Isuzu Panther: the Southeast Asian workhorse

The Isuzu Panther, also known as the Isuzu Crosswind or Crosswind Sportivo, is a series of station wagons and pickups that Isuzu made from 1991 to 2020 mainly for Southeast Asia. It was developed with General Motors as the 160 Project to suit local climates, roads and family needs, and it was built for carrying large loads of passengers or cargo rather than for speed.

Isuzu Panther at a glance

based on one source (English Wikipedia)

History of the Isuzu Panther

First generation (1991)

The Panther was introduced in Indonesia in 1991 as a pickup and, with coachbuilt bodywork, a station wagon in short and long bodies. The first engine was the 2.3-litre C223 diesel also used in the Chevrolet Trooper, and the two wheelbases differed by 200 mm. From 1992 the fully assembled station wagon, built by PT Pulogadung Pawitra Laksana of Astra International in Sunter, North Jakarta, came in Special, Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, Royal Hi-GLX and Hi Grade trims. In 1996 the range was restyled with new headlamps and grille and the 2.5-litre direct-injection 4JA1 diesel, with New Super, Deluxe, Royale, Grand Royale, Sporty, Hi Sporty and Hi Grade versions; the sporty trims had body kits, two-tone paint and, in the top versions, higher ground clearance. The first-generation pickup outlived the wagon and stayed in production until 2020, facelifted in 2005 and 2009, and from 2007 it was rebranded the Isuzu Pickup with a turbocharger for Euro 2 emissions.

Second generation (2000)

The second Panther was presented on 6 September 2000 at the tenth Gaikindo Auto Expo with a rounded, aerodynamic shape. It was loosely based on the Isuzu MU and shared its dashboard with the Isuzu Faster/TFR/KB and the VehiCROSS of the same period. Only the station wagon was offered, with the 2.5-litre 4JA1 and, for the first time, crystal multi-reflector headlights. The short wheelbase came as SM, SV and SS, the long one as LM, LV and LS Hi Grade, and the LS Hi Grade could be ordered with a turbocharged 4JA1-L and an automatic gearbox.

Touring, facelift and the end

In 2001 the Touring variant arrived as an SUV-styled version with the turbo engine, two-tone paint, a silver body kit and bumper guard, higher ground clearance and a spare wheel on the rear door, and in 2003 the Grand Touring was added above it, along with an Adventure version based on the LV. The 2004 facelift brought new lights, grille, bumper and wheels, a black rear door garnish and the Smart trim. From 2007 every variant had a turbocharger for Euro 2, the LM trim was dropped and the interior changed from black to beige, while the exterior was refreshed again in 2009 and 2011. The second-generation Panther was also built and sold in India as the Chevrolet Tavera, a name used in Indonesia for the petrol version until 2005.

Design and features

• Built for local conditions: designed with GM for Southeast Asian roads and families.
• Diesel only: 2.3 then 2.5-litre four-cylinder engines.
• Many body styles: pickup, wagon and SUV-styled Touring versions.
• Long production: the second generation lasted from 2000 to 2020 with facelifts.

Isuzu Panther versions

• Panther pickup (1991–2020): Standard, Flat Deck and GD 3-Way bodies, later the Isuzu Pickup.
• Panther wagon (1991–2000): the first-generation station wagon.
• Second-generation wagon (2000–2020): SM, SV, SS, LM, LV and LS Hi Grade.
• Touring and Grand Touring (2001–2003): SUV-styled variants.
• Adventure: body-kitted version of the LV.
• Chevrolet Tavera: the Indian version of the second generation.

The Panther was loosely related to the MU and shared its dashboard with the Faster and VehiCROSS. More models are in the Isuzu collection.

Video: Menembus banjir dengan Isuzu Panther

Video by Mohammad Noor Hidayat on YouTube.

Sources

• Isuzu Panther, English Wikipedia: generations, trims, engines