General Motors Frontera 1996.

[picture of General Motors Holden Frontera jpg] The Frontera Sport (SWB) is a small 4WD made by IBC England (read: Isuzu - General Motors / Vauxhall). The Frontera's Australian release came at the Sydney Motor Show in October 1995 although it has been on sale in Europe since 1991.

Power is by GM's Australian 2-litre Family-2 engine, as used in the late, ill-starred Camira. The manufacturer's specifications indicate that maximum torque is developed at a quite low 2800rpm; good flexibility is important in the rough. (Note that it has only 2 valves per cylinder. Engines with 4 valves per cylinder often develop maximum torque at higher revs than is desirable.)

The Frontera has a proper chassis and is being pushed as a "serious", even "macho" 4x4.

It is interesting to compare the figures for the Jackaroo's 3.2L V6 4v/cyl with the Frontera's 2L 4cyl 2v/cyl:

   3.2L V6: power: 130kW at 5200rpm,    torque: 260Nm at 3750rpm
   2L    4: power:  85kW at 5200rpm,    torque: 172Nm at 2800rpm

The V6 delivers just 50% more power and torque, but is newer, more complex, and 60% larger, and that torque comes in higher - give me one and a half of the old Family-2's please.

Isuzu - General Motors Frontera Sport 1997 model.

Short Wheel Base Sport

SWB, 4 seats, 3 door
loa: 4192mm, width: 1780mm (body), height: 1721mm, weight: 1685kg (unladen)
GVM: 2200kg, towing: 750kg (unbraked)
approach: 41, departure: 29, ramp-over:155
turning radius: 5.4m
"GM-Holden Family 2" 1998cc petrol 4cyl Efi 2v/cyl sohc
bore: 86mm, stroke: 86mm, c.r.: 10.0:1
power: 85kW at 5200rpm, torque: 172Nm at 2800rpm
transmission: 5m, part-time 4WD, rear LSD
suspension: indep'-torsion-bar/beam-coil, brakes: disc/disc (handbrake: rear-drums)
tyres: 235R70-16, fuel-tank: 80L
Note: `air-top' removable panel and rear widows. Air-conditioning standard.
$36,650 (Aus) [1996]
U.K. :-
- 2.0i as above
- 2499cc, diesel, turbo, intercooled, 2-valve/cyl, cr 21:1
- 85kW @ 3600rpm, 260Nm at 1800rpm
- Sport 2.0i: stg 12762, 14995 (inc VAT), 15470 (delivered)
  Sport 2.5TDS: stg 14426, 16950 (inc VAT), 17425 (del')
  Sport S 2.0i: stg 13519, 15885 (inc VAT), 16360 (del')
  Sport S 2.5TDS: stg 15187, 17845 (inc VAT), 18320 (del') [1997]

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Picture Isuzu - General Motors