Isuzu updates Crosswind, hopes to lure more OFWs

Izumina (center) leads the toast to welcome the latest edition of IPC’s best-selling model. With him are IPC executives (from left) VP for manufacturing Koichi Tamura, SVP for sales Art Balmadrid, EVP Takashi Tomita and VP for sales Daisuke Inaba.

MANILA, Philippines–While orders for the Isuzu mu-X continue to accelerate—reportedly now at more than 2,000 reservations, Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) says that its best-selling model remains to be its 14-year-old nameplate, the Crosswind Asian utility vehicle (AUV), which sold 4,900 units last year.

In fact, as the company celebrated the 100,000th AUV that rolled off its manufacturing plant in Biñan, Laguna, on Jan. 21, IPC said that 82,609 of these were the Crosswind models.

“The Crosswind is one of the most recognizable vehicles plying the Philippine roads today. Its success is largely on account of its fuel-efficient turbodiesel engine, family-oriented design and a very tough build quality. Indeed, form and functionality is what the Crosswind is all about,” said IPC president Nobuo Izumina as he led the unveiling of the 2015 edition of the AUV.

Koichi Tamura, IPC VP for manufacturing, added: “We are truly very proud of the Crosswind. We have been behind its evolution and with each new model, the challenge is how to make it better than the previous one. I believe that we have grown and improved so much as a manufacturing facility because of the Crosswind. From the time of its introduction in 2001, the Crosswind has undergone several improvements.”

Attract more OFWs

Both IPC executives hope to attract more overseas Filipino workers who have been the Crosswind’s main buyers all these years.

“They not only find the Crosswind very family friendly but also a reliable cargo carrier for the enterprising few,” said Izumina.

For 2015, IPC refreshed the model with a revised front fascia—a combination of new matte silver grille and one-piece, color-keyed front bumper—as well as a new headlamp design. The multireflector halogen is paired with all-weather fog lamps in the Sportivo X variant.

A better and updated entertainment system is a key addition to the 2015 Crosswind. PHOTOS BY CHARLES E. BUBAN

The 2015 edition also sports new 15-inch multispoke silver alloy wheels and all-terrain tires.

The Sportivo X and XUV variants also come with an aluminum black side step board, while roof rails are available for Sportivo X, XUV and XT variants. The XUV variant now has a new black tire cover.

The 2015 Crosswind is still powered by an 84-horsepower, 2.5-liter (4JA-1) turbodiesel engine that generates 185 Newton-meters of torque (paired with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission).

This engine has been test driven last year (no extraordinary techniques employed, driven at speeds of 60 kilometers per hour to 80 kph, and with air-conditioner set to mid-point), and posted an average consumption of 17.42 km per liter.

The 2015 Crosswind with a new matte silver grille, one-piece color-keyed front bumper and redesigned headlamps with daytime running lights

During a similar event in 2010, a Crosswind XL even averaged 21.64 kpl.

Underneath, the 2015 Crosswind retained the double wishbone front suspension, torsion bar springs up front, and the rear FlexRide leaf springs at the back.

More safe

For those who will buy the Sportivo X variant, the entertainment system (a DVD/CD/MP3/WMA/JPG-compatible head unit with USB function) is connected to a spoiler-integrated reverse camera, which is one of the safety features aside from side impact beams, reverse sensor and alarm system.

For the 2015 edition, the  Crosswind now comes with two new colors: hunter green and dark silver. Existing colors include cosmic black, garnet red, ash beige and splash white.

The top-of-the-line automatic Crosswind Sportivo X is priced at P1.195 million while the manual Sportivo X is at P1.13 million. The automatic Crosswind XUV is priced at P1.01 million, the manual Crosswind XT at P883,000, the manual Crosswind XL at P794,000, and the manual Crosswind XS at P750,000.