The Isuzu Costa was a concept open-top four-wheel-drive vehicle shown at the Tokyo Motor Show, presented alongside the Isuzu 4200R and derived from the same platform as Isuzu's pickup-based leisure vehicle, the Mu, sold in the United States as the Amigo. It appeared around the same time as the Mu's debut and represented a step for Isuzu, following on from the Faster Rodeo, toward more urbanely styled sport utility vehicles. The Costa was pitched as something between a sports car and an off-roader, combining rounded contours and short overhangs with a high-lift stance not typical of conventional open 4x4s.
The body used resin panels for all exterior sections apart from the doors, and high-volume body lines were meant to convey strong torque. Sporty details included an air-intake crease ahead of the windscreen, wheel covers, and trim elements, along with tail lights integrated horizontally into the upper edge of the rear end. A prominent underguard at the front and rear emphasized off-road capability and incorporated a winch and towing hooks for outdoor use. The interior was trimmed in genuine leather, and an electric sliding rear deck let the car convert from a four-seater to a sportier two-seater.
Mechanically the Costa used a 2559 cc four-cylinder engine producing 120 hp at 5000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 2600 rpm, with four-wheel drive. It measured 4220 mm long, 1780 mm wide and 1685 mm tall, on a 2330 mm wheelbase, with a track of 1495/1500 mm, making it slightly longer than the Mu/Amigo.
