1998 Isuzu Rodeo Needs Repair on 2040-cars

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Come see all the cool cars in Geneva that we don't get in America

The Geneva Motor Show is usually the highlight of auto show season. There are always a ton of interesting debuts. This year alone, we saw new models from McLaren, Ferrari, Porsche, Mercedes-AMG and more. That doesn't count the ridiculous and tasteless stuff that comes out of Brabus or Mansory. Personally, one of the biggest reasons I enjoy going is to see all the cool stuff that we won't get in America. Watch the video for a brief walkaround of the show floor. Even the city streets offer unusual sights for Americans. Geneva is so close to France that there are Citroens, Peugeots and Renaults everywhere. Then there are cars like the Volkswagen Polo and Up! or a multitude of wagon variants of cars like the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4 and A6. Even the exotics come out in droves. There was a Porsche 911 Reimagined by Singer parked along a side street. There were two Lamborghini Aventadors parked outside our hotel. Just Geneva things. Design/Style Geneva Motor Show Isuzu Suzuki Citroen Peugeot Renault SEAT Skoda Truck Coupe Hatchback Wagon Performance Videos renault megane renault clio peugeot 508

Could this Isuzu Mysterious be an affordable 90s gem?

The Isuzu Rodeo holds a special place in rad car fans’ hearts, as it was the basis for another beloved off-roader, the original Honda Passport. The five-door Isuzu SUV lasted here for several years before being discontinued in the early 2000s, but the automaker sold funky two-door body styles in other markets, and one of the now-legal imports has made its way to Cars & Bids. Though our version had the somewhat mundane “Rodeo” title, the SUV was known as the “MU” or Mysterious Utility. This Japanese-market version comes with a 2.8-liter turbodiesel and a five-speed manual transmission. This one has around 121,000 miles and looks in decent shape. Interestingly, the two-door MU almost has a Mitsubishi Pajero Evo vibe, with its beefy fender flares and cropped, lifted body. Amazingly, the auctionÂ’s statement that the SUV is barely modified is accurate, as its only upgrades include a new stereo and those funky gold wheels. The Mysterious has drawn several comments, mainly from curious observers asking questions about a vehicle theyÂ’ve never seen. One wondered whether the MysteriousÂ’ top is removable, which unfortunately is not the case. Some versions, including the Isuzu Amigo, which we got, came with a removable soft top. One commenter noted that the tops donÂ’t age well, so the hardtop is likely the best choice for a 31-year-old imported SUV.   Though many JDM vehicles from this era are sometimes exceedingly difficult to import and equally expensive, the Mysterious sits at just $3,500 halfway through its auction. ItÂ’s got all the hallmarks to be a Radwood-ready bargain, too. The bright red paint and gold accents give it just enough flash, and versions of the diesel engine are still in production in China, so it might be somewhat reasonable to find parts. Related Video Isuzu Auctions Used Car Buying SUV

GM, Isuzu shacking up on global midsize pickup development

General Motors and Isuzu might not be financial partners anymore, but it would seem that all those years working together still leaves a strong bond between them to work on new vehicles. Their latest collaboration is co-developing a next-generation midsize pickup to launch at a still-unannounced point in the future. Potential buyers of the upcoming Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon have no reason to fear their purchase becoming obsolete, though, because there are no plans to sell these jointly created models in North America. As part of the deal, GM and Isuzu have already agreed to share components across the trucks and purchase the parts together to get a better deal, according to Reuters. However, the actual manufacturing was agreed to be kept separate. The first inklings of this deal cropped up a year ago when the two automakers signed a memorandum of understanding to co-develop a new pickup. The future GM and Isuzu models are joining the mini-boom of midsize trucks that is about to hit around the world. Nissan already announced its latest Navara, and Toyota was spotted testing replacements for both the Hilux and Tacoma. Plus, Honda has hinted at a new Ridgeline sometime fairly soon in the US. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Mark Renders / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing GM Isuzu Truck