Isuzu Impulse RSOffered for only two years between 1991 and 1992, the Isuzu Impulse RS is not remembered by many. The Impulse was related to the Geo Storm, but the RS variant was Isuzu's top-spec variant, and received a number of improvements over its better-known cousin. Lotus was given the task of engineering its chassis, which made the Impulse RS a capable car in the right hands. Its 160 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine was developed in-house by Isuzu, and it also went on to be used in the Lotus Elan.While the Impulse RS was never considered the greatest Japanese sports car of its day, it's still a shame that the brand never got the chance to improve it. Low sales of its car division and consistent interest in its trucks and SUVs saw Isuzu prioritize the latter segments, eventually withdrawing from creating its own cars altogether. Perhaps if the Impulse had been better received, it would have encouraged Isuzu to stick around and continue building its own cars. Either way, the Impulse RS remains a cool, overlooked model from one of Japan's less celebrated manufacturers, and we certainly wouldn't mind if Isuzu decided to have a crack at making a successor, as unlikely as that is.Monteverdi SafariSwiss design might be seen as the gold standard in industries like watchmaking, but the Swiss auto industry has not had much of a global impact. However, a number of Swiss automakers have come and gone over the decades, including Monteverdi. The Safari was Monteverdi's most popular model, reportedly selling around 2,700 examples, and was pitched as a more upmarket alternative to the Range Rover. Production began in 1976 and lasted until 1982, with the company closing a year later.The Safari's luxurious interior and potent V8 engines were arguably ahead of their time, with Range Rover eventually adding similar features years after its Swiss counterpart had been axed. The Monteverdi was offered with high-tech extras like an in-car phone and Sony TV, while under its hood sat a choice of American V8 engines including a 5.7L International Harvester V8. The chassis of the SUV was also borrowed from the Harvester, but the bodywork and interior fittings were completed by Fissore, an Italian coachbuilder.At the time the Safari was unveiled, the Range Rover didn't have much in-car tech, nor did it have optional luxury upholstery or even an automatic transmission. The Safari beat it to the punch in all those regards, but the Range Rover still proved to be more successful in the long run, while the Safari has been relegated to the archives.
