GM is just starting to get their footing in the industrey back but that doesn’t mean they are prone to production problems. Their latest recall deals with 185,903 2004-2009 trucks including the Chevy Colorado, GMC Canyon, Isuzu I-280, Isuzu I-290, Isuzi I-350, and the Isuzu I-370.

This particular recall concerns the vehicle’s brake-lamp switch that, due to a production error, could possibly malfunction which means they either won’t work, or will stay lit while the car is on. This is a safety hazard because drivers behind a vehicle with a malfunctioning brake-lamp don’t know when the car is slowing down increasing the probability of a crash.

Like always, GM and the NHSTA say that you can bring your car to a local dealership to get the problem diagnosed and fixed if needed.

Tags: brake lamp, canyon, Colorado, GM, i-280, i-290, i-370, i350, Isuzu, Recall, safety

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The City of Santa Monica becomes the first region to purchase and make use of the first US built electric trucks called the ZeroTruck. This purchase of the ZeroTruck signals the start of the eco-friendly drive of the City of Santa Monica as far as their Sustainability Plan to reduce carbon emissions and the incremental reduction of fuel use.

This truck meets the needs of our Water Division and the goals of our Sustainable City Plan to reduce emissions and reduce our use of petroleum. A zero emission medium-duty truck is something that has never been available to us until now.”

The ZeroTruck is a medium duty truck that is based on the Isuzu N series chassis, the only US built electric vehicle offered in the United States. It boasts of a low cab forward design, automatic transmission and can go up to 100 miles. It likewise comes with advanced lithium batteries, an onboard battery charger, regenerative braking, and powered by a UQM PowerPhase 100 advanced electric motor.

(Source) Press

Tags: automatic transmission, carbon emissions, chassis, electric trucks, electric vehicle, Isuzu, lithium, lithium batteries, medium duty truck, onboard battery charger, petroleum, united states, zero emission

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Make way for the next big thing in British-made sports cars. Things feel different behind the wheel of the £75,000 Trident Iceni. Surrounded by two-tone leather and a sculpted dash, you could be fooled into thinking TVR is back from the ashes. It feels like a properly put together car. But that is not the most remarkable thing about this British sports car. That honour belongs to the fact that despite its supercar looks and performance it actually sips less fuel than a Smart ForTwo.

The reason for its frugality – the makers claim it will achieve around 70mpg – is that almost uniquely in its class, it is powered by a diesel engine. Beneath the bonnet is a 6.6-litre, turbocharged direct injection ‘Duramax’ motor designed by Isuzu and built by GM. It’s identical to those that normally power bloated American SUVs, like the Chevrolet Silverado. The Iceni by contrast weighs a mere 1200kg, and has been tested up to 216mph, although Trident say they intend to govern it to 175mph.

This machine represents something that’s curiously absent from sports car design: a fresh approach. For all the talk of innovation, you could argue the big brand names have been accelerating in the wrong direction making faster and faster cars with more electronic driver aids but without giving a thought to the future of low emissions, high performance motoring. If nothing else, this British car redresses the balance.

(Source) Times Online

Tags: British-made, DuraMax, Iceni, Isuzu, leather, Silverado, Supercar, suvs, Trident

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Word on the street is that General Motors is actually thinking about selling its medium truck operations to Isuzu. No one will admit it but I bet Isuzu would love such an action.

Isuzu and GM have worked together previously on the Chevy Colorado and the GMC Canyon so future cooperation between the two automakers seems quite logical. General Motors is surely looking for someone to purchase is commercial truck unit after an agreement with Navistar failed to be accomplished.

What say you? Would you like your next GM medium truck to be made by Isuzu?

Tags: General Motors, Isuzu

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