The Isuzu Impulse, also known as the Asuna Sunfire in Canada, the Isuzu Piazza in Japan, and the Holden Piazza in Australia, was a sporty 3-door liftback coupe sold for two generations by Isuzu from 1980 to 1990, and again from 1990 to 1993. The second generation Impulse served as the basis for the Isuzu Gemini Coupe, known in North America as the Isuzu Stylus, which replaced the Isuzu Spectrum. The Impulse was rebadged by parent company General Motors as the sporty Geo Storm. British sports car manufacturer Lotus notably tuned the Impulse's suspension.
The most recent count of registered Isuzu Impulse's still on the road in America as of 2010 totaled only about 2,300 cars across both generations, making the Impulse quite rare. The second generation Impulse is much rarer than its predecessor, with only about 13,000 being produced including its Isuzu Stylus sibling.
Year-to-year changes[]
1978[]
Isuzu commissions Italian designer Giorgetto Giugaro to design a sports car that would replace the Isuzu 117 Coupe which he also concepted. Several Chevrolet Chevette's were sent to Italdesign's studio in Italy and Giugaro was permitted to do whatever he pleased. This birthed the Italdesign Asso di Fiori prototype in 1979.
1980[]
The Impulse was introduced in September of 1980, debuting with a 2.0 L SOHC I4 MPFI engine which was the same engine used in its predecessor. The second engine availible was the 2.0 L DOHC MPFI I4 engine. Isuzu offered a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission, and all cars were exclusively produced in rear wheel drive. Standard Isuzu suspensions, Irmscher and Lotus tuned suspensions were also availible as options.
1983[]
1983 marked the first year that the Impulse made its way onto the shores of North America. Only the SOHC I4 engine was offered for the Impulse's first two model years.
1985[]
For 1985, a turbocharged engine was introduced producing 140 hp. The Impulse also begins production in Australia and Europe, though the United Kingdom only recieved the turbocharged trim.
1987[]
The Isuzu Impulse RS was added onto the Impulse's trim list, coming with a 4CZ1 turbocharged I4.
1980-1987 JDM Isuzu Impulse
1988[]
Fixed headlights would replace the previous pop-up headlights alongside a larger spoiler that was added to the rear. Changes were also made to the base 2.0 L non-turbo I4, which was swapped out with a 2.3 L I4. This 2.3 L was locked to American buyers as the larger engine would cause higher expenses if it were brought back to Japan. The Impulse was also classified as a compact car in its home country, of which Japan had its own regulations set on their maximum displacement, which the Impulse's 2.3 exceeded.
1989[]
Production of the first generation Impulse ends internationally, though continues in Japan until 1991.
1990[]
General Motors provides their R-body world car platform to Isuzu for the second generation Impulse. Designed under Isuzu's head of design, Shiro Nakamura, the third generation Isuzu Gemini was the first vehicle that would be manufactured under the brand on the R-body platform, paving the way for the Impulse. Nakamura's design team would start with the Geo Storm, drawing heavy influence from the previous generation Impulse and new generation Gemini. The second generation Impulse's European look would later become a selling point in Japan.
Isuzu Impulse Wagonback
1991[]
Two trims were added to the Impulse's lineup, a one year RS sport trim and a wagonback station wagon trim.
1993[]
The burst of the Japanese economic bubble coupled with rising concerns over crash safety and emissions forced General Motors to pull the plug on the Impulse, and later Isuzu as a whole in North America. After the discontinuation of the Asuna Sunfire, the Impulse's Canadian rebadge, the Sunfire name was returned to Pontiac.