This generation was not shared with the GM North American GMT325 platform, which replaced the North American Chevrolet LUV in 1982.
Australasia
Holden in Australasia distributed the second generation Isuzu Faster between January 1981 and August 1988 as the first generation or KB series "Holden Rodeo", for which production started in December 1980. Early KBs were fitted with circular headlamps and a horizontal four-bar grille, but a 1983 model year facelift in December 1982 brought rectangular lamps with a 12-port grille insert as well as restyled side mirrors.
At launch, Holden made the Rodeo available in utility (pickup) and cab chassis body variants in both rear- and four-wheel drive layouts. All models featured a floor- or column-mounted four-speed synchromesh manual transmission coupled with the 1.6-liter gasoline or 2.0-liter diesel engines. The 1983 model year update increased these displacements to 1.8- and 2.2-liters, respectively. At the same time a new upmarket "LS" model was issued (coded KB28), fitted with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine and five-speed manual. For the 1984 year model, beginning in February 1984, the 2.0-liter became the base gasoline engine.
The 1985 model from July the same year signalled another facelift, the release of the two-door Space Cab body style, the debut of a new 2.3-liter gasoline engine, and the deletion of the four-speed manual and column-shift selector (making the floor-mounted five-speed manual standard). From March 1986 (1986 model year), the 2.3-liter became the standard gasoline engine and in April the subsequent year, the 1987 models obtained a final facelift with an open rectangular grille design and optional power steering.
Versions with unique local specifications were assembled in New Zealand at GM's Trentham assembly plant. These were also badged Holden.
North America
The United States continued to receive the Faster under the "Chevrolet LUV" name for the second generation, introduced in 1980 for the 1981 model year. The gasoline engine remained the same, but the LUV was now available with an Isuzu C223 diesel engine making 58 hp (43 kW) at 4,300 rpm and 93 lb·ft (126 N·m) at 2,200 rpm. This new engine gave the rear-wheel drive diesel LUV a fuel economy rating of 33 mpg-US (7.1 L/100 km) city / 44 mpg-US (5.3 L/100 km) highway.
After the 1982 model year, General Motors stopped selling the Chevrolet LUV in the United States in favor of their own S-10 compact pickup, but Isuzu picked up sales in the US that same year under the name "Isuzu P'up" (short for "pickup"). The US market received the same engines as before; either a 80 hp (60 kW) 1.8-liter gasoline inline-four (G180Z) or a 2.3-liter diesel version with 58 hp (43 kW) (C223). Four-wheel drive was only available in short wheelbase form.
South America
As with North America, the Isuzu Faster was issued under the name "Chevrolet LUV" in South America. Manufactured in Chile from Japanese complete knock down (CKD) sets, these models entered production in 1980, continuing on until the release of the TF series in 1988. At the start, the versions assembled were the K-26 and K-28.
Source: fandom.com
