LEADING-EDGE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
AND THE HUMAN TOUCH ENABLE ISUZU'S NEWEST SUV

WHITTIER, Calif -- Even the best-designed vehicle in the world won't make it off the drawing board unless it can be manufactured cost-effectively. Typically, before a new vehicle goes into production, it is designed in clay, then mapped by lasers into a CRAY super computer for full 3-D modeling. Refinements and changes are then made on the computer. This is a lengthy and costly process.

Instead, Isuzu Motors Ltd. went directly from the VehiCROSS clay version to the stamping die, streamlining the CRAY computer engineering process. Isuzu management had great confidence in this product and, therefore, wanted to bring the vehicle to market as quickly as possible.

Traditionally the next step would be to create the dies that are used in the factory to stamp the body panels. In a typical automobile production process, these huge dies are made of cast iron at a cost of $1.0 to $1.5 million per die.

The Isuzu VehiCROSS team looked for a better way and found it. Several years earlier, Isuzu built a ceramics joint venture company and had been developing the process of producing ceramic dies for manufacturing. This proprietary process was completely new to the automobile industry. The VehiCROSS turned out to be the perfect vehicle to utilize ceramic die manufacturing.

Isuzu's ceramic die process is innovative, fast, and cost-effective. Time schedule and investment of ceramic dies is approximately half of the cast iron's. In fact, the use of ceramic dies is so revolutionary that Isuzu received a barrage of calls from other, larger manufacturers wanting details on the process.

Another innovative VehiCROSS manufacturing method is the combination of automated assembly and hand assembly. Actual body and final assembly of each VehiCROSS is done by hand. Large components such as the engine, frame and transmission are pre-assembled on the automated line.

Hand assembly of the VehiCROSS is a prestigious job. Only the most experienced and skilled Isuzu workers are selected to exhibit their craftsmanship. Body panels are installed, spot-welding is performed and fit-and-finish tasks are refined- by hand. Truly a unique blending of new age technology and custom automotive craftsmanship.

By going farther in research, development and manufacturing Isuzu has pioneered processes that are as leading-edge as the vehicle itself.

The 1999 Isuzu VehiCROSS will be available through American Isuzu Motors Inc.'s network of dealerships.