Early years
The 117 Coupé was debuted as a prototype at the Geneva Motor Show#1966, 1966 Geneva Motor Show, and was later shown at the Tokyo Motor Show the same year. In 1968, Isuzu started preliminary small-scale production of 117 Coupés, which were effectively handmade in amounts rarely exceeding 50 a month. Its marketing approach was similar to the Nissan Silvia#The original Silvia, Nissan Silvia, produced around the same time, followed later by the Toyota 2000GT. As the Japanese auto industry began to experience a significant amount of sales, Isuzu also realized they needed an exotic car to draw buyers into showrooms that would then drive sales of more affordable products, like the Isuzu Bellett. Influenced by Japanese Kojiki, special significance cultural traditions, senior management saw the company as a "premiere" limited production manufacturer and was the only company that didn't offer a ''kei car'' while most Japanese manufacturers did. The first engine available was a 1.6 L DOHC Inline-four engine, inline-four, and in 1970, an electronic fuel injection unit from Robert Bosch GmbH, Bosch debuted, using the D-Jetronic system. The model fitted with fuel injection was named the EC (for "electronic control"). The car came with a long list of standard equipment (including leather seats, dashboard trim made of Taiwanese Cinnamomum camphora, camphor laurel wood, and headrests) and was very expensive for Japanese standards. This concerned also the less luxurious 1800N version added in 1971, powered by a simpler 1.8 L Overhead camshaft#Single overhead camshaft, SOHC carbureted engine.Mass production and first facelift
With the 117 Coupé becoming a very popular and desired model, and the advent of the cooperation with General Motors, Isuzu decided to shift the model to mass production. This change took place in March 1973. Sales (in the Japanese domestic market) jumped accordingly, from 965 units in 1972 to 9506 units in 1974. The 1.8 L engine became standard, with several versions available, with or without fuel injection and with DOHC or SOHC valvetrains. Outputs dropped somewhat in October 1975, due to new stricter emissions regulations taking effect. In May 1976 the manual transmissions were changed to five-speed units.Second facelift
In November 1977, Isuzu decided to afford the 117 Coupe second facelift (product), facelift, which resulted in replacing the previous front fascia with four round headlights with more modern one rectangular lights (keeping their number at four) as well as a front air dam. In an effort to further decrease manufacturing costs, plastic moldings were used in the interior. In 1978, the 1.95 litre engine debuted, and in 1979 the XD diesel-powered version was added. Starting in 1979, a special version called the Giugiaro Edition was available. Production of the 117 Coupé lasted until 1981, when it was replaced by the Isuzu Piazza, Piazza, also styled by Giugiaro.References
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