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Close up: Isuzu
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| Part Two: Going high tech |
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| Updated |
Mar 17, 2005 19:41:50 |
| Rating |
 59 ( -7 -11.86% ) | | Author | Tara Baukus Mello |
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Description:
A Closer Look At Isuzu
Part Two: Going High Tech
Writer's Notes
Isuzu Line-up:
Isuzu Rodeo Sport
MSRP Range: $13,999 - $19,415
Isuzu Rodeo
MSRP Range: $15,999 - $21,379
Isuzu Axiom
MSRP Range: $24,345 - $29,995
Isuzu Ascender
MSRP Range: $28,649 - $31,349
Editor's Note: This is the second article in a series about the Japanese automaker Isuzu and its role in the U.S. market. For the overview of where Isuzu is headed, click here.
Comments or suggestions about this review? Send an e-mail to: editor@autobytel.com
Autobytel Inc. operates the popular automotive websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com, and Autosite.com.
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Here's a riddle: What produces 250 horsepower, gets 23 miles per gallon and shares the same thing in common with the BMW 760Li and the Rolls-Royce Phantom?
Answer: The 2004 Isuzu Axiom with the new 3.5-liter, gasoline direct-injection V-6 engine.
Yes, I said gasoline direct-injection. We are not talking diesel here, despite the fact that, if you are familiar with direct injection technology, you probably associate it with diesel engines. While this characteristic alone makes it quite unusual, the 2004 Isuzu Axiom is the lone truck in a very elite group of just three vehicles with this type of engine. The others? The Bimmer and the Rolls that were a part of our little riddle. (Both of which, by the way, are priced in the super-luxury car category.)
Compared to the predecessor in the 2003 Axiom (which had conventional fuel injectors), the direct injection (DI) engine has more horsepower and torque, gets better fuel economy and is more environmentally friendly. Plus it runs on 87-octane gasoline---a trait you will notice in your wallet. The difference between the two engines is quite simple; the DI engine houses the fuel injector inside the combustion chamber, while conventional fuel injected engines place the injector outside the combustion chamber and inside the intake port.
It's the subtle differences in the way the DI engine functions that give the engine these benefits. Improved gas mileage, for example, is the result of the fuel being sprayed at a very high pressure, which produces very fine fuel droplets, which in turn causes the fuel to burn more completely and therefore more efficiently. As a result, the 2004 Isuzu Axiom sees fuel economy gains of six percent in the city (18 mpg) and 10 percent on the highway (23 mpg).
The increase in power is also a result of the DI technology. Because the fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, it vaporizes there, versus in the intake port, reducing the heat in the chamber.
The increase in power is also a result of the DI technology. Because the fuel is sprayed directly into the combustion chamber, it vaporizes there, versus in the intake port, reducing the heat in the chamber. As a result, a higher compression ratio can be used, which in turn produces more horsepower and more torque. Compared with the conventional fuel injected 3.5-liter V-6 engine in the 2003 Axiom, the DI engine produces 20 more horsepower (250 hp versus 230 hp) and 17 more foot-pounds of torque (247 ft.-lbs. versus 230 ft.-lbs.).
During my road test, the DI engine provided a pleasant driving experience. It was noticeably peppier than its predecessor and the increased torque made the Axiom quite responsive. I'd imagine that those who want to use the vehicle for towing a boat or trailer (it has a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds) will particularly appreciate this new characteristic. A new, more robust four-speed automatic transmission helps further improve responsiveness while speed-sensing rack-and-pinion steering makes handling a snap. Four-wheel-drive models also come with Isuzu's Intelligent Suspension Control or ISC, which offers both "comfort" and "sport" modes.
More power, better gas mileage, improved emissions; it's quite a combination and one that Isuzu is hoping will give the Axiom the sales boost it needs. Introduced as a 2002 model, the Axiom's sales were slow from the start. In 2001, Axiom's first year of sales, just 5,851 units were sold---less than half of what Isuzu projected. While the latter half of 2001 was a challenge for all of the automotive industry as a result of the effects of September 11, the Axiom's sales, however, continued to struggle throughout 2002. Even with its unique styling the Axiom seemed to get lost in the SUV sea.
Isuzu is betting that the DI engine will help differentiate the Axiom from the pack and has made only a few other minor changes. Exterior styling, for the most part, remains largely unchanged with just some minor changes to the front and rear fascias. Chrome touches, such as the new garnish on the front grille and rear hatch, give the Axiom a bit more of a European look. I think it's a good thing that Isuzu chose to simply fine-tune the exterior, since the Axiom's unique angular styling is one of the key things that differentiate it from the competition.
Inside, the Axiom remains a five-passenger vehicle with front bucket seats and a fold-down rear seat with a 60/40-split. Standard features include power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar, automatic climate control, power mirrors, windows and door locks, and cruise control, while a six-speaker AM/FM 140-watt audio system is new for '04.
The 2004 Isuzu Axiom emulates a sportier persona, both in design and under the hood. Whether it is enough to make it a stronger player in the crowded SUV market remains to be seen, but you can be sure that SUV owners who are tired of watching their paychecks dwindle with every fill up are likely to give it a second look.
---Story by Tara Baukus Mello
© 2002, Tara Baukus Mello, All Rights Reserved. |
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