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1999 Isuzu Kai

Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999 - Interior
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999 - Interior
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999 - Brochure
Isuzu Kai Concept, 1999 - Brochure
Isuzu Kai Concept - LA Auto Show'2001
Isuzu Kai Concept - LA Auto Show'2001
Isuzu Kai Concept - Interior - LA Auto Show'2001
Isuzu Kai Concept - Interior - LA Auto Show'2001
Images: Isuzu Motors Ltd.; JOHN LLOYD Collection
Rating:  22    -10    +32
The Revolutionary Vehicle-KAI has brought together avant-garde body design and refined 4x4 performance.
This Judge Dredd wannabe is the Isuzu Kai concept. In the past, many Japanese motor manufacturers have been criticised for apeing their European counterparts, so it would seem that Isuzu have taken note of this and come up with the Kai; a concept that is purely Japanese.

This unique 4 wheel drive offroader takes many styling cues from Japanese culture; the radiator grill design alludes to a Shinto temple gateway, the seat patterns are inspired by Samurai armour. Other such references include small square windows in the sun roof reminiscent of the Shoji screens found in Japanes houses and natural grain leather as a nod to the Japanese respect for natural materials and harmony with the environment.

Isuzu describes its Kai concept vehicle as an RV-though not a recreational vehicle as the common Japanese parlance has it, but rather a "revolutionary vehicle." The Japanese word kai means "return to the beginning," or "progress through repeated efforts," according to Isuzu.

The latter may apply to the vehicle’s flamboyant and wild styling, which has a large bit of Simon Cox (now a senior design executive with GM) about it. The 4-m (13-ft) long vehicle has minimal overhangs and a long 2700-mm (106-in) wheelbase. It is powered by Isuzu’s new Dd series dual-overhead-camshaft, 24-valve, common-rail direct-injection V6 diesel, which in its production form will be offered in 2.5- and 3.0-L displacements.

The lightweight and compact V6 readily fits transversely in the engine bay of a mid-to-large passenger car, according to Isuzu. In the Kai, all wheels are driven by an electronically controlled torque split/transfer system by Borg Warner. The chassis features all independent suspension.


Kai на 20-дюймовых колесах - это материализовавшееся воплощение идеального борца с бездорожьем в стиле "техно". Или "новая грань", кому как больше нравится, - прямых, переходящих в дуги, хватает. Плюс прозрачно намекающие на гигантские хода подвесок колесные ниши, по два амортизатора на каждом колесе, мощная защита картера, "формульная" заправочная горловина - ну прямо Крутой Уокер от автомобилестроения. Так-то оно так, да не совсем, под нарочито грубоватой внешностью скрывается утонченная натура - трансмиссия с автоматическим контролем распределения момента, АБС, ПБС и полный набор электронных "наворотов", от отключаемой системы контроля горизонтальности кузова до CD-чейнджера. То есть комплект, достойный седана высшего класса или Mercedes-Benz M.
Source: www.difflock.com; "Джиперам пора учить японский?" Владимир Матвейчук, журнал "Автомобили" 1999
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