Isuzu Rodeo PPP
It's not only the Subaru Impreza that means a lot to Japanese car fans - mention Prodrive and they will almost certainly think of big wings and huge exhausts.
One of our biggest complaints about the Rodeo was that it was very slow, but Prodrive has injected it with some pace. The big diesel is now far more flexible, yet refinement will still disappoint anyone used to a modern 4x4.
It's not only the Subaru Impreza that means a lot to Japanese car fans - mention Prodrive and they will almost certainly think of big wings and huge exhausts.
But, even though the Oxfordshire firm is used to tuning rally-bred saloons like the one above, it's turned its attentions to a far less glamorous vehicle - the Rodeo pick-up. This Isuzu is now available with a Prodrive Performance Pack (PPP), which provides an extra 24bhp and takes torque from 280Nm to 350Nm.
Tweaks to the engine management system mean there are no mechanical changes. A switch on the dash lets the driver turn off the upgrades when the extra pace isn't needed, but given this car's usual snail-like performance, we can't imagine when that would be.
Prodrive has cut the standard 0-60mph lumber from 16.8 to 12.4 seconds, and the noticeable improvement in responsiveness is particularly welcome when overtaking. However, there's been no tuning to the rest of the PPP model's set-up; the same ladderframe chassis and rear leaf suspension as the normal Rodeo mean handling dynamics are wooden at best. Don't expect a sporty upgrade, but the Prodrive kit makes the Rodeo easier to live with.
