The Isuzu i-Series was the version of the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon that Isuzu sold in North America from late 2005. It shared North American powertrains, styling and equipment with the GM twins and differed from Isuzu’s own worldwide pickup range, and it replaced the Hombre in Isuzu’s American showrooms.
Isuzu i-Series at a glance
| Maker | Isuzu, built by General Motors |
|---|---|
| Sale in North America | from late 2005 |
| Class | compact pickup |
| Based on | Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon |
| Platform | GM GMT355 |
| Assembly | Shreveport Operations, USA |
| Engines | 2.8 L LK5 four, 3.5 L five |
| Bodies | regular cab, extended cab and crew cab |
| Predecessor | Isuzu Hombre |
| Design | shared with GM’s North American, Brazilian and Isuzu teams |
The i-Series is described in the English Wikipedia article on the Chevrolet Colorado, so this page is shorter than usual and based on one source.
History of the Isuzu i-Series
A GM truck for Isuzu dealers
The Colorado and Canyon were designed jointly by General Motors’ North American and Brazilian operations and by Isuzu, which had begun selling its own version worldwide in 2002. Production started in October 2003, and in late 2005 Isuzu offered a North American version called the i-Series. It shared powertrains, styling and equipment with the Colorado and Canyon and differed from the trucks Isuzu sold elsewhere, and all North American vehicles were built at GM’s Shreveport Operations. The arrangement echoed the 1970s deal in which GM sold the Isuzu Faster as the Chevrolet LUV, only in reverse.
What the truck offered
The GM trucks came with manual or automatic gearboxes and rear- or four-wheel drive in regular, extended and crew-cab bodies. Most models used the 2.8-litre LK5 four-cylinder engine as standard, with a more powerful 3.5-litre five-cylinder available, and the four-door versions could be ordered with the Z71 package, which brought the five-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic as standard. Three suspension options were offered: the comfortable Z85, the Z71 off-road set-up with a locking rear differential, heavier shock absorbers and more ground clearance, and the lower, firmer ZQ8 sport suspension for two-wheel-drive trucks. Top crew-cab models had leather seats, heated power front seats, a six-disc CD changer, satellite radio and rear side airbags.
A short life
The i-Series was the last pickup Isuzu sold in the United States, following the Hombre, and it disappeared when Isuzu withdrew from the American passenger market at the end of the 2000s. The Colorado and Canyon themselves continued, and the i-Series remains a rare sight compared with its GM twins.
Design and features
- GM bones: the GMT355 platform of the Colorado and Canyon.
- Two engines: a 2.8-litre four or a 3.5-litre five.
- Three suspensions: Z85, Z71 off-road and ZQ8 sport.
- Three cabs: regular, extended and crew cab.
Isuzu i-Series versions
- i-Series regular cab: two or three seats with a 1.8 m box.
- i-Series extended cab: four or five seats with a 1.8 m box.
- i-Series crew cab: five or six seats with a 1.5 m box.
- Z71 and ZQ8 versions: off-road and sport suspension packages.
The i-Series replaced the Hombre and shared its market with the D-Max sold elsewhere. More models are in the Isuzu collection.
Video: 2006 Isuzu I-280
Video by Godwin Motors Inc on YouTube.
Sources
- Chevrolet Colorado, English Wikipedia: the i-Series as a North American version, engines, cabs, suspensions
