Rare Car Archive

Makes › Isuzu Japan › Impulse RS (JR130 Turbo AWD) · Rare specification · 1991–1992 Very Rare

Isuzu
Impulse RS (JR130 Turbo AWD)

Turbocharged all-wheel-drive top version of the Impulse with Lotus-tuned chassis; 800 built for North America.

Still being researched: full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

Isuzu Impulse RS (JR130 Turbo AWD) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Isuzu Impulse RS (JR130 Turbo AWD) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada · CC BY 2.0
800BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
800 Built
Years
1991–1992
Engine
inline four, DOHC 16-valve, turbocharged · 1,600 cc / 1.6 LFactory: 1.6 L
Power
119 kW / 162 PSFactory: 160 hp · converted
Top speed
Not yet verified
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Impulse RS was Isuzu's turbocharged all-wheel-drive sports coupé, with chassis tuning by Lotus. Only 800 were built.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 800 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Photos

Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionImpulse RS built (600 USA, rest Canada) 8001 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Isuzu fitted the Impulse with a 1.6-litre twin-cam turbo engine and all-wheel drive for the RS, and asked Lotus to calibrate spring, damper and anti-roll bar rates and bushings. Road & Track tested it in 1991 at an MSRP of $14,849; 800 were built, 600 for the US and the rest for Canada.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Impulse RS (JR130 Turbo AWD).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
Layoutinline four, DOHC 16-valve, turbocharged2 Independently researched
Displacement 1,600 cc / 1.6 LFactory: 1.6 L2 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 119 kW / 162 PSFactory: 160 hp · converted2 Independently researchedSource states bhp.
Power at 6,600 rpm2 Independently researched
Torque 203 NmFactory: 150 lb-ft · converted2 Independently researched
Torque at 4,800 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxNot yet verified
Gears52 Independently researched
Driven wheelsall-wheel drive, viscous centre differential2 Independently researched

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionNot yet verified
Rear suspensionNot yet verified
BrakesNot yet verified
SteeringNot yet verified
Body constructionNot yet verified
WheelbaseNot yet verified
LengthNot yet verified
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,240 kgFactory: 2,730 lb · converted2 Independently researched
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speedNot yet verified
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Being verified against factory or registry sources before it is published. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Dancing With Valves: Toyota Celica All-Trac Turbo versus Isuzu Impulse RS (Road & Track Performance Cars 1991, republished) Level C John Matras · Remember Road (Road & Track reprint)
    • twin-cam, in-line four-cylinder, turbocharged, 16-valve
    • 1.6 liters
    • 160 bhp
    • 6,600 rpm
    • 150 lb-ft
    • 4,800 rpm
    • five-speed manual
    • viscous center differential
    • 2,730 lb
    Accessed 2026-11-12

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