parts. The truck was intended to showcase Isuzu's off-road technology, and is one of the few vehicles to ship with monotube shocks with external heat-expansion chambers, a technology normally reserved for off-road motorcycle racing. Motor Trend featured the VehiCROSS on its May 1999 cover, and included it in its "Top 10 Sport Utilities" for Most Unique Styling. Four Wheeler featured the VehiCROSS as the "First Runner Up" for Four Wheeler of the Year in 2000 behind the Tahoe Z71; when pitted against: Chevrolet Tahoe Z71, GMC Yukon, Nissan Xterra, Ford Excursion and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. The VehiCROSS scored highest of all 6 Mechanically, for Trail Performance and Highway Performance. Both a concept four-door version (VX-4) and a roadster (VX-O2) were shown at the 2000 Los Angeles International Auto Show, but neither reached production. Both of these concepts were donated to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles in late 2008. Both were later returned to Isuzu when the Petersen Museum renovated. Isuzu had to destroy the vehicles for legal reasons in 2017. Design team Led by Shiro Nakamura and Satomi Murayama, chief designer/manager at Isuzu's European office in Brussels, the design team was an international group: Simon Cox (assistant chief designer best known for designing the Lotus Elan's interior), Joji Yanaka, Andrew Hill and Nick Robinson. The task was to build a "lightweight but tough, fun but environmentally friendly" SUV. Winner of the 1999 Russian Spirit of Time Award by the Russian Design Confederation (presented to Isuzu at the 1999 Russian International Motor Show). In motorsport & awards Stage 2 and 4 Class Winner, 1998 Paris–Granada–Dakar Rally Class Winner 1999 Australian Safari Rally Winner "Most Unique Styling" Motor Trend 1999 Top 10 Sport/Utes Used by Austin Robot Technology as foundation for robotic VX in 2005-2007 DARPA Grand Challenge Motor Trend reports it gets thumbs up for look-at-me-Gen-X Styling and outstanding seats Production details (US version only) Production details (Japanese version only) References VehiCROSS All-wheel-drive vehicles Compact sport utility vehicles Cars introduced in 1997 2000s cars