the vehicross was originally unveiled as a concept vehicle at the 1993 tokyo international auto show. its ultimate japanese production release in 1997 was notable in that the production vehicle arrived with very few design changes and in a very short time. this feat was accomplished through the use of inexpensive ceramic body-stamping dies and the reuse of readily-available isuzu 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.