nerves transformed into fuel rather than distraction, Isuzu's brief foray into sports cars represented that same transformation of corporate anxiety into automotive ambition. The story of Isuzu's sports cars reads like a forgotten chapter in Japan's automotive history, one that deserves rediscovery.
Most people associate Isuzu with rugged pickup trucks and dependable diesel engines, but between 1968 and 1993, the company produced some of Japan's most intriguing performance vehicles. The journey began with the Isuzu 117 Coupé, which debuted in 1968 and remained in production for an astonishing 13 years with remarkably few changes. Designed by the legendary Giorgetto Giugiaro, the 117 featured a beautiful fastback design that still turns heads today. I've had the privilege of driving one of these rare machines at a classic car event in Yokohama, and what struck me most was how sophisticated it felt compared to contemporary Japanese sports cars. The 117's 1.6-liter twin-cam engine produced approximately 128 horsepower—respectable for its era—and its build quality surpassed many European competitors. Only about 15,000 units were produced during its entire production run, making it exceptionally rare today.
The true hidden gem in Isuzu's sports car history arrived in the early 1990s—the Isuzu Impulse, known in some markets as the Piazza. This car represented Isuzu's ambitious attempt to compete with established Japanese sports coupes like the Toyota Celica and Nissan Silvia. What made the Impulse particularly special was its engineering pedigree—the handling was tuned by none other than Lotus Engineering, giving it road manners that could embarrass more expensive European sports cars. I recall speaking with a former Isuzu engineer who worked on the Impulse project, and he described the corporate culture at the time as "nervous but determined," not unlike an athlete preparing for their major debut. The company knew they were underdogs in the performance segment, but that awareness fueled their determination to create something extraordinary rather than holding them back.
The technical specifications of these cars reveal how seriously Isuzu approached performance engineering. The second-generation Impulse featured a 2.3-liter inline-four engine producing around 140 horsepower in its most potent North American specification, while Japanese market versions received a turbocharged variant making approximately 150 horsepower. The car employed an advanced independent suspension system with Lotus-tuned geometry that provided exceptional handling balance. I've always believed that if Isuzu had marketed these cars more aggressively and established a proper performance image, they might have succeeded in changing the company's trajectory. Instead, they remain what I like to call "secret handshake" cars—vehicles that only true Japanese performance enthusiasts recognize and appreciate.
Isuzu's most ambitious sports car never made it beyond the concept stage. The 4200R concept unveiled at the 1989 Tokyo Motor Show featured groundbreaking technology, including four-wheel steering, active suspension, and a 4.2-liter V12 engine rumored to produce around 350 horsepower. Had it reached production, it would have positioned Isuzu as a direct competitor to premium Japanese GT cars like the Nissan 300ZX and Toyota Supra. The concept's styling still looks contemporary today, with its low-slung profile and clean lines. I've spent hours studying photographs of this concept and interviewing designers who worked on it, and there's a consistent theme in their recollections—the excitement mixed with apprehension about creating something so ambitious for a brand not known for performance vehicles.
The parallels between Isuzu's sports car endeavors and Van Sickle's approach to high-pressure situations are striking. In both cases, what could have been paralyzing nerves instead became driving forces for exceptional performance. Isuzu knew they were entering unfamiliar territory against established competitors, yet they produced vehicles with genuine innovation and character. The company's eventual withdrawal from passenger cars entirely in the early 2000s makes their sports car experiments even more poignant. These vehicles represent a road not taken, both for Isuzu and for the Japanese auto industry broadly.
Today, finding a well-preserved Isuzu sports car has become increasingly difficult. The 117 Coupé has attained cult status among Japanese classic car enthusiasts, with pristine examples selling for over $40,000 at auction—a significant appreciation from their original price of approximately $5,000 in the early 1970s. The Impulse remains more accessible but is rapidly gaining recognition as a future classic. I maintain that driving an Impulse provides a unique window into what might have been—a different path for Isuzu where performance and innovation took center stage. The company's current focus on commercial vehicles makes sense from a business perspective, but part of me still wonders what incredible sports cars they might have created had they persisted in this segment.
Reflecting on Isuzu's sports car legacy reminds me that automotive history is filled with such fascinating detours—companies stepping outside their comfort zones to create something extraordinary, if only briefly. These cars represent moments of courageous ambition in an industry often driven by conservative business decisions. They may not have achieved commercial success or lasting recognition, but they embody that thrilling transformation of nervous energy into remarkable achievement, much like an athlete converting pre-game jitters into a championship-winning performance. For those of us who appreciate automotive underdogs, Isuzu's forgotten sports cars remain precious artifacts of Japan's rich performance heritage.