The Isuzu Aska was a nameplate used by Isuzu of Japan to denote its midsize car sedans from 1983 to 2002. Originally the Aska was a version of General Motors' J-car produced by Isuzu, but after Isuzu pulled out of manufacturing passenger cars the nameplate was applied to rebadged versions of the Subaru Legacy (1990 to 1993) and Honda Accord (1994 to 2002) sold through Isuzu's Japanese distribution network.
The Aska replaced the Isuzu Florian in Isuzu's lineup and was discontinued in 2002 without a replacement.
The name comes from the Japanese word, "Asuka", which is the old name of the Asuka Village in the Nara Prefecture of Japan. Because the name "Asuka" is likely to be mispronounced in foreign countries, the "u" was taken away from the name, presenting the model as the "Aska".
First generation (1983–1989)
The original Aska was developed as a part of GM's
J-car program and was a replacement for Isuzu's dated
Isuzu Florian. In contrast to fellow J-cars from other GM divisions, the Aska only came in one body style, a four-door sedan (the
station wagon body style on the Florian was always relatively unpopular). The Isuzu J-car variant differed most notably in the rear styling from other J-car variants. From 1983 to 1984, the Aska was known as the "Florian Aska", before being renamed simply "Aska" in 1985.
[ The Oriental Economist Tanzan Ishibashi, 1983, page 19]
The car was launched in March 1983 with carburetted 1.8 and 2.0 litre gasoline engines and a diesel engine, going on sale a month later. In August 1983 the Turbodiesel followed, with . In October 1983, a turbocharged and fuel injected version of the 2.0 litre engine, which developed 150 PS, joined the lineup as the LJ Turbo.
In September 1984 the innovative (but ultimately unsuccessful) semi-automatic NAVi5 system became available for the naturally-aspirated Aska 2.0.
The first generation Aska was discontinued in March 1989; production totaled 108,512 cars. Isuzu did not have a contender in this segment for about a year's time until the second generation Aska was presented.
Export markets
South America (Chile, Ecuador)
From 1984, the Aska was assembled in
Arica,
Chile from CKD kits and sold as
Chevrolet Aska in the Chilean domestic market and in
Ecuador. Chilean Askas came in three equipment levels (LT, Limited, and Deluxe), with two engines and either automatic or five-speed manual transmissions. While the two lesser versions both received a 1.8-litre coupled to the five-speed, the Deluxe got the larger 2-litre with , only fitted with the automatic transmission.
South-East Asia and New Zealand
The Aska was exported to
Southeast Asia, where it was known as the
Isuzu JJ.
[ Singapore Business, Volume 8, Issues 1-6, Singapore Press Holdings, 1984, page 108] It was also exported to
New Zealand as the
Holden Camira (JJ) between 1984 and 1987.
[ Camira SLE one of better handling Japanese cars, The Press, 10 April 1986, page 22] This replaced the Australian-sourced JD Camira, because its predecessor, the JB Camira, had fared badly in the New Zealand market.
[ New Camira put through paces, The Press, 17 January 1985, page 10] However, the JD series wagon was retained, albeit imported concurrently from Australia rather than locally assembled.
[ An honest-to-goodness waggon, The Press, 19 September 1985, page 40] General Motors New Zealand switched back to the updated Australian version (JE) in 1987 due to the strengthening of Japanese Yen. In
Indonesia, the two-liter version with was briefly sold as the "Holden Aska" alongside the 1.6-liter Camira.
[ Tempo, Volume 15, Part 3, Badan Usaha Jaya Press Japansan Jaya Raya, 1985, page 59]
Second generation (1990–1993)
With the exception of the American market, the J platform did not continue into the 1990s. Not having the resources to develop a mid-size car on their own, Isuzu forged a short-lived alliance with
Subaru. This provided for Isuzu to supply Subaru with
(rebadged as the Subaru Bighorn), while Isuzu rebadged Subaru's mid-size
Subaru Legacy sedan as the Isuzu Aska, beginning in June 1990. Both rebadged models were sold only in the Japanese market.
There was also a Subaru Leone Van version briefly available, badged as the
Isuzu Geminett II.
The EJ series engine was offered in both 1.8 and 2.0 liter displacements. The engine has either single or double overhead camshaft architecture and pent-roof, cross flow cylinder firing chambers.
The 2.0 liter fuel delivery was managed with sequential multiport fuel injection, and the 1.8 liter engine used a modified fuel delivery system with single point throttle body fuel injection called SPFI. The DOHC 2.0 liter non turbocharged engine had a dual stage Inlet manifold.
The 2.0 liter vehicle came optional with Subaru's AWD system while the 1.8 came with FWD only. As with all other Askas, this was only ever available with four-door saloon bodywork. The Aska was discontinued in May 1993, as the Subaru deal came to an end.
Isuzu Aska BCL 2.0.jpg|Isuzu Aska 2.0 CX (BCL; pre-facelift)
Isuzu Aska BCL 2.0 rear.jpg|Pre-facelift; rear
Isuzu aska bcl 2.0cxtypeg 1 r.jpg|Isuzu Aska 2.0 CX type-G (facelift; rear)
Third generation (1994–1997)
Later, Isuzu entered a more substantial model-exchange alliance with
Honda. Among other models, it encompassed the rebadging of the Honda Accord sedan as the Isuzu Aska. This model was presented in March 1994, after stock of the Legacy-based, previous generation Aska had been sold out. The only difference to the Accord was the grille and logos.
It was only offered with a two-liter four-cylinder engine, combined with a four-speed automatic transmission. The model code assigned to it by Isuzu was CJ1. Production came to an end in September 1997, with sales from stock continuing for another two months.
Fourth generation (1998–2002)
Introduced in November 1997, this was the second generation of Accord-based Askas - thus the third generation Aska was the fifth generation Accord and the fourth was the sixth generation Accord sedan. The Aska remained a Japanese-only model and was discontinued in 2002. Model codes were
CJ2 for the 1.8 and
CJ3 for the 2.0. The engines produce respectively and both were available with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The differences between this and the Accord were limited to the grille, logos, and wheels. One additional change was that the engine head cover had the Honda logo removed, with only "VTEC" remaining.
The fourth generation Aska received a light facelift in June 2000. This change included new bumpers, redesigned taillights, interior updates, and cleaner engines. Production ended in March 2002, with sales from stock continuing until September. This marked the end of Isuzu passenger car sales, 49 years after their first car was presented.
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