Isuzu announced preliminary details of its next flagship SUV on Friday. Replacing the Trooper in North America will be a new seven-seat luxury SUV named Ascender. The 2003 model year Ascender will be Isuzu's version of the GMT 370 program that includes the Envoy XL and Trailblazer EXT, and will be produced in GM's Moraine, Ohio plant from September 2002. Standard equipment levels will be higher than the Envoy, Trailblazer and the smaller Bravada, and include heated mirrors; roof rack; running boards; daytime running lamps; moisture-sensitive windshield wipers; dual-zone climate controls; overhead console; leather seating surfaces (with heated front seats and driver's seat memory); front and rear side airbags; cruise control; on-board computer; Bose sound system; and OnStar telematics system. Isuzu will release more details as the launch date approaches, expected to be at the New York International Autoshow at the end of March.

Isuzu Motors Limited and General Motors Corp. today unveiled a pickup truck concept previewing their next generation small pickup truck. The new one-tonne payload truck (Isuzu Project 190) will be marketed globally under both Isuzu and GM brands outside of North America. Production begins in 2003 at both Isuzu and GM plants in Thailand. The next generation pickup truck program is by far the biggest project so far for the GM-Isuzu alliance, involving everything from engineering through to sales. A second vehicle, the 2003 MY Chevrolet Colorado (GMT 355) for the North American market, will bring annual production to over 500,000 units.

GM Europe today revealed details of the 2002 Vectra. The new Vectra debuts next March at the Geneva Motor Show, with production beginning in January at Opel's Rüsselsheim plant. Production of the hatchback model begins at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant in April. The Vectra will be launched as a four-door sedan and five door hatchback and with two four-cylinder ECOTEC petrol engines producing 90 kW/124 PS and 108 kW/147 PS, and diesels producing 74 kW/100 PS and 92 kW/125 PS. more …

Sydney …GM's Australian subsidiary Holden lifted the covers off its new Monaro sports coupé at the Sydney International Motor Show today. As expected there are two "V2" Monaro variants, CV8 and CV6, offering powerful Generation III V8 and Supercharged V6 performance respectively. Although based on the current generation Commodore, the Monaro introduces several features that will later appear on the next generation VY model. Most obvious are changes to the Monaro grill … more …

Detroit … GM lifted its embargo on 2002 Pontiac Aztek product information Monday, October 1st. In response to slow sales, and widespread criticism of the SUV's styling, the 2002 Aztek has been revised with smoother, more monochrome styling consistent with the original 1999 Aztek and later Aztek Salsa concepts. update — Trailblazer EXT more …

Detroit …General Motors announced today that its current plan is to end Oldsmobile production with 2004 models. GM previously announced that Oldsmobile products would continue to be produced and sold until the end of their current product lifecycles, or production would end earlier if market demand fell below economically viable levels. Oldsmobile production has remained unprofitable and, therefore, GM's current planning is to end production with the 2004 models. more …

Jaguar has released details of its new R-type coupé concept which will be unveiled at Frankfurt this weekend. The R-type previews styling elements from the upcoming Jaguar X350. Designer Ian Callum has updated cues from the classic Jaguar Mk II, but the R-type seems to pay as much homage to Buick's last Riviera as it does to classic Jaguars.